Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred four-year-old Gaitcrasher has resumed after a ten-month absence in wonderful form for his new trainer Aiden De Campo and he should give punters a flying start by winning the opening event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He will begin from the No. 3 barrier in the $23,000 Bathroom Central Autumn Series Pace and will be driven by Joey Suvaljko, who replaces De Campo, who is serving a term of suspension.
Gaitcrasher has had two starts at Pinjarra for two convincing victories, and De Campo is confident he will complete a winning hat-trick this week.
He resumed after his lengthy absence when he worked hard in the breeze before beating Miki Windermere by 2m over 2185m, rating 1.58.3 after final quarters of 27.8sec. and 28.4sec. on February 24 and then raced wide early before taking up the running and winning by almost five lengths from Major Class, rating 1.59.4 over 2185m last Monday week.
“I’ve had him for three months and he worked really well on the track, leading up to those runs,” said De Campo. “I think he is going to win a lot more races. He’s pretty tough and also has a bit of speed. We will be looking to find the front on Friday night and should be hard to beat.”
De Campo is also looking for another all-the-way win, with Showpony, who will be handled by Suvaljko from the No. 1 barrier in the $23,000 Lori Ki Pace over 2130m.
“He went a lot better last week (when sixth behind Cyclone Jordy),” said De Campo. “I lost him the previous couple of runs, and last week he wanted to hang out wide. He should be a lot more suited from barrier one this week when he will lead and give the others something to chase.”
Last Friday night Showpony began out wide at barrier eight and settled at the rear before making a fast move to go to the breeze with 1200m to travel. He wilted late after a hard run.
Showpony’s stablemate Frisky Styx will resume racing after a three-month absence when he begins from barrier four, with Trent Wheeler in the sulky. “He will need the run, first-up,” said De Campo.
Hillview Bondi (Kyle Symington; barrier seven) and Mister Macedon (Emily Suvaljko; barrier six) are tough competitors who excel when working hard in the breeze, and they should ensure a strong, competitive race.
Race four, the 2130m JMD Pressure And Window Cleaning Pace, looks an extremely open affair, with ten-year-old Yankee Lincoln, unplaced at his past 13 starts, likely to be prominent from the No. 1 barrier for Byford trainer Amy Baxter and driver Maddison Brown.
Yankee Lincoln is a proven frontrunner and is capable of causing an upset.
Mikipelo is in sound form for trainer Matt Scott and reinsman Kyle Harper, but he faces a stern test from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line. He has been performing well recently against pacers of the calibre of Waverider, Spyglass, Magnus Victor, Vanderbilt and Soho Shakedown.
“He has been running home very well in good mile rates,” said Scott. “He has exceeded our expectations, and I think he can win but he is going to need a good pace on.”