Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star young reinsman Kyle Symington is preparing for a busy time at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he will be in action in six of the eight events.
He has labelled Swingband as his best drive, with the Ryan Bell-trained six-year-old starting from the No. 6 barrier in the $31,000 Gloucesterpark.com.au Pace over 2130m.
This will be Swingband’s first appearance for five weeks, with Symington explaining that the brilliant pacer was best suited with a space between runs.
“He likes going in fresh,” said Symington who drove Swingband to an effortless victory over 2130m five weeks ago, rating 1.54.8 after final quarters of 28.7sec., 27.9sec. and 28sec. Swingband was racing first-up after four weeks for that event.
Swingband has been lightly raced in his current campaign of four starts when he clashed with stars of the quality of Mister Smartee, Jumpingjackmac, Captain Ravishing and Minstrel.
This week Swingband will line up against outstanding pacer Lavra Joe, a winner of 35 races and $796,258 in prizemoney, as well as Machnificent, who burst back to his best form last Friday night when he charged home from seventh at the bell to win from Lavra Joe and Goodfellaz, rating 1.55.5 over 2130m.
Machnificent, trained by Katja Warwick, will again be driven by Emily Suvaljko. He will begin from the No. 3 barrier, with Suvaljko saying: “I will have to sit down and study the form. He’s good with a sit but he is a better horse in front.
Lavra Joe, trained by Ray Jones and to be driven by Maddison Brown, will begin from the outside barrier in the field of eight. He also started from the No. 8 barrier last Friday night when he raced wide early and then in the breeze, with Brickies Dream setting a fast pace. Lavra Joe got to the front with about 580m to travel before being overtaken in the final few strides by Machnificent.
Bell and Symington also will have many admirers when they combine with Waverider in race three and Hillview Bondi in the final race.
Four-year-old Waverider is the youngest runner in the $23,000 Vale Reg Luck Pace over 2130m, a race in which his chief rival appears to be the only mare in the event, Montana Glory, who will start from the No. 2 barrier on the back line.
Waverider is a winner at eight of his 19 starts and has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Waverider will be having his first start since he began from barrier nine and raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, when third behind Frisky Styx and Mikis Beach over 2130m four weeks ago.
He began a three-wide move 750m from home and dashed to the front 430m later before wilting in the final stages. “He was a bit disappointing at his latest start when he looked likely to win but pulled up half-way up the straight,” said Symington.
“He’s good now but he has drawn the river. However, I think this is a drop in grade for him.”
Symington will join forces with Hillview Bondi when the seven-year-old starts from barrier six in the $31,000 Running Camel Pace, in which three of his six rivals (Flying Rumour, Ragazzo Mach and Hoppys Way) are prepared by Mike Reed.
Bell took advantage of Joey Suvaljko’s concession last Friday night when the promising young reinsman rated Hillview Bondi in front in fine style on his way to winning from Regal Cheval.
“Hillview Bondi can definitely earn,” were Symington’s thoughts on the gelding’s prospects on Friday night.
The best of Reed’s runners is Ragazzo Mach, who will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko from the No. 4 barrier.
Ragazzo Mach has not won for more than two years but his recent form indicates he will pay to follow. He was unlucky last Friday night when he finished fifth behind High Price after meeting with severe interference after a lap had been completed.