Ace trainer-reinsman Colin Brown concedes that Calais is a better pacer than his runner Driven, but he is quietly confident that Driven will beat Calais in the 2130m Happy 30th Richie Polak Pathway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Seven-year-old Driven will start from the No. 1 barrier and Brown plans to set the pace, with five-year-old Calais most likely to be given the task of working hard in the breeze after starting from the No. 2 barrier.
Driven, who has managed just one win (when he led from barrier one at Northam six starts ago) from his past 18 starts, had no luck at all when he started out wide at barrier seven in a 2130m event at Gloucester Park last Friday night. He was ninth (and last) at the bell and was blocked for a clear passage in the final circuit when a close-up sixth behind Suspicious Behavia.
“I think that Calais may be a better horse than Driven and in 12 months’ time we’ll see Calais possibly a lot better advanced than Driven,” Brown said. “However, Driven is a very good frontrunner and in front he can run time. This really looks his chance on a Friday night to win a Pathway.
“He’s now in the form to win an M0. All he has to do is draw (favourably). He is no superstar, but he’s well and truly on top of his game.”
Driven, who was a consistent performer at Menangle for Blake Fitzpatrick, was purchased last year by clients of Brown’s stable and made a successful start to his Western Australian career with three wins in Kalgoorlie last November.
Calais, trained and driven in his races by Robbie Williams, shows excellent promise and looks certain to improve dramatically on his record of three wins and seven placings from 16 starts. He had a tough run in the breeze when a fighting second to Ohoka Cooper over 2536m on Tuesday of last week. That followed excellent seconds to Bungalow Bill at his two previous starts.
Adding interest to Friday night’s event will be the appearance of the Ray Williams-trained Three Kings, who will start from barrier four with Nathan Turvey in the sulky. Three Kings resumed after a spell at Kellerberrin on Sunday when he sustained a strong finishing burst to win from Just Jamie over 2530m.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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