Powerplay set for a bold effort

WA-bred three-year-old Powerplay has the ability to lead and prove too strong for his ten older rivals in the 2130m www.horseandhound.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night according to champion reinsman Chris Lewis.

Powerplay, prepared by Debra Lewis, warmed up for Friday night’s event with a smart frontrunning performance in winning from Arma Einstein over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.

“One is an ideal draw for him,” said Lewis. “He gets out good and should hold up easily and run a race. I was happy with his Pinjarra win when he got home good (with a final 400m in 26.9sec.).”

One of Powerplay’s main rivals is likely to be eight-year-old Batavia On Fire, who will start from the No. 3 barrier at his first appearance for 16 months. He impressed in scoring an easy three-length win over Bettor My Dreamz in a 2116m standing-start trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.

Chris Voak drove Batavia On Fire in the trial, and he deliberated at length before choosing to drive former South Australian performer Whatabro, who is trained by Michael Brennan and will start from the outside of the back line.

Voak handled the four-year-old Whatabro at his West Australian debut when he trailed the pacemaker and was hampered for room in the closing stages and finished second to See Ya Write over 2242m at Narrogin last Saturday night. Trainer Giles Inwood has engaged Gary Hall jnr to drive Batavia On Fire.

Though he has drawn out wide at barrier eight, Caveman cannot be left out of calculations. He followed his fast-finishing second to Fanci A Dance with a strong all-the-way victory over Alta Intrigue on Sunday night.

Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg has Deeorse close to another win and the five-year-old is capable of a bold showing, despite his awkward draw at barrier six. He enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing fast into third place behind Beach City at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.

Trainer-reinsman Colin Brown said that he expected a good showing from Regal Cheval, who will start from the inside of the back line. “He is going better than a fourth and a fifth at his past two starts might indicate,” he said.

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