Tough New Zealand-bred gelding Chief Thundercloud will resume racing after a five-month absence when he starts from the back mark of 20m in the www.Austrottingsale.com.au Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The eight-year-old, to be handled by leading reinsman Chris Lewis, is a standing-start specialist whose seven wins from 24 starts in Western Australia have all been in stands. He started off 20m when he raced three wide in the final circuit before winning the 3309m Marathon Handicap from Norvic Nightowl last August.
Trainer Ross Olivieri took Chief Thundercloud to the Byford trials on Sunday morning when the gelding looked sharp to win the two-horse trial by a nose from Bettor Offer. After a leisurely early pace, Chief Thundercloud sprinted over the final quarters in 28.8sec. and 27.5sec.
Among Chief Thundercloud’s main rivals will be smart four-year-old Assassinator, who will start off the front line with Ryan Warwick in the sulky. Assassinator, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has had 45 starts for 11 wins and 19 placings and this will be his first appearance in a stand.
Assassinator ran home solidly from seventh on the pegs at the bell to finish third behind Fernleigh Rebel and Soho Monza over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.
Waltzing With Cullen, who will start off 10m and will be driven by Michael Grantham, is racing keenly and will have many admirers. His starts in his current campaign have produced one win and five placings. The Nathan Turvey-trained and driven Sonic Classic (10m) also is in sound form and cannot be overlooked after his all-the-way win two starts ago followed by a sound third behind Firebomb last Friday week.
Pinjarra trainer Michael Brennan also has five-year-old Back On Board racing in fine style. He has raced with a sit before finishing solidly to be placed behind Copagrin and Sonic Classic at two of his past three starts.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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