Talented reinsman Mark Reed has given punters a significant lead by choosing to drive Maczaffair in preference to The Beachcomber in the $50,000 Champagne Classic for two-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His father, Mike, trains both youngsters at his Henley Brook property and he has high hopes that Maczaffair, the only filly in the race, will prove the master of the colts and geldings.
Maczaffair, a New Zealand-bred filly by Mach Three, has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier and she looks set to lead. Only a small percentage of fillies have contested the first 46 runnings of the Champagne Stakes. Nine have been successful — Jidaley (1971), Deep Décor (1974), Chryso Mou (1976), Whitby Tolez (1991), Whitbys Merit (1993), Nowuseemenowudont (2000), Sheza Clout (2006), Arma Xpress (2012) and Tricky Styx (2014).
This week’s 2130m classic brings together an even field of nine and it is difficult to predict what runner will start favourite. The past six favourites have been beaten and they include Polak, who started at 7/4 for Mike and Mark Reed in 2011. Polak was the only runner off the back line and he raced wide for much of the way before finishing fifth behind 9/1 chance Major Catastrophe.
The other beaten favourites over the past six years have been Scot Bay (evens), Getaway Plan (5/4 on), Lukey (11/8), Persistent Threat (2/1 on) and Ideal Tyson (5/2 on). The most recent successful favourite was David Hercules, who was a 5/4 chance when he defeated Big Bang Theory in 2009.
Mark Reed drove The Beachcomber, a gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, when he finished an unlucky fifth behind Allmightyjoelouis in the group 1 Sales Classic last Friday night. The Beachcomber met with severe interference about 200m after the start. At his previous outing, he was restrained from a wide barrier and raced three wide in the middle stages and in the breeze before winning from Itz Dynamo at Gloucester Park.
The Beachcomber is favourably drawn at barrier two in Friday night’s classic and will be driven by the in-form Ryan Warwick.
Maczaffair has been freshened up since she started from the outside in a field of eight in the 1730m Western Crown Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on April 1. She fought on grimly to finish third behind the pacemaker Im Stylish and Beach Goddess (who trailed the leader throughout).
At her previous appearance (her first in WA) she began speedily from barrier four and set the pace before winning from Im Rockaria and Vincenzo Peruggia at a 1.56.9 rate over 1684m at Pinjarra on March 21. At her only other start Maczaffair finished second, a short half-head behind Renske B in New Zealand on February 14.
El Barcelona, a New Zealand-bred gelding by American stallion Dali, is favourably drawn at barrier three and leading trainer Gary Hall sen. predicts a bright future for the youngster.
El Barcelona made an auspicious debut at Bunbury last Saturday week when he led from barrier one and broke into a gallop, losing three lengths, when Wesley crossed to the front after 200m. He then settled down and trailed Wesley before breaking for a couple of strides at the bell. He finished determinedly along the sprint lane to snatch victory by a half-head from Heza Head Honcho.
He then raced at Bunbury last Saturday night when he worked hard in the breeze and finished third behind Major Pocket and Our Zak Whitby.
“He overraced at times outside of Major Pocket and that didn’t suit him,” said Hall. ”He’s still green, but I think he can turn the tables on Major Pocket. If he settles down, nothing will get near him.”
Major Pocket, who is trained at Mt Helena by Ray Williams, will start from the No. 4 barrier. He has raced twice for convincing victories, rating 1.57.2 over 1684m at Pinjarra, and scoring in 1.53.8 over 1609m at Bunbury last Saturday night. He looms as a major hope.
Heza Head Honcho, trained by Frank Bonnett in Bunbury, also will have many admirers His three starts have produced wins over 1609m (1.55.8) at Bunbury and over 1730m (1.56.6) at Gloucester Park and a half-head second to El Barcelona over 1609m (1.55.6) at Bunbury. He will start from barrier five.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
