01 October 2020 | Ken Casellas
“Her first-up run was super, and she gets her chance to win another race on Friday night,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr when assessing Princess Mila’s prospects in the Choices Flooring Trot over 2536m at Gloucester Park this week.
Princess Mila will start from barrier No. 4 and her clash with star trotter Mr Sundon (barrier six) and the in-form Dark Secret (barrier one) should produce some exciting racing.
These three trotters met in a 2185m event at Pinjarra last Monday week when Princess Mila set the pace and was placed under considerable pressure by the hard-pulling Mr Sundon before Dark Secret, who had a comfortable passage on the pegs in third place, finished strongly to get up and beat Princess Mila.
“Mr Sundon declared Princess Mila on all the way, and she was able to beat him home,” said Hall. “She held him out and she should beat him home again, even though the small field (of six) probably suits Mr Sundon better. I think we will press forward again.”
While Princess Mila and Mr Sundon make strong appeal, it would be unwise for punters to disregard Dark Secret, who will be driven by Morgan Woodley for Waroona trainer Nigel Johns.
Hall is also hopeful that My Carbon Copy will make amends for his narrow defeat at the hands of Rakasinc last Friday week when the smart New Zealand-bred four-year-old will clash with Rakasinc, last-start winners Jimmy Mack and Talkerup and the Bond stable’s talented four-year-olds Justasec and Taroona Bromac in the 2536m Westral Pace on Friday night.
My Carbon Copy started from the outside barrier in a field of eight last Friday night when he was restrained to last before improving to sixth in the one-wide line at the bell. He then made a fast move which took him to the lead by a half-length from the pacemaker Rakasinc 270m from home.
However, Rakasinc fought back tenaciously to regain the lead in the home straight to win by a neck from My Carbon Copy, with the winner rating 1.57.4 over the 2536m. The final three quarters were covered in 28.7sec., 27.8sec. and 28.6sec.
“I was a little bit disappointed with My Carbon Copy’s run,” said Hall. “He got to the front really easily but didn’t finish it off. I thought he should have won. He might have been a little flat after his run in the Navy Cup the week before (when third behind Chicago Bull and Bletchley Park).
“I guess Jimmy Mack (barrier two) will want to lead, and My Carbon Copy should get a good run.”
Jimmy Mack, handled by Chris Lewis for trainer Ross Olivieri, gave a strong performance last Friday night when he raced in the breeze before getting to the front 550m from home and winning from the fast-finishing Rock Me Over over 2130m.
The Nathan Turvey-trained Rakasinc is in terrific form, with six wins from his past eight starts and is poised for another powerful performance. Justasec and Taroona Bromac have excellent potential and will have many admirers.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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