01 November 2018 | Ken Casellas
Talented lightly-raced pacer Just Bet On Black is thriving on a new preparation and he will reappear after a 12-month absence when he starts from barrier seven in the www.gloucesterpark.com.au Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Just Bet On Black, whose 32 starts have produced ten wins, six seconds and three thirds, is now prepared at Banjup by Dylan Egerton-Green, who said he was pleased with the New Zealand-bred gelding’s work.
“He had a few problems a year ago, so he went out for six months,” Egerton-Green said. “When he came back he still had a few problems, so we’ve tried to bring him back to the races without giving him trials. His heart rates have been good on the work he’s done. I’ve given him a different preparation, a lot of gallop work and have kept him off the track.”
Just Bet On Black meets only moderate opposition on Friday night and is capable of a bold showing. His chief rivals loom as the warm favourite Bettor Finish (who has been placed at four of his six starts this season and hasn’t enjoyed much luck) and Kimani, who impressed with a strong first-up second to Chiaroscuro last Friday night.
That was six-year-old Kimani’s first placing from eight starts in WA. He was eighth at the bell and charged home with a sparkling late burst to finish just a neck behind the winner, with a final quarter of 28.3sec.
Kimani, to be driven by Stuart McDonald for trainer Gary Hall Snr, faces a stern test from out wide at barrier eight, but Hall said the gelding would go close, particularly if the pace of the race was strong.
“When Kimani (a winner of eight races in Victoria) arrived, he wasn’t going any good, so I spelled him,” Hall said. “I’ve brought him back and he’s going a lot better.” Kimani is bred to be a good winner, with his dam Lizzie Maguire (by Christian Cullen) amassing $465,579 in stakes from 12 wins and nine placings from just 28 starts.
Egerton-Green is looking forward to a busy night on Friday. Apart from Just Bet On Black, he will be driving Ona Happy Note and Im Master Charlie for Pinjarra trainer Michael Brennan, Suspicious Life (whom he trains), Maczaffair for Mike Reed, Better B Chevron for Greg and Skye Bond and Aussie Jet for Hayden Reeves.
He said that Suspicious Life, a smart second-up winner over Scotlyn Beach last Friday week, had sound each-way prospects in race four and was looking forward to driving Maczaffair in the James Brennan Memorial and Better B Chevron off the back mark of 20m in a 2503m stand in which stablemate Mitch Maguire will be a warm fancy to notch his 21st victory from only 33 starts.
“Maczaffair had no luck when unplaced in the Parliamentarians Cup last week,” he said. “The race didn’t unfold the way we expected. She saw no daylight.”
Egerton-Green surprised when he opted to drive nine-year-old Aussie Jet in the final event, the 1730m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace, in preference to another nine-year-old Northern Emperor, who impressed last Friday night with his fast-finishing fourth behind Benhope Rulz.
Aussie Jet, trained at Coolup by Hayden Reeves, is out of the 2000 WA Oaks winner Pharosan and has a losing sequence of 51, going back to April 24, 2015 when Egerton-Green drove her to victory over Fully Zapped over 2130m at Gloucester Park. Egerton-Green was in the sulky behind Aussie Jet at Kellerberrin last Sunday when the gelding started from the back line, raced wide and then in the breeze before wilting to eighth behind Mighty Conqueror.
“It’s the barrier draw that made up my mind,” said Egerton-Green. “Aussie Jet will start from barrier one and Northern Emperor out at No. 7. I expect Aussie Jet to run an all-right race. I’ll run the gate and see what happens.”
Egerton-Green, who has driven 20 winners in the first two months of the 2018-19 season, also faces a very busy night at Northam’s Burwood Park on Friday night when he has a drive in each of the eight events.
He will start the program by driving the Reeves-trained Camilla, who looks a strong chance from the No. 2 barrier, particularly after her encouraging half-length second to Perlee Gates at Narrogin last Saturday night.
Egerton-Green said that he considered Tyler Brett, a four-year-old he trains, was his best winning prospect. Tyler Brett made an excellent return to racing after a spell when he won at Pinjarra last Monday week, beating Kerrin Joseph, Thereugo and Danieljohn.
“It won’t be easy from the outside of the front line, but he should figure in the finish,” said Egerton-Green. “Saying Grace and Millview Sienna look to be the toughest to beat.”
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