Highly-promising Mach Three gelding Sprinter will be aiming to retain his undefeated record at Gloucester Park when he contests the $18,000 Ross North Homes Pace on Friday night.
He is ideally drawn at barrier two in the field of six and owner-trainer Gary Elson and reinsman Nathan Turvey are full of hope that the smart three-year-old will prove too smart for his strong opposition and improve his Gloucester Park record to five starts for five wins and enhance his WA Derby prospects.
Sprinter was WA’s star two-year-old last season, winning the $50,000 Champagne Classic and the $125,000 Golden Slipper. He reappeared after a five-month absence and had his first outing as a three-year-old in a field of three over 1823m at Narrogin on December 9 when he set the pace and was not extended in winning by a half-length from the fast-finishing Navy Blues.
Leading trainer Gary Hall sen. will be looking to upset Sprinter with either of his last-start winners Harry Hoo or Chicago Bull.
Harry Hoo, to be driven by Clint Hall from the No. 1 barrier, is showing steady improvement and has won at three of his four starts in Western Australia. He overcame the disadvantage of a punctured sulky tyre and of racing without cover to win easily from Mister Versace over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
Gary Hall jun. will drive Chicago Bull from the outside barrier in the small field and the Bettors Delight gelding is sure to prove hard to beat following his impressive victory over El Jacko, rating 1.55.9 over 2130m three Fridays ago.
Rocknroll Whitby, trained and driven by Callan Suvaljko, should make his presence felt from barrier four. He notched his third win from 11 starts when he worked hard without cover before finishing solidly to beat Soho Wolverine at a 1.58.2 rate over 1780m at Northam on December 17.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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