Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Unheralded five-year-old Seeryanfly is undefeated in six appearances in standing-start events — and he is poised to continue this outstanding record when he begins from the outside of the 10m line in the Trots WA Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Also seeking to boost his sequence of winners as a trainer is Seeryanfly’s Northam horseman Garry Sayers, whose past three starters have been successful, with Seeryanfly winning at Northam on April 1 and April 8, and Zyanya winning there on April 8.
Leading reinsman Shannon Suvaljko is bullish about Seeryanfly’s winning prospects this week, and he has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive him ahead of smart frontrunner Deeorse (a pacer he has driven 57 times) and Feeling Aces, who set the pace for Suvaljko and won a 2190m mobile event at Northam four starts ago by six lengths — four starts after Suvaljko had driven him to an all-the-way victory in the Williams Cup.
“It was a super win by Seeryanfly in a stand at Northam two starts ago,” said Suvaljko. “He got knocked down at the start and lost about 80 metres and still won. I couldn’t believe it. The following week he won easily again after sitting in the breeze.”
Seeryanfly’s task appeared hopeless two starts ago when he crashed into a fiercely galloping Lets Rock Tonight at the start and after a lap he was seventh about 75m behind the tearaway pacemaker Cheese And Biccys. He started a three-wide forward move 550m from home and sprinted fast to charge to the front 150m from the post and win by two and a half lengths from Extarordinary Mary.
“It looks a winnable race on Friday night,” said Suvaljko. “The only problem is that I’m a Dockers supporter, and Seeryanfly races in the Eagles colours.”
The main dangers to Seeryanfly appear likely to be American Bullitt, Lamandier and Acuto.
American Bullitt, trained by Sonia Zucchiatti, is an experienced standing-start performer, having contested 24 stands for three wins, three second, four thirds and six fourths.
The five-year-old, a veteran of 91 starts, will be handled by champion reinsman Chris Lewis, who has been pleased with his recent efforts, including a second to Taking The Miki in a stand and a fourth behind Hector, Street Hawk and Taking The Miki in the Easter Cup two starts ago.
“American Bullitt is going very well, and we will take advantage of the draw and are definitely an each-way chance,” said Lewis.
Lamandier set the pace and was an easy winner in a 2631m stand at Pinjarra four starts ago. He galloped from barrier two in a 1730m mobile event last Friday night and lost six lengths before finishing from sixth at the bell to be an eye-catching third behind Wait For The Bell.
“He galloped in a mobile last week and galloped in a stand two starts before that,” said trainer Michael Young. “He continues to let me down. But this is not a deep (strong) stand, and if he can lead, I think he will win.”