07 January 2021 | Ken Casellas
Veteran New Zealand-bred pacer Heez About To Rock has managed just one placing from his past 12 starts and has a losing sequence of 28 over 26 barren months.
But owner Haydn Charles and his father, trainer Kevin Charles are cautiously optimistic that the nine-year-old will take advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has been engaged to drive Heez About To Rock for the first time in the gelding’s 79-start career. Hall will be the 16th driver to handle Heez About To Rock and he is expected to use the gelding’s sound gate speed in a bid to set the pace.
None of the nine experienced geldings in the race has managed to win at any of his past five starts, with Carrera Mach (barrier No. 9) and Im Rocknroll Magic (eight) expected to be well supported.
The Ross Olivieri-trained Carrera Mach should prove hard to beat, following his encouraging last-start fourth behind Mister Ardee over 2130m on New Year’s Eve when he began from the No. 8 barrier and sustained a strong three-wide burst from the rear. He has a losing sequence of nine and has been unplaced at his past eight starts.
Im Rocknroll Magic, trained by Debra Lewis and to be handled by her husband Chris, has a losing sequence of 15 and has been placed only once from his past 14 starts.
That placing was his third behind Tellmetoattack and Miss Stonebridge over 2265m at Albany last Saturday night, and he is certainly capable of improving on that performance.
The Craig Abercromby-trained Marquisard has been unplaced from unfavourable draws at his past five starts, following smart wins from barriers one and two at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park at his two previous outings. He is best suited when leading or racing on the pegs close to the lead, and from barrier No. 4 this week he gets a reasonable chance to obtain an advantageous position.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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