11 June 2020 | Ken Casellas
Talented reinsman Chris Voak, who has landed 152 winners this season, is confident that he will add to his tally by taking full advantage of the No. 1 barrier with Boom Time and My Prayer at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Boom Time, a lightly-raced New Zealand-bred six-year-old, will be given the task of repeating his effort of two starts ago when he began speedily from the No. 1 barrier, set the pace and won by almost two lengths from Our Mister Kalle over 2130m.
The gelding, prepared by Ross Olivieri, showed his versatility three starts ago when he finished powerfully from the rear to win over 2185m at Pinjarra. He had a tough run in the breeze when a last-start fourth behind Sightseeing Anvil over 2130m at Gloucester Park.
Boom Time steps up to 2536m in the Welcome Back To GP Members And Owners Pace on Friday night, with Voak saying: “The longer journey shouldn’t be a problem. He should be fit to run a strong race over this trip following his four runs here after arriving from Victoria.
“When he led and won two starts ago, we walked (with opening quarters of 33.3sec. and 30.4sec.) before sprinting home (with sections of 28sec. and 27.7sec.). He won easily with the plugs in. Master Publisher might be the hardest to beat and Cyclone Banner also goes well. But we’ve got the advantage of the better draw.
Master Publisher, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr for trainer Gary Hall snr, has impressed with wins at each of his past three starts to take his record to six wins from just 14 starts. He has the ability to overcome the wide draw at barrier seven.
Four-year-old Cyclone Banner (barrier five) is racing keenly for Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams and reinsman Aldo Cortopassi and is also capable of a bold effort.
Four-year-old My Prayer, trained in Busselton by Barry Howlett, is a consistent performer who should appreciate the No. 1 barrier in her battle against likely strong opposition from Mandy Joan, Divinia Bellezza and three-year-old fillies Sweet Maddison and Tiffany Rose in the 2130m Allwood Stud Farm Pace.
My Prayer started from the inside of the back line and trailed the pacemaker Dancing With Mach before getting clear in the late stages and flashing home to finish a neck second to her stablemate over 2130m last Friday night.
“That was her first run for a few weeks and if she had got clear a bit earlier, she probably would have finished a bit quicker,” Voak said. “She probably would’ve got up and won if the race had been a bit longer. She has won after leading and she definitely has the speed to hold up in this race. I’d say that would be plan A without having spoken yet with Barry.
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo is looking forward for a strong showing from Mandy Joan, who is handily drawn at barrier three on the front line. Mandy Joan impressed last Friday night when she started from barrier eight and finished powerfully from eighth at the bell to be a close third behind Ultimate Offer and Alta Rhett over 2130m.
“I’m still getting to know Mandy Joan,” said de Campo. “Her first two runs for me have been really good. It probably looks as though we won’t be able to find the front, with My Prayer drawn at one. However, she should be positioned on the speed and I’m pretty sure she’ll run another good race.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
