27 February 2020 | Ken Casellas
Five-year-old Naval Aviator has managed just one placing from his past 13 starts, but he has excellent prospects of breaking through for an overdue victory when he starts from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the Mexican March Madness Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Mr Aviator gelding, who is trained and driven by Aldo Cortopassi, is a good frontrunner, having won when leading at Pinjarra, Narrogin, Bunbury, Gloucester Park, Northam and Albany.
He put the writing on the wall for another win with a splendid performance over 2536m last Friday night. He started out wide at barrier eight and settled in ninth position in a field of ten before Cortopassi sent him forward in the first circuit and getting a half length in front of the pacemaker Runaway Three after 600m.
But Naval Aviator was unable to cross to the front for two laps before dead-heating for fourth behind the fast-finishing Iceenothink.
Runaway Three will start from barrier two in this week’s race and Gary Hall jnr is likely to make a bid for the early lead with the capable frontrunner. Also appearing certain to make a strong bid to lead is the Sue Wiscombe-trained Saleahs Comand, who will start from the No. 5 barrier.
Lindsay Harper got Saleahs Comand away speedily from barrier seven at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week when the seven-year-old relished his pacemaking role and held on to win by a half-length from Minimum Wage.
Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams has produced Dreamy Nights in fine fettle after a spell and the six-year-old will have admirers after his last-start victory when he sat behind the pacemaker and hot favourite Bletchley Park and finished strongly.
Cortopassi has driven Dreamy Nights at his past eight starts and at 20 of his past 21 starts. He has been in the sulky for ten of the New Zealand-bred pacer’s 11 wins in WA. With Cortopassi committed to driving his own nomination, Naval Aviator, Williams has engaged Ryan Warwick to handle Dreamy Nights from barrier No. 5.
The Ross Olivieri-trained The Dali Express also has winning claims. He will start from barrier two on the back line and should enjoy an ideal passage throughout. The Dali Express finished strongly when third behind Iceenothink and Runaway Three last Friday night.
Chris Voak, who has landed 94 winners this season, has sound prospects of getting away to a flying start to the ten-event meeting by driving Iconic Valor to victory in the opening event, the Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace.
Iconic Valor, trained by Ross Olivieri, is handily drawn at barrier two and he should fight out the finish with last-start all-the-way winner My Carbon Copy (inside of the back line), Fanci A Dance and Grinny Vinnie.
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