Although he hasn’t won since taking out a claimer in September last year, Kotare Roland takes good form into Sunday’s Gunbower Family Hotel Gunbower Pacing Cup.
The seven-year-old gelding from the Roly Wilson stable at Yarra Glen powered home at Melton last Friday night in the Kerryn & Arden Rooney FFA, recording a 26.9-second final quarter and a 55.5secs final half to finish fifth.
Two runs back he notched the third-fastest final 400m of the night at Melton when sixth behind Major Crocker and despite only beating one runner home he finished off strongly three runs back when beaten less than 12m by Inter Dominion hopeful Lennytheshark.
“(Driver) Neil (McCallum) was pretty chuffed last week. He came back smiling,” Wilson said.
“It didn’t surprise me how well he finished off. He’s always shown he can win a nice race.”
Kotare Roland won last year’s Enduro at Melton, a stand-start race over 2760m, suggesting the 2630m stand conditions at Gunbower will suit.
“I think he’ll possibly lead or take a sit behind one of the good ones from the pole,” Wilson said.
Plenty of big-name stables are represented in the Gunbower Pacing Cup including Amanda Turnbull and Nathan Jack with Star Black, Nicole Molander with Cillas Boy and Im Meticulous, Peter Manning with Narra Operative, Vince Vallelonga with Manuka Man and Brent Lilley with emergency Eric Clapton.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
