Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Jim and Wilma Giumelli’s Swandoo Harness Racing Pty Ltd purchased promising youngster Little China Girl after she had scored an impressive win on debut at Pinjarra on Monday of last week, and she should give her new owners an early dividend by winning the $30,000 Western Crown for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Little China Girl is now trained by Mike Reed, and she has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier in the 1730m classic in which she will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko.
“She will lead on her ear,” said Reed, who paid tribute to Kyle Harper, who drove Little China Girl to her win at Pinjarra when she began from barrier three, took the lead after 200m and was not extended in winning by three lengths from Livy Ann, rating 1.57.6 over 1684m, with final 400m sections of 28.6sec. and 27.9sec.
Harper also handled Little China Girl, a filly by Fly Like An Eagle, in five trials at Byford in December and January for a second and four wins for owner-trainer Shane Tognolini, who bought her for $37,000 at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale. “She has been very well looked after by Kyle,” said an appreciative Reed.
Suvaljko is looking forward to driving Little China Girl, saying: “I drove her on the track last Saturday and she felt good. She should be hard to beat from barrier one.”
Little China Girl’s most serious rivals appear likely to be Miss Red Velvet, Lady Mermaid and Livy Ann. Miss Red Velvet, the only New Zealand-bred filly in the race, will be driven by Kyle Symington for Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell from out wide at barrier eight.
Miss Red Velvet, who will be making her race debut, was most impressive when she won a four-horse 1750m Byford trial last Sunday week when she beat Lady Crunch Time by eight lengths, rating 2.0.8, with final quarters of 30.8sec. and 28sec. She led for the first 400m before taking the sit behind Gypsy Artist and then dashing to the front 500m from home.
“Miss Red Velvet is a little professional who keeps on getting better and better,” said Symington. “But I’m not a fan of barrier eight.”
Lady Mermaid, also prepared by Bell, will be handled by Deni Roberts when she makes her debut, starting from the inside of the back line and virtually guaranteed a perfect sit behind the frontrunning Little China Girl. Lady Mermaid set the pace when second to Intheheartoftexas in a 1750m Byford trial last Sunday week.
Livy Ann, trained and driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, will start from barrier No. 7. She raced without cover when an encouraging second to Little China Girl on debut at Pinjarra.
Trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo said he was looking for a good performance from debutant Wishing Belle, who will start from the No. 4 barrier. “She has run a couple of nice trials, and I will go forward and look for a sit with her,” he said.