Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Improved gate speed and a strong workout by Penny Black have boosted Emily Suvaljko’s confidence before she drives the five-year-old in the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Penny Black, trained by Michael Young, has impressed in winning at ten of her 19 WA starts, and she is favourably drawn at the No. 2 barrier in this week’s Group 3 feature event for mares.
Suvaljko took Penny Black to the trials at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week when the mare got back into the draw in mobiles by beginning smoothly, following her costly mistake two starts ago when she broke into a gallop soon after the start of a 2130m event.
“She got out of the gate probably the fastest she has ever got out, and that was without asking her,” reported Suvaljko. “She has never had that much gate speed and is now showing a bit more.
“I worked her at Byford this morning (Tuesday) and she worked super, and if she gets to the front on Friday night, she will be a big chance. But if she doesn’t, we know how tough she is. She can race in the breeze or take a sit.
“It will be interesting early. I haven’t spoken to Michael yet about how he wants her to be driven.”
Holding an important key to the race will be the tactics employed by trainer-reinsman Shane Young with his outstanding mare Wonderful To Fly, who is extremely versatile, having won races when leading and also when charging home from the rear.
Wonderful To Fly, who will start from the coveted No. 1 barrier, caught the eye two starts ago when she was tenth with 300m to travel before sprinting home fast, out five wide, to finish a close third behind the fast-finishing Little Darling and Aardiebytheseaside.
Aardiebytheseaside, to be driven by Deni Roberts for trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will begin from barrier five, the same barrier she had when she dashed to the front after 300m and set a solid pace before winning the WASBA Breeders Stakes 12 months ago, beating Acharne Girl, driven by Suvaljko, by two lengths.
Aardiebytheseaside, a winner at 17 of her 35 starts, is versatile, with Roberts saying: “I will have to speak to Greg about tactics and what we want to do. She can sit and sprint and this might be the time to try that.”
Madam Publisher, the 2024 WA Oaks winner who has raced 19 times for nine wins and five placings, is an exciting frontrunner who set a fast pace from the No. 4 barrier last Friday night before finishing third behind Little Darling and Champagne Everyone over 2130m. She will begin from the No. 3 barrier for trainer-reinsman Stuart McDonald.
Ravenswood trainer-reinsman Corey Peterson has eight-year-old Nullarbor Navajo racing keenly with two wins from her past four starts. She possesses excellent gate speed and will begin from barrier four.
Nullarbor Navajo was the sole runner off the back line in last year’s WASBA Breeders Stakes when she dashed forward, three wide, in the first lap to race without cover before fighting on to finish third.
Little Darling is in dazzling form for Busselton trainer Barry Howlett and reinsman Chris Lewis. She will begin from barrier two on the back line she should fight out the finish. She was seen in an unfamiliar role in the breeze when she finished strongly to win from Champagne Everyone and Madam Publisher, rating 1.55.4 over 2130m last Friday night.
Aiden de Campo is looking forward to driving Alta Allure for the first time when the Annie Belton-trained six-year-old begins from the back line. “She should race two back or three back on the pegs, and she should go well,” said de Campo.
Alta Allure came from seventh at the bell to finish a sound fourth behind Little Darling in the Empress Stakes three Fridays ago. That followed easy wins at Bunbury and Pinjarra at her two previous appearances.