by Ken Casellas
Serpentine trainer Gary Hall sen. Is poised to dominate the Schneider Electric Pace for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he should produce a quinella result with Runrunjimmydunn and El Barcelona.
Hall will also be represented by The Publisher (Lauren Jones) and Vincenzo Peruggia (Nathan Turvey), who will be reappearing after spells.
Clint Hall will handle Runrunjimmydunn from the No. 6 barrier on the front line and Gary Hall jun. will be in the sulky behind El Barcelona, who has drawn out wide at No. 8.
Hall sen. leans slightly towards Runrunjimmydunn ahead of El Barcelona, each of whom will be racing for the first time since contesting the WA Derby last Friday week.
Runrunjimmydunn had a tough run in the breeze before wilting to eighth behind Handsandwheels in the Derby, while El Barcelona raced four back on the pegs in eighth place before finishing solidly into fifth place.
“It wasn’t ideal for Runrunjimmydunn, breezing over the 2536m,” said Hall sen. “He has trained on well and should run a strong race. So should El Barcelona. They are definite Golden Nugget contenders later in the year.
“The Publisher and Vincenzo Peruggia trialled well at Byford on Sunday, but I think that this is a bit of a rise in class for them.”
Vincenzo Peruggia started from barrier one in the 2150m trial and he rated 1.59.8 in winning by a short half-head from The Publisher, who started from the back line in the field of six. The final quarters were run in 29.5sec. and 28.5sec.
Vincenzo Peruggia, a winner at four of his 19 starts, has not appeared since he raced in the breeze and finished fourth in moderate company in Kalgoorlie on December 2. The Publisher will be making his Australian debut after winning once from eight starts in New Zealand.
The Debra Lewis-trained Ultimate Flyer warmed up for Friday night’s race with a smart all-the-way victory as a 10/1 on favourite at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night. Ultimate Flyer sprinted over the final 400m section in 27.9sec. and rated 1.56.7 in beating Muscle Torque by more than three lengths over the 1730m journey.
Ultimate Flyer steps up considerably in class on Friday night, but is capable of a bold showing after starting from barrier two on the front line.
Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice has chosen to drive Courage To Live (barrier seven) ahead of stablemate Bravo Tex (barrier five). “He’s better than Bravo Tex and a bit more versatile,” Prentice said.
Courage To Live was a smart all-the-way winner, rating 1.57.1 over 2100m at Bunbury on April 1 and then six nights later he sustained a spirited three-wide burst which carrier him from ninth at the bell to finish a head second to Michael Joseph over 2536m at Gloucester Park.
“He’s only a little-framed horse and he didn’t quite handle the six-day back-up,” Prentice said. “He also gets a bit nervous on race nights.”
Prentice drove Bravo Tex when he worked hard in the breeze before finishing determinedly to win from Punters Dream over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday night. This followed placings at Bunbury at his two previous starts. Tom Buchanan will drive Bravo Tex on Friday night.
“Bravo Tex went really well last Saturday night,” Prentice said. “He’s always had the ability, but it’s been a matter of him working out what race day is all about. He switches on and off. But his past few runs have been pretty good.
“The other night, was the first time he has travelled the whole way.”
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