Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
New Zealand-bred colt Smart Watch, impressive when unextended in winning at his first two Australian starts, at Gloucester Park last month, faces an important moment of truth when he clashes with his talented stablemate High Price in the 2130m Vale Beth Richardson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The three-year-olds are trained by Gary Hall Snr, who declared that little separated them on ability, and that he fancied High Price, who will start from barrier six on the front line and be driven by Stuart McDonald, ahead of Smart Watch, who will start from the No. 2 barrier on the back line, with Gary Hall Jnr in the sulky.
“I reckon High Price will make it tough for Smart Watch,” said Hall Snr. “There is not much between them, and I consider that High Price is just as good as Smart Watch. High Price will keep sliding forward to breeze or lead.”
Hall Jnr has a good opinion of both pacers, saying: “I like High Price, but I think Smart Watch, all things equal, is a better horse. I think he will win. We will probably have to go three wide from the last thousand. And that’s not easy to do, but I think he is capable.
“High Price lacks a bit of maturity between the ears, and he can be his own worst enemy. However, I believe he will get better and better.”
Adding interest to Friday night’s event will be the first appearance at Gloucester Park of Swagger Man, a Bettors Delight New Zealand-bred gelding who made an encouraging Australian debut when he set a solid pace and finished a close second to Im Themightylucy over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
Swagger Man, who is trained by Ryan Bell and will be driven by Kyle Symington from barrier three, showed plenty of promise in New Zealand where his 12 starts produced two wins and four placings.
Another Bettors Delight three-year-old Strength And Honour will start from barrier seven and will be attempting to extend his winning sequence to five for trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
Strength And Honour, who will be driven by Ryan Warwick, has raced six times in Western Australia for five wins and one second placing.