Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Former New Zealand concession reinsman Tom Nally is currently working for the powerful Greg and Skye Bond stable, and he will make his first appearance at Gloucester Park when he handles veteran pacer Machlani in the $21,000 The Nightly Pace over 2130m on Friday night.
The 22-year-old Nally will be hoping for a memorable performance from the Michael Young-trained nine-year-old Machlani, who will begin from the No. 2 barrier after having won at three of his past four outings — leading for an easy win from Lets Get Rockin over 2662m at Narrogin, coming from fourth at the bell to beat Koolbardi Navajo over 2265m at Albany, and racing in the breeze before defeating Johnny Lombo by a half neck over 2265m at Albany.
“I was hoping that Machlani would draw barrier one, which would have given him an excellent chance of leading and winning,” said Young. “Regarding driving instructions, I’m not sure at this stage. I’ll sleep on it for a couple of days.”
The evergreen Machlani has raced 147 times for 17 wins and 35 placings, and he meets only moderate opposition on Friday night.
Nally has had one drive in WA — finishing seventh with $41 outsider Wallen in an event for novice drivers at Pinjarra on Monday of last week. His most recent winner was with $22.10 chance Tairlaw Toll over 2200m at the Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on January 19, 2023.
Tairlaw Toll began from the back line and was ninth early in the field of ten before charging forward to take the lead after 550m. The eight-year-old went on to win by four lengths at a 1.57 rate from Escobar.
As an 18-year-old Nally landed his first winner at his fifth drive in a race when Im Watching You finished fast after racing three back on the pegs to win by a nose from Matrika at Ascot Park in September 2020.
Two months later he won his second race when Indulgence, starting at the massive tote price of $141.70, ran home fast to score at Winton. He competed in 515 events in New Zealand for 28 wins and 26 seconds and 45 thirds.
Among Machlani’s rivals are promising four-year-old Franklin Delano, speedy mare Blaze Coops, the consistent Major Jay and Brulee.
Franklin Delano, trained by Gary Hall Snr, has been placed behind Regal Cheval and Cordero at his past two starts from wide barriers, and will need plenty of luck after starting from the outside barrier in the field of nine.
Blaze Coops, to be driven by Kyle Harper for trainer Shane Tognolini, will start from the No. 6 barrier and is capable of leading from this draw, and fighting out the finish. She began speedily from barrier six last Friday night but was unable to cross to the front before Harper gave her a perfect sit behind the frontrunning Freyja. She the ran home strongly to finish second, a half-length behind Freyja.
Major Jay is racing consistently for trainer Nathan Turvey. He was handy all the way when fourth behind Lord Titanium over 2130m last Friday night when reinsman Kyle Symington said that the gelding was not comfortable in the score-up when he began from barrier five, immediately behind the mobile barrier vehicle.
“Major Jay will begin right behind the cab again this week,” said Symington. “Hopefully, I can overcome this difficulty and set him up for success.”
Symington also has sound prospects with Hi Suga Rush (race one), Hillview Bondi (race three) and Swingband (race four).
Hi Suga Rush, trained by Bob Mellsop, will start from barrier three in the 2130m The Sunday Times Pace in which he should fight out the finish with Mister Macedon (barrier six) and Thelittle Master (barrier seven).
The New Zealand-bred Hi Suga Rush has won at eight of his 16 WA starts, with his only Gloucester Park appearance being seven starts ago when he was driven by Symington and finished a close-up fifth behind Chaco Eagle. Symington handled Hi Suga Rush at his Australian debut, when he ran on to gain a last-stride victory by a head from Only Me And Lou at Pinjarra in April 2024.
“Hi Suga Rush has good gate speed, and I’d say I’ll be going forward in a bid to lead,” said Symington.
Symington is also confident that the Ryan Bell-trained Hillview Bondi will prove hard to beat when he starts from barrier six in the 2130m Perth Now Pace. “He is tough, and he should go well,” said Symington. “This is a drop in grade compared with when he was racing in Free-For-All company a couple of starts ago (and finishing second to Lavra Joe).”
Emily Suvaljko has chosen to drive Navy Street (barrier one) in preference to Lets Get Rockin (barrier five). “Navy Street might try to lead, whereas Lets Get Rockin has an awkward draw and probably will have to go back early,” she said.
Lets Get Rockin impressed last Friday night when he was seventh in the middle stages before sustaining a strong three-wide burst to take a narrow lead 50m from home and finishing a head second to Storyteller.
“He went huge, and I thought it was a career-best run,” said Suvaljko. Trainer Nathan Turvey has engaged Deni Roberts to drive Lets Get Rockin this week.