Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The No. 1 barrier in mobile events at Gloucester Park is generally regarded as a perfect draw and a stepping stone to victory.
But that’s not the case with speedy five-year-old Spicey Major, who looks hard to beat from the inside barrier in the second qualifying heat of the Nights Of Thunder over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Spicey Major, trained and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, has started from the No. 1 barrier five times in his 42-start career for just one victory, a second and three unplaced efforts.
At his most recent appearance, Spicey Major was the $1.22 favourite from barrier one in a 2130m event at Gloucester Park last Friday week. His nose hit the arm of the mobile barrier, and he broke into a bad gallop and dropped back to last before finishing in that position behind the winner Chivalry.
A week earlier he began from barrier one when he was beaten for early speed by Soho Santorini and was shuffled back to fifth on the pegs before finishing fifth behind Ventura.
Spicey Major began from the No. 1 barrier three times in Victoria for a second at Warragul over 1690m and an all-the-way win over 1710m at Ballarat as a two-year-old in December 2021 and then he raced three back on the pegs before finishing eighth over 2240m at Melton last September.
Spicey Major will meet some stiff opposition on Friday night, with his main dangers appearing to be Heez A Vibe (barrier three), Franco Ecuador (eight), Heavenly Wage (two) and Brickies Dream (six).
Heez A Vibe, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko for trainer Michael Young, has won effortlessly at his past three appearances and will have many admirers. He created a big impression last Friday week when he began from the outside of the front line of eight runners and was last at the bell before thundering home out wide to win by more than two lengths from Torpedo Rock, rating 1.56.2 over 2130m.
Deni Roberts will drive the Bob Mellsop-trained Heavenly Wage, who raced in the breeze before taking the lead on the home turn and winning from Secret Reaction over 1177m at Pinjarra three Mondays ago. Heavenly Wage is a brilliant sprinter who has competed over 1177m at Pinjarra 16 times for seven wins, two seconds, four thirds and three fourths.
Brookies Dream, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, is a speedy beginner in good form. He impressed two starts ago when he led from barrier four and won the 2130m Christmas Gift, rating 1.55.2.