Octogenarian Wanneroo owner-trainer Ken White has Fernleigh Rebel at his peak and the five-year-old looks the bet of the night at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred Fernleigh Rebel possesses blistering gate speed and Chris Lewis will be aiming for an all-the-way win from the prized No. 1 barrier in the first qualifying heat of the Alltools Kersley Pace over 2130m.
Fernleigh Rebel revealed sizzling early pace from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the 1730m Pat Cranley Memorial last Friday night. But Pelusiac and Romulus kept him wide in the early stages and Lewis had no option but to restrain the gelding back to last, with the polemarker Scuba Steve setting the pace.
Fernleigh Rebel then sustained a spirited last-lap burst to come from the rear to finish an eye-catching second to Another Vinnie. The previous week Fernleigh Rebel began with tremendous alacrity from the No. 6 barrier to set the pace and go on and win from Lord Lombo and Lunar Tide over 1730m, rating 1.55.3.
Another Vinnie, who ran home strongly from sixth at the bell to win by 4m last week, will start from barrier three this week and will again have many admirers.
However, the main danger to Fernleigh Rebel is sure to be Cyamach, who was a smart first-up winner last Friday week when Gary Hall jun. took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier by setting the pace and sprinting over the final 800m in 56.9sec. to beat Must Be Nice. Cyamach is ideally drawn this week on the inside of the back line and Hall is certain to give the six-year-old the best possible chance by trailing the frontrunning Fernleigh Rebel.
Fernleigh Rebel won twice from five starts in New Zealand and then raced 19 times in New South Wales for six wins and seven placings before arriving in Western Australia where his first 18 starts have produced three wins and five placings.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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