30 December 2020 | Ken Casellas
The No. 1 barrier in mobile events provides a major percentage of winners at Gloucester Park with pacers relishing the golden opportunity to set the pace and dictate the terms of the race.
However, the burning question at Gloucester Park on Thursday night is whether veteran performer Destined To Rule can break through for his first victory after starting from the No. 1 barrier in a mobile event.
The seven-year-old part-owned and trained by Sonia Zucchiatti and to be driven by her daughter Deni Roberts has begun from barrier No. 1 in mobiles 17 times without success recording six seconds, three thirds, four fourths, three fifths and one sixth placing.
Destined To Rule has reasonable gate speed but has not once attempted to set the pace in those 17 events. He generally has trailed the pacemaker or raced three back on the pegs before finishing solidly.
He started from the No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park on Monday afternoon when he lacked early sparkle and raced four back on the pegs before finishing with a determined burst to be second to stablemate Ideal Investment. Ten days before that Destined To Rule was eighth at the bell before following the three-wide burst of Roman Aviator and finishing an excellent second to that pacer.
Destined To Rule has a losing sequence of 27 and a career record of 147 starts for 12 wins, 50 placings and $192,580 in prizemoney. He should race in a commanding position throughout in Thursday night’s event and is sure to be running home strongly.
Some of his chief rivals also have disturbing losing sequences Always Arjay (29), Black Jack Zac (44) and Mister Ardee (32). But they all will have many admirers.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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