Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Nine-year-old Athabascan is in the twilight of his career and has finished at the rear at his past two starts, but champion reinsman Chris Lewis fancies his chances when he contests the 2130m Fly Like An Eagle, Proven Sire Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Athabascan, trained by Debra Lewis, is dropping in class and is awkwardly drawn at barrier six, but Lewis is basing his confidence on two impressive frontrunning displays to win recent trials at Pinjarra and Byford.
“The trials have been good, and he is definitely a winning chance,” said Lewis.
Athabascan led from barrier three and won by a length from Make It Happen in a 2185m seven-horse Pinjarra trial on Wednesday of last week, rating 2.1 with a final quarter of 28sec. He then started from barrier six in a seven-horse 2150m trial at Byford on Sunday morning when he raced four wide early, took the lead after 350m and was not extended in winning by a length from Regal Scribe, rating 1.59.7, with final 400m sections of 29.8sec. and 28.5sec.
There is little exposed form in Friday night’s event, in which four-year-old Tiger Royal has won at two of his past six appearances and should take plenty of beating. The Ryan Bell-trained Tiger Royal will be driven by Kyle Symington from the No. 5 barrier in an event in which the three inside runners Mattjestic Star, Bettorstartdreaming and Sheza Bromac possess excellent gate speed, which should ensure a fast early pace.
Bell will also be aiming to win the opening event, the 2536m Allwood Stud Devoted To Breeding Excellence Pace for three-year-olds with the polemarker Whataretheodds expected to make a bold bid for an all-the-way success.
Dylan Egerton-Green will drive Whataretheodds for the first time. The gelding is a proven pacemaker, having scored all-the-way victories at three of his five wins from 15 starts.
Chris Voak will have a busy night in the sulky, with drives in eight of the ten events. He considers his best winning prospect is the Ross Olivieri-trained Boom Time in the third event, the 2536m Allwood Stud Supporting WA Breeding For Over Forty Years Pace.
The eight-year-old Boom Time is racing keenly and looks well suited from the No. 2 barrier on the front line. “He is not doing much wrong and it’s his race to lead and he should go really well,” said Voak.
Voak also will have many admirers when he drives the Olivieri-trained Rupert Of Lincoln, who will start from the No. 1 barrier in the Fly Like An Eagle Pace over 2130m. Rupert Of Lincoln has a losing sequence of 16, but his recent efforts have been most encouraging.
Voak is also looking for a strong performance from the Peter Tilbrook-trained Strauny, who will start from barrier one in the 2536m Support The Stud That Supports You Pace.
“Strauny was terrific in the breeze last start when second to Goodfellaz,” he said. “The fence and the distance will suit him. But it is a big step up in class. However, he has the times on the board, and he is a novelty chance against Tenzing Bromac.
Tenzing Bromac, to be driven by Ryan Warwick for trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will start from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and has bright prospects of improving his WA record to nine starts for nine wins.