By Adam Hamilton
Caretaker trainer Greg Bond is happy with Franco Nelson, but concedes his draw presents “quite a challenge” in the $60,000 Group 2 Village Kid Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park tonight.
The classy Kiwi pacer has drawn wide in gate six with major rivals Beaudiene Boaz (two), Mynameiskenny (three), Chicago Bull (four) and Our Jimmy Johnstone (five) all drawn inside him.
It will Franco Nelson’s first run since being left with Greg and Skye Bond following his luckless fifth in the Perth Inter Dominion final on December 9.
“He’s trained on well. He’s working great, but the draw makes it tricky,” Greg Bond said.
Interestingly Bond’s number one stable driver Ryan Warwick is aboard Our Jimmy Johnstone, while Ryan Bell has the gig on Franco Nelson. Bond’s other runner, Change Stride, will be driven by Chris Lewis.
Lewis is rapidly closing-in on 5000 career wins. He will join Gavin Lang and Chris Alford as the only Australasian drivers to do so.
Beaudiene Boaz is a staggering short $1.30 favourite from gate two, the best draw he’s had in months.
Gary Hall Sr’s five-year-old looks leader and hard to beat, but it is interesting connections have scrapped plans to tackle the Victoria and Hunter Cups.
Why you ask? Because, in Hall Sr’s words, Beaudiene Boaz has become a “bit colty.”
Maybe it won’t affect his his form at his home track, but it’s obviously enough for Hall Sr not to want to travel him.
Hall Sr has four runners in the Village Kid. The others are buzz four-year-old Chicago Bull, the in-form Cyamach (seven) and classy mare Ideal Alice (11).
All the big names from the Village Kid will join the likes of John Of Arc, Run Oneover, Rub Of The Green and Major Reality in next Friday’s $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup and the $450,000 Group 1 WA Cup a week later.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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