Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Cease To React, a colt by former star millionaire pacer Soho Tribeca, will be a popular choice with punters when he begins from the No. 2 barrier in the $30,000 Western Crown for two-year-old colts and geldings over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Michael Young and to be handled by champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr, Cease To React also began from barrier two when he made a successful debut over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
He trailed the polemarker and pacemaker Nite Sniper before finishing solidly to get up and beat that colt by a neck, rating 1.57.9 after final quarters of 30sec. and 27.4sec.
Young bought Cease To React for $17,000 at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale, and if he is successful this week his earnings will be $22,381.
Nite Sniper, trained at Pinjarra by Gary Elson and to be driven by legendary reinsman Chris Lewis, has fared poorly in the random draw and will start out wide at barrier No. 8.
However, Elson and Lewis will take heart in the knowledge that Nite Sniper in his only previous meeting with Cease To React was in a Pinjarra trial in November when Nite Sniper finished second to Hes Formidable, with Cease To React five lengths farther back in fourth place in the field of five. Obviously, both Nite Sniper and Cease To React have improved considerably since that trial on November 7.
Kyle Symington, who will drive debutant Southerner for trainer Ryan Bell from the prized No. 1 barrier, said that he was aiming to set the pace.
Southerner finished a wilting third just over five lengths behind the winner Ma Petite Dame in a 1750m Byford trial last Sunday week when he led early and then trailed the pacemaker.
“We were very disappointed with his trial, but he has come on well from that and our plan will be to lead,” said Symington.
Aiden De Campo, who trains and drives Wheelsofortune (barrier five), said that he expected the colt to be prominent, following his excellent effort to finish strongly and win a Pinjarra trial on Wednesday of last week when he beat his stablemate Wishing Belle. “Wheelsofortune is a nice mover and is tough,” said de Campo.
Intheheartoftexas, a gelding by Fly Like An Eagle, warmed up for Friday night’s event with a good trial win over 1750m at Byford last Sunday week. He raced wide early and then three back on the pegs before going forward 400m from home, hitting the front in the final 100m and winning by more than a length from Lady Mermaid.
Intheheartoftexas is trained by Sonia Zucchiatti and will be driven by her daughter Deni Roberts, who said: “He has an awkward draw, but his work and his trial have been good.”