Evergreen nine-year-old pacer Avonnova has a losing sequence of nine and is a veteran of 137 starts, but Queensland owner-trainer Ian Gurney is bubbling with confidence that the hardy gelding will prove hard to beat in the $60,000 Village Kid Sprint over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gurney is not intimidated by the magnitude of the task of challenging and beating the powerful squad of six runners from the all-conquering stable of champion West Australian trainer Gary Hall sen.
Hall’s runners, including rising superstar Beaudiene Boaz, 2015 WA Pacing Cup winner My Hard Copy and the richly-talented but injury-plagued John of Arc, look set to dominate the Village Kid Sprint. But Gurney is not fazed by the class of Avonnova’s opposition.
Avonnova, to be driven by Shane Graham, has drawn favourably at barrier three in the one line of nine runners and Gurney declared that the gelding would be driven aggressively.
“I’ll discuss tactics with Shane when he arrives from Brisbane,” Gurney said. “But I can say that Avonnova is brilliant in the breeze and even better in front. He’s a forward-going horse and should be going forward. I’d say that he will be launching forward and will keep punching. He’s a real chance.”
Gurney has every reason to feel confident. Avonnova has won 45 races and has been placed 41 times, with 15 of his wins over sprint journeys between 1609m and 1730m.
Avonnova led and finished a close second to dual interdominion champion Beautide in the group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle in April 2014 and seven months later he started out wide at barrier eight when he set the pace and won the Newcastle Mile (1609m) from Teo Enteo and Chariot King when his time of 1.52.2 broke Beautide’s track record of 1.52.6. At Albion Park last July Avonnova, a free-legged pacer, led from the No., 1 barrier and won the group 1 Sunshine Sprint from Smolda, rating 1.51.3.
“He’s a great sprinter,” Gurney said. “He should have beaten Im Themightyquinn in the Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park in July 2014. He raced in the chair (breeze) and Im Themightyquinn sat behind him. And that’s what enabled Im Themightyquinn to beat Avonnova.
“Avonnova is a nine-year-old but is still capable of running fast times. He is working beautifully. Since I’ve been in WA he has never felt better and he has never worked better. The very hot weather has not affected him; all I’ve made sure is that I have kept him hydrated.”
Avonnova has worked in grand style at the Forrestdale stables of star trainers Greg and Skye Bond since his outstanding effort to finish fourth behind Lennytheshark in the final of the TABtouch interdominion championship at Gloucester Park three Sundays ago.
In the final Avonnova settled well back before Graham urged the gelding forward with a spirited three-wide burst which carried him into third place 300m after the start. But Avonnova was unable to get past Lennytheshark and into the breeze, forcing Graham to restrain the gelding back to the rear. Avonnova was last in the field of ten at the 400m mark before he finished powerfully with an inside run to be fourth.
Avonnova appears to have sound prospects of getting to an early lead from the No. 3 barrier and with Beaudiene Boaz and the four-year-old’s stablemate Waylade drawn on his inside.
Waylade is not blessed with outstanding gate speed and the inexperienced Beaudiene Boaz faces his first serious test in open-class company.
There is no doubting Beaudiene Boaz’s class and his wonderful potential. He is unbeaten at his four appearances over 1730m at Gloucester Park, recording rates of 1.54.6, 1.54.4, 1.54.8 and 1.55. He has raced only 26 times for 19 wins and three placings for earnings of $704,504. His victories include the group 1 Golden Slipper, the group 3 Caduceus Club Classic, the group 2 Western Gateway and the group 1 features, the WA Derby and the Golden Nugget.
Beaudiene Boaz, to be driven by ace reinsman Gary Hall jun., was not extended at his most recent appearance when he raced wide early and burst to the front after 700m before dashing over the final three quarters in 28.5sec., 28.8sec. and 28.7sec. and scoring a 5m win over Kiwi Legend at a 1.55.7 rate in the 2536m Golden Nugget three Sundays ago.
My Hard Copy is a brilliant sit-sprinter who has won three times over 1730m at Gloucester Park, with a best rate of 1.54.6 and John of Arc has raced twice over 1730m for stylish victories in 1.55.2 and 1.53.4.
Apart from Beaudiene Boaz, My Hard Copy and John of Arc, the Hall stable will be represented in the field of nine by Waylade, Crusader Banner and Classic American. As well as that, the Hall-trained Run Oneover and Machtu are the emergencies. Hall sen. has won the Village Kid Sprint (formerly the Celebrity Sprint) with The Falcon Strike (2003), Rakarebel (2011) and Hokonui Ben (2013).
Lovers Delight, who set the pace and finished a splendid second to Lennytheshark in the interdominion final, and star mare Libertybelle Midfrew, winner of the WA Oaks and Golden Nugget in 2014, make up the star-studded field.
Lovers Delight, trained in Bunbury by Stephen Reed, will again be handled by Chris Lewis. Lovers Delight will start from the No. 6 barrier and Lewis will think seriously about using the gelding’s sparkling early speed in a bid to get to the front or into the breeze. Lovers Delight sprinted the final 800m in 55.1sec. when he won a 2100m trial at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park by ten lengths on Wednesday of last week.
Libertybelle Midfrew, trained by Reed’s father Mike, faces a tough assignment from the No. 8 barrier. The mare will be handled by Mark Reed, who has driven the winner of the Village Kid Sprint with Another Party (2000) and Lookslikelightning (2006).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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