05 October 2017 | Ken Casellas
Ten-year-old gelding Cut For An Ace is racing with youthful enthusiasm for Blythewood trainer Michael Brennan, and his nephew Michael Grantham predicts that the old-timer has excellent prospects of turning the tables on top-flight pacer Heez On Fire when they clash in the 2503m TABtouch Inter Dominion Barrier Draw Luncheon Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Heez On Fire, trained by Bill Horn, unwound a sizzling late burst of speed to win narrowly from Cut For An Ace in a 2503m stand last Friday week.
This week Heez On Fire will start from the back mark of 40m, with Cut For An Ace handicapped off 20m. This means that Cut For An Ace will meet Heez On Fire on 10m better terms.
“Cut For An Ace was super impressive last start,” said Grantham. “He led up the three-wide train, with Heez On Fire on his back. Heez On Fire had the advantage of the cart-up and he was able to get over the top of Cut For An Ace in the closing stages. This week Cut For An Ace can definitely beat Heez On Fire.”
Aldo Cortopassi, who has driven Heez On Fire at his past 11 starts for four wins for veteran trainer Bill Horn, will be in Kalgoorlie on Friday night where he has ten runners on the six-event program. Colin Brown has been engaged to handle the eight-year-old Heez On Fire, reuniting with the gelding he drove five times for three wins as a two-year-old in 2012.
Adding considerable interest to Friday night’s race will be the appearance of The Odd Lover for Oldbury trainer-reinsman Kim Prentice.
The Odd Lover, a six-year-old with an imposing record of 20 starts for 11 wins and seven seconds, will start from the 10m line at his first outing since winning at Gloucester Park 14 months ago. He has recovered from a suspensory injury and has had a thorough preparation.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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