11 March 2021 | Ken Casellas
To extradite, according to the dictionary, is to give up a fugitive or prisoner to another nation or authority.
Extradite is also the name of a speedy six-year-old pacing gelding who is likely to take no prisoners when he starts from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Security Fence Specialists Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He possesses sparkling gate speed and his clash with Thereugo, one of the fastest beginners in the State, should provide some early fireworks.
Extradite, trained by Kim Prentice, will be driven by Corey Peterson, who got the gelding away speedily from barrier eight last Friday week to surge to the front after 120m. Peterson then surrendered the lead 200m later to quality four-year-old and $1.20 favourite Mirragon and fought on grandly to finish third to that pacer and Roman Art when the final 400m was covered in a brisk 27.3sec.
Extradite relished his role as pacemaker at two of his three previous starts when he won in good style from Fifty Five Reborn over 2536m and from Bettor Be Oscar and Mr Kiwi over 2130m. This week he has the natural speed to hold out a likely early challenge from Thereugo, who led from barrier four and finished second to Talkerup over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.
If there is an early war between Extradite and Thereugo it could play into the hands of Rock me Over, who is in top form after a win over Power And Grace and Major Stare followed by second placings behind Patrickthepiranha and Quick Stride.
Mighty Conqueror should give punters a flying start to the meeting by winning the opening event, the 1730m DTS Farmlock Fence Pace. The Greg and Skye Bond-trained six-year-old made a splendid return to racing after a spell when he finished third behind Vultan Tin and Miracle Moose in the 2692m Pinjarra Cup last Monday week after racing wide early and then working hard in the breeze.
He comes into this week’s event with a vastly superior record over his five rivals, having raced 35 times for 17 wins, eight placings and $562,593 in stakes.
The winner of the WA Pacing Cup in January 2020 and finishing third behind Vultan Tin and Chicago Bull in following WA Pacing Cup last December, Mighty Conqueror will start from the No. 4 barrier on Friday night when Ryan Warwick is likely to make full use of his excellent gate speed.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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