24 October 2018 | Ken Casellas
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Extreme Prince has started from the prized No. 1 barrier four times in Western Australia for four second placings. He will start from barrier one in the 2130m Mondo’s Butchers and Delicatessen Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and has bright prospects of breaking through for an overdue win for Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr and young driver Lauren Jones.
Extreme Prince is likely to attempt to lead all the way and is poised to break a losing sequence of 27.
Extreme Prince is a smart frontrunner who led and won three races in a row at Penrith in August-September 2016, scoring twice over 2125m and once over 1720m. He then led from barrier six and won over 1609m in 1.53.3 at Menangle in October 2016 before comi9ng to WA.
He has sat behind the pacemaker in all of his four Gloucester Park starts from the No. 1 barrier and has finished second on each occasion behind Tas Man Bromac over 2130m, Tisadream over 2130m, Speed Man over 2536m and King of Swing over 2130m.
Extreme Prince gave convincing proof that he is ready to end his lengthy losing sequence with an eye-catching performance when fifth behind Handsandwheels over 2130m last Friday night.
He started from barrier two on the back line and raced in seventh position, four back on the pegs, before moving into the one-wide line 270m from home. However, he was blocked for a clear passage until the 100m mark and once in the open, he surged home with a flashing run to finish fifth.
Hardest for Extreme Prince to beat appear to be Livura, Rock Me Over and Neighlor.
Livura, trained and driven by Nathan Turvey, has an impressive record of 19 wins and 32 placings from 82 starts, but has a losing sequence of 12. However, he is sure to appreciate a drop in class and a favourable barrier at No. 2 on the front line. He can perform much better than unplaced efforts at his past four starts might suggest.
Four-year-old Rock Me Over has won at seven of his past 12 starts and he impressed with a his strong frontrunning performance to win from Fanci A Dance and Destined To Rule over 2130m last Friday night. Neighlor continues to race enthusiastically for trainer Matt Scott and reinsman Micheal Ferguson.
Scott will be hoping for a change of fortune with veteran mare C C Chevron in the opening event, the 2130m Italian Fireworks Night, in which she will be driven by Chris Voak.
C C Chevron raced three back on the pegs when a fighting third behind Mitch Maguire in a 2503m stand last Friday night and she should again enjoy a prominent passage from her ideal barrier at No. 1 on the front line.
C C Chevron, winner of the group 3 South Australian Derby at Globe Derby Park in January 2015, has a lengthy losing sequence of 41, stretching back to her most recent success when she led from the No. 1 barrier and beat Gotta Go Gabbana over 2130m at Gloucester Park 12 months ago.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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