Six-year-olds Im A Peregrine and Vapour are the tightest assessed pacers as M4-class performers in the $23,000 Del Basso Smallgoods Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — and they should fight out the finish of the 2130m event.
Im A Peregrine is in splendid form for Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri and he has bright prospects. He will start out wide at barrier seven on the front line, but young reinsman Stuart McDonald is sure to take full advantage of the gelding’s major assets — a fast beginning and a propensity to lead or work hard in the breeze.
“He’s a very strong horse and he loves rolling,” said McDonald after Im A Peregrine had given a powerful frontrunning display to win the 2130m Christmas Gift final from Mighty Flying Thomas and Mohegan Sun last Friday week. After a fast lead time of 35.5sec. Im A Peregrine forged to the front after 450m and after slowing down for opening quarters of the final mile in 30.3sec. and 32.1sec. Im A Peregrine gave his rivals little hope by dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 27.9sec.
Vapour, to be driven by Clint Hall for leading trainer Gary Hall sen., will start from the inside of the back line and should be prominent throughout. He will be having his third start after a spell and will pay to follow. He impressed, first-up, two start ago when he raced without cover in the final circuit and finished determinedly to be a neck second to his brilliant stablemate John of Arc, with the final quarter of the 2130m event whizzing by in 27.1sec.
Bronze Seeker, trained by Peter Anderson at Byford, has struck form and should be running home strongly after starting from barrier two on the back line. He sustained a strong three-wide burst to finish a last-start fourth behind Im A Peregrine, following fast-finishing victories at his two previous outings.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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