Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Smart WA-bred five-year-old Showpony should get punters away to a flying start by winning the opening event, the 2130m Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The David Young-trained gelding should appreciate an ideal barrier at No. 2 and a considerable drop in class after his excellent third behind Otis and Soho Santorini over 2130m last Friday night.
He began out wide at barrier eight and settled down in seventh position before Kyle Symington sent him forward with a three-wide burst after a lap to race outside the pacemaker Otis, who rated 1.55.7 after dashing over the final three 400m sections in 28.6sec., 28.4sec. and 28.7sec.
“I will drive him confidently,” said Symington. “It is a big drop in grade, and he races really well up on speed. We will try to lead, and if we can’t we will be outside the leader. I think he is a great winning chance.”
Sugar Street and Louie Lebeau loom as Showpony’s main dangers. Sugar Street, a winner at ten of his 452 starts, will be driven by Aldo Cortopassi for trainer Barry Howlett. He is the solitary runner on the back line and should enjoy an ideal passage.
Louie Lebeau, trained and driven by Callan Suvaljko, will start from the No. five barrier and is sure to make his presence felt, following his outstanding effort in finishing third behind Henwood Bay and All Aussie Mach over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening.
Louie Lebeau began fast from the No. 7 barrier but was unable to get to the breeze, forcing Suvaljko to restrain the gelding back to last in the field of nine. Louie Lebeau then was sent forward, with a three-wide burst at the bell, and he sustained the effort in fine style.