by Ken Casellas
Ravenswood trainer-reinsman Nathan Turvey, Peter Ensel and Michael Rowe have no regrets of their decision to buy Livura from New Zealand for $45,000 in March of last year and the six-year-old looks a star bet in the second heat of the TABtouch Inter Dominion Starts November 24 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The son of Live Or Die has been placed diligently and cleverly by Turvey and is still classified as an M0 performer, despite earnings of $168,420 from 16 wins and 26 placings from 62 starts.
Livura has raced 36 times in Western Australia for 12 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $125,985. He was successful at his first four starts in this State, two at Northam and two at Narrogin in April-May 2016 and last summer he finished second to Master Jaxon in the Group 2 San Simeon Classic and third behind Rub of the Green and Ideal Tyson in the Group 3 Christmas Gift before finishing a head second to Harry Hoo in the Pure Steel Final, a listed classic, in May this year.
Turvey is confident that Livura will prove hard to beat this week when having his first start for five weeks. At his latest appearance, on August 11, Livura started from the back line and Turvey quickly had him racing in the one-out, one-back position before dashing him forward in the middle stages to work in the breeze outside the pacemaker Argyle Red. Livura finished strongly to hit the lead 90m from the post and win by a short half-head from the fast-finishing Military Master.
“I have given him a little freshen-up, but he’s pretty forward (in condition) and we’ll be coming out hard (from barrier three) in a bid to lead,” Turvey said. “If we can’t cross to the front, I’ll be quite happy to sit in the breeze.”
Turvey said that he had placed Livura well in selecting his races. “I haven’t set any targets for him,” he said. “But this preparation we’ll see how far he can go. He can sit on good speed and still have a good kick at the end.”
Livura’s chief rival on Friday night is sure to be the Skye Bond-trained Bettor Not Bitter, the only runner off the back line. Bettor Not Bitter, who has earned $56,739 from nine wins and nine placings from 31 starts, has a bright future and will pay to follow in the coming months.
He galloped at the standing start and again 150m later and gave an eye-catching performance to surge home, out wide, from tenth at the bell to finish an extremely close fourth behind Ohoka Kentucky last Friday night. His past six starts have been in stands and he is sure to appreciate a return to mobile racing.
Bettor Not Bitter will be driven by Ryan Warwick, who also has bright prospects with other Bond-trained pacers Donegal Rundlescreek and Mighty Mr Sharkey.
Donegal Rundlescreek is in splendid form, but has to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the Season Award Winners Pace for mares. She has the ability to do just that.
Donegal Rundlescreek caught the eye last Friday night when she was tenth at the bell before sustaining a spirited burst to finish a close third to Thereugo and Lets Chase The Dream over 2130m. She finished powerfully from the rear to win in fine style over 2185m at Pinjarra the previous Monday.
Mighty Mr Sharkey should complete a hat-trick and record his ninth victory from 21 starts by proving too good for his 11 rivals in the Gloucester Park Leading Trainer Greg and Skye Bond Pace over 2130m.
He will start from barrier five on the front line and he is capable of mustering sufficient early pace to get to the front and then dictate the terms of the race. He started from the No. 4 barrier, dashed to the front after 400m and sprinted over the final 800m in 56.3sec. to win easily from Im Master Charlie and Webb Ellis over 2130m last Friday night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
