21 November 2019 | Ken Casellas
Cracking reinsman Chris Voak gave punters a strong lead when he opted to drive Space Junk in the $30,000 Kersley final over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He had the choice of trainer Ross Olivieri’s other runners Iceenothink and Atmospherical, who have drawn favourably at barriers No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, with Space Junk out wide at barrier eight.
“Space Junk has drawn badly, but I’ll stick with him,” Voak said. “I have always rated Space Junk highly, but he’s had a horrific campaign. He’s been up for a long time after his injury and hasn’t shown the horse that he promised to be. If he doesn’t show something this week, I think he will be asking for the paddock.
Space Junk won three standing-start races in a row in September before a seventh in a stand behind Destined To Rule and a close fourth behind Carrera Mach after a tough run in a 2503m stand. Perhaps a return to mobile racing this week will enable Space Junk to bounce back to top form.
Iceenothink will be driven by Stuart McDonald and Mitch Miller has been engaged for Atmospherical. Voak drove Iceenothink when the seven-year-old finished third behind Gran Chico and Dominate The Dojo last Friday night. Iceenothink was badly cramped for room.
“He impressed me,” Voak said. “He had heaps to give. If I’d had a trouble-free run Shannon (Suvaljko) would have been fumbling for the ear plugs on Gran Chico. I pretty much pushed Shannon through to the dust sheet to the line, I finished that quick and Gran Chico really wasn’t going anywhere.
“Shannon had eased up on him and his horse stopped and I couldn’t stop mine. If I had come wide Shannon would have had to get fair dinkum on Gran Chico, for sure.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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