19 November 2020 | Ken Casellas
Veteran gelding Disco Under Fire was underperforming early last month before owner-trainer Giles Inwood sought the help from his farrier in a bid to cure the gelding’s feet problems.
“My farrier fitted some bar shoes, known as Jim Blurtons, on his front feet, and that has solved the problem,” said Inwood.
“His two runs back after a month off have been good. He ran a really good fourth, first-up, and then won well at Pinjarra on Monday (when he led in a 2631m stand at Pinjarra).
“I now think that he can do the same thing (lead and win) in stronger company in a 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on Friday night.” The seven-year-old will start from the inside of the front line in the Retravision, We Love Our Customers Handicap and will be driven by Gary Hall jnr.
“Disco Under Fire generally steps well and I’m hoping he can lead,” said Inwood. “If he begins safely and leads and rates 2min. it will make it difficult for good horses J B Mauney and Cyclone Banner off the 30m mark.”
New Zealand-bred four-year-old J B Mauney, to be driven by star reinsman Ryan Warwick for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is a standing-start specialist who has won at ten of his past 19 starts and should fight out the finish.
Cyclone Banner, another New Zealand-bred four-year-old who will be driven by Aldo Cortopassi for Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams is a model of consistency, with his 30 starts producing 13 wins and eight placings. He will be having his second start after a spell and will pay to follow.
The two other four-year-olds in the race, Where Ya Bin and Babyface Adda, were winners in mobile events at Gloucester Park on Sunday, and they will start from the 10m mark.
Robbie Williams trains and drives Triroyale Brigade, who has shown promise with a win and four seconds in mobiles from his first seven starts in Western Australia. The five-year-old raced eight times in stands in New Zealand for a win and four placings.
Three-year-old fillies will contest the final event on Friday night, the 2130m Retravision, 50 Months Interest Free Everyday Pace, in which the smart Peter Anderson-trained Star Fromthepalace looks hard to beat.
However, she is unlikely to have matters all her own way from barrier seven and against some solid opposition, including Misstiano, Run For Mercy and Fifty Five Reborn.
Chris Voak said that he expected a strong forward showing from the Ross Olivieri-trained Run For Mercy, who will start from the No. 5 barrier at her second appearance after a five-month absence.
“She trialled well at Byford on Sunday morning and she will be much improved on her first-up half-head second to Aly Shar,” Voak said. Run For Mercy set the pace in the four-horse trial and rated 1.57.4 in beating Make It Happen by five lengths with final quarters in 28.6sec., 28.7sec. and 28.1sec.
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