30 November 2022 | Tim Walker
All signs point towards a thrilling edition of the Group 1 Nova 93.7 4YO Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park this Friday, following an intriguing barrier draw.
Having capitalised on the advantage of barrier one in the Group 2 4YO Championship earlier this month, Lavra Joe will have to overcome barrier 12 this week.
Drawn next to him on the back row is 4YO Championship runner-up Jumpingjackmac, who will have to overcome barrier 11 to register his first Group 1 win.
The Justin Prentice-trained Mighty Ronaldo, who was third in the $50,000 4YO Championship, has drawn awkwardly in barrier six.
Mighty Ronaldo’s stablemate El Chema, who won his way into the field last Friday night, has drawn barrier one and was the main winner from the barrier draw.
Greg and Skye Bond, who trained Ana Malak to win the race in 2018, have two runners in this week’s $125,000 event, with Tenzing Bromac and Himself to start from barrier two and five respectively.
Blitzembye will be trainer Mike Reed’s only representative in the race and will start from barrier three, while his stablemate Ragazzo Mach is the second emergency.
Stamford, who flew out of the barriers to find the front early in the 4YO Championship and was able to finish fourth, has drawn barrier four and looks set to be a key player early in the race.
The Amber Hare, the only mare in the field, has barrier seven, while Finvarra and Machnificent round out the front line in eight and nine respectively.
Pinny Tiger is the other runner in the field and has drawn barrier 10.
Meanwhile, Prince Of Pleasure has got a big job in front of him as he prepares to make his Free-For-All debut on Friday night, where he has drawn barrier six.
The exciting pacer is one of two in the race for trainer Gary Hall Snr in the Nova Celebrates 20 Years Pace (2536m), with Gambit his other runner in the event.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
