Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Star four-year-old Waverider, who has been driven by Kyle Symington at 22 of his 25 starts for ten wins, will have a new driver when he contests the $23,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Ugga Dugga Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Symington is enjoying a holiday in Queensland, and the Ryan Bell-trained pacer will be driven for the first time by Ryan Warwick from the awkward barrier at No. 7 but has the class to overcome this disadvantage.
“This looks like the type of race where we should use his class,” said Bell. “It’s an even-spread field, and Waverider is in the zone at the moment. His recent runs have been good, but we drove him way too negatively at his latest start, given the way the race was run, and we paid the consequence (finishing sixth behind Justcallmemiki).
“This week I think you will find that he will be driven more positively. He is going very well and I’m hoping he will prove hard to beat.”
Two of Waverider’s chief rivals are expected to be Dalvey Robyn and Menemsha, with Dalvey Robyn capable of a bold showing despite starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Dalvey Robyn, trained and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, also began from barrier nine in the Im Themightyquinn Classic last Friday night when he was twelfth and last approaching the bell before sustaining a spirited three-wide burst to finish fifth behind Soho Santorini.
“I was really happy with his effort last week,” said Hall.
Menemsha, trained by Aiden De Campo, was one of the State’s best three-year-olds last year, and considerable interest will surround his first appearance as a four-year-old when he begins from the inside of the back line, with Trent Wheeler in the sulky.
Menemsha last appeared when he scored an easy victory in the Country Derby at Pinjarra on November 11 — ten days after finishing a splendid second to Christopher Dance in the WA Derby at Gloucester Park.
“Barrier ten is not a bad draw for Menemsha, first-up,” said De Campo. “He will probably end up three or four back (on the pegs). He is well forward and working very well, and if he gets a crack at them will go close.”
Later in the program Bell will be looking for strong performances from Wicked Hustler in the Catalano Your One Stop Shop Pace and Bettagetonpip in the Catalano Sales And Service Finance Pace.
Both pacers will be driven by Ryan Warwick, with Wicked Hustler favourably drawn at barrier two, and Bettagetonpip drawn a little awkwardly at barrier five.
“Although Wicked Hustler is a three-year-old stepping up (against older and more experienced pacers) I give him a good chance if he finds the front,” said Bell. “I’m confident he will finish top three and could sneak away with it.”
Wicked Hustler notched his first win at his eleventh start when he was trapped wide early before being restrained and then gaining a good sit and running home well to beat Stella Deliziosa over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Bettagetonpip, a three-year-old filly, will clash with older and more experienced pacers in Friday night’s 1730m event, but has the class to fight out the finish with smart four-year-old mares Madam Publisher (barrier nine) and Princess Katie (barrier eight).
“The mile will suit Bettagetonpip,” predicted Bell. “Her latest run was very good (when sixth from barrier eight in the $100,000 Sales Classic three Fridays ago). She got too far back, ran into dead ends and Chris Lewis came in and said she had gone very well.”