Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Former Victorian pacer Solesseo Matuca finished eighth in a field of nine in the 1730m Nights Of Thunder last Friday night, but his performance was full of merit, and he looks set to break through for his initial victory in Western Australia when he contests the $31,000 Media Guild Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It will certainly pay to overlook his last-start eighth, and the five-year-old should set the pace and win the 2130m Media Guild Cup for trainer Nathan Turvey and reinsman Gary Hall Jnr.
Solesseo Matuca faced an almost impossible task from the outside barrier last week when he was restrained at the start and raced in last place before he charged home, out five wide, to finish three lengths behind the winner Jawsoflincoln. He sprinted over the final quarter in 26.76sec. which was the fastest last 400 metres recorded on the night.
This was Solesseo Matuca’s second appearance in WA, following his third placing behind Chal Patch and All Is Well in a heat of the Nights Of Thunder.
“Solesseo Matuca has very good gate speed and he should be able to lead and win this week,” said Hall. “His first-up run was super when they went hard, and he pulled really hard.”
Hall will be seeking his fifth victory in the Media Guild Cup, following wins with The Falcon Strike (2003), Kotare Flame (2007), Washakie (2008) and Tuxedo Tour (2015).
Showpony (barrier two) and Alcopony (barrier four) appear the main dangers to Solesseo Matuca.
Showpony won three times in the space of 24 days before he finished an unlucky third behind Rascal and Middlepage last Friday night when he trailed the pacemaker Rascal and was hopelessly blocked for a clear run in the final circuit.
Emily Suvaljko will drive Alcopony for Henley Brook trainer Kevin Keys, and the WA-bred five-year-old is racing in fine form and is always capable of unwinding a spirited finishing burst.