Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Coolup trainer Michael Brennan is out to buck the odds by winning the $30,000 Retravision Marathon Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night with a pacer racing first-up at his first appearance in Western Australia and at his first attempt in a standing-start event.
He is pinning his hopes on the experienced Victorian performer Musztang, who’s past five starts at Melton have been in sprints — four over 1200 metres and one over 1720m — hardly a racing diet for a pacer attempting to perform strongly over the testing 3309m journey.
But Brennan is optimistic about Musztang’s prospects — and with good reason because he knows how to prepare a pacer for the Marathon, having landed the quinella in this race in a thrilling photo finish three years ago when Rebel With A Grin got up to snatch victory from Forgotten Highway.
“Musztang is a very good horse and will run a very bold race,” said Brennan. “He is one of the ones who comes into the stable and you think, yeah, I like this. He is a big, strong fella, and is definitely a winning chance.
“He hasn’t raced over anything further than 2240m, but he is a real good stayer, as well as having very good speed.”
Musztang will be driven by Chris Voak and will start from the inside of the front line. Voak drove the six-year-old in a 2116m standing-start trial at Pinjarra three Wednesdays ago (July 26) when the Art Major gelding began safely, trailed the pacemaker Hi Tommy, moved off the pegs 800m from home, took the lead 250m later and won by 10m from his stablemate Machlani. The final quarters were run in 29sec. and 28.1sec. and he rated 2.1.
“He stepped safely, and he gave the feeling that he is strong and has stamina,” said Voak. “That’s what I like about him, but he faces a big test, first-up in a strong field.”
Musztang has finished at the rear at his past four starts after winning over 1200m in mid-April when he raced in the breeze before taking the lead 400m from home and was driven out vigorously to beat Jeremy Wells by a half-length, with final three quarters of 28sec., 28.2sec. and 27.5sec.
Another runner having his first start in a stand is brilliant four-year-old Youre So Fine, who has resumed racing after an injury-enforced absence of 19 months with four stylish wins from four mobile starts.
Youre So Fine is prepared by Gary Hall Snr, who has won the Marathon with Im Themightyquinn (2010), Code Red (2012), Runrunjimmydunn (2018) and Eloquent Mach (2019).
Gary Hall Jnr, who will drive Youre So Fine from barrier three off the front, said: “I don’t think the distance will worry him. I’d be happy to lead but if I don’t lead, I won’t be unhappy as long as he gets away safely.”
Hall opted to handle Youre So Fine ahead of the Michael Young-trained Watching Our Coin, who is in wonderful form. Hall has driven Watching Our Coin ten times for seven wins and three seconds, including a win and a second placing from two appearances in stands. Aiden De Campo has been engaged to drive Watching Our Coin from the 20m mark.
Also off 20m is the Kim Prentice-trained Hector, who will be having his first start since he finished powerfully to win the 2536m Nullarbor Consolation four months ago. A week before that Hector celebrated his first appearance in a stand when he began smoothly and made most of the running to win the 2503m Easter Cup.
“Hector has a real good record over 2500m, and he has done a fair bit of work to be ready for the Marathon,” said Prentice. “Obviously, he has to step well. He has had only the one stand when he got away alright.
“He is a horse who does nothing on the track at home, so we’re going in a little bit blind. I think he is good enough to go alright.” Hector will be driven by Mitch Miller.
Miller drove the Phil Duggan-trained five-year-old Beat The Bank when the gelding raced in the one-out, one-back position and cruised to victory in a 2116m stand at Pinjarra on Monday. He rises considerably in class on Friday night when he will be handled by Chris Lewis, who has won the Marathon with Nickelmeldon (2009), Chief Thundercloud (2015), Our Jericho (2016) and Motu Premier (2017).
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who were successful in last year’s Marathon when Himself set the pace and beat Cooper by a length, will be represented by Steel The Show (a winner of two 2600m stands at Addington in 2020). Steel The Show will start from the 30m mark and will be driven by Deni Roberts.