30 December 2022 | Tim Walker
The race for Pacing Cup spots heats up at Gloucester Park tonight, with several horses looking to force their way inside the top 12 on the rankings.
Magnificent Storm was number one on the first set of rankings released last week and tomorrow night’s Celebrate NYE At Gloucester Park Pace (2536m) has up to nine runners outside the top 12 lining up.
The Greg and Skye Bond stable will be out to continue its recent strong run of form in the $30,000 event, with four runners set to line up.
Tonight’s race looks set to carry the most significance for Ideal Agent, who sits at 19 on the rankings.
The five-year-old has drawn barrier 10 on the back of Vultan Tin and looms as a key player.
Greg Bond said he desperately wanted to get Ideal Agent to the Pacing Cups.
“He was one that was a bit lower on the rankings than I expected him to be,” Bond told The Trots WA.
“His form is great and he wouldn’t be out of his depth in the big races.
“His runs in Free-For-All to date have been great, but the draws haven’t been kind to him.
“The barrier is tricky again tomorrow night, so hopefully things will open for him.
“He’s got speed and bottom to him.”
Minstrel is one of two runners the Bond team have inside the top 12 and made a promising return to racing last Friday.
The five-year-old stormed home to finish fourth behind Diego.
Bond said it was a relief to have the reigning Fremantle Cup winner back somewhere near his best.
“We were a lot happier with him last week,” he said.
“He’s come through the run great and that’s why he’s backing up.
“I want to see him hitting the line tomorrow night and we will leave it to Ryan (Warwick) on what he wants to do.”
Vampiro makes his return to the track in tomorrow night’s event for the first time since last year’s Fremantle Cup.
The veteran pacer has drawn barrier three and Bond said he was happy with how he had come up in preparation for his return.
“I expect him to run a forward race tomorrow,” he said.
“We haven’t got any specific plans and I think we will leave it to Colin (Brown) to see how he feels at the start.
“His work has been right up to where it has been in past campaigns.”
Galactic Star is the other runner for the Bond stable in the feature.
Vultan Tin has drawn barrier one for his return and is the joint favourite at $4.20 with TABtouch, alongside the Gary Hall Snr-trained Prince Of Pleasure.
Minstrel ($5) and Ideal Agent ($6.50) are among the other key chances in the event.
Meanwhile, Bond said he would wait to see how Golden Nugget winner Himself performed in tonight’s $1m Nullarbor 14 April 2023 Pace before committing to paying the late entry fee for the Pacing Cups.
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