Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Reinsman Stuart McDonald describes Star Lavra as a bit of a big dope who has a lot to learn about racing. But he is confident that the colt will complete a winning hat-trick when he contests the $50,000 APG Gold Bullion for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He doesn’t know how to race yet, and he waits for them in his races,” he said. “But he has shown that he is a very hard horse to get past, no matter what. He showed that two starts ago when he held Hes Never Been Beta at bay.”
Star Lavra, trained by Gary Hall Snr, will start from the No. 2 barrier in a field of six on Friday night, and McDonald plans to make a bid for the early lead.
“We will come out and look to lead,” he said. “If it’s there (the front) it’s there; if not, we will park up in the breeze again and try to rate them out of it.”
After an unsuccessful challenge from barrier to set the pace from the polemarker Lord Titanium in a qualifying heat on Tuesday of last week, Star Lavra raced without cover before getting to the front 220m from home and holding on to win by a half-length from Magnus Victor, with Rocket City a half head away in third place.
“Star Lavra had plenty left,” said McDonald. “I could have gone faster (rating in the breeze), mainly because I was worried about Rocket City’s point-to-point speed. Again, Rocket City is the one to worry about. He has the speed to be a danger if he sits close enough.”
Lord Titanium, who led and wilted to finish fourth behind Star Lavra in last week’s heat, again will start from the No. 1 barrier. Chris Voak has been engaged to handle Lord Titanium, and he said that he would learn what tactics to employ after discussions with trainer Steve De Campo.
Rocket City, trained and driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, has won four races. He is versatile but appears to be best suited in a sit-sprint capacity.
Rocket City will begin from the No. 5 barrier, with Magnus Victor drawn the outside barrier in the field of six. Magnus Victor started from the outside barrier at No. 7 in last week’s heat, and he enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, before running home determinedly to finish second to Star Lavra.
“It is a horrible draw,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo. “But he is racing really well, and winning is not impossible.”
The $50,000 Gold Bullion for two-year-old colts and geldings appears certain to develop into a fierce battle between Manhattan Moon (barrier two) and Ten To The Dozen (barrier four) after Ten To The Dozen led from barrier one and won by two lengths from Manhattan Moon, who started from barrier three and raced in the breeze.
Manhattan Moon, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for trainer Justin Prentice, gets a splendid chance to turn the tables on Ten To The Dozen, with Hall certain to take full advantage of a superior barrier in the small field of four runners.”
“Small fields result in very tactical affairs,” said Deni Roberts, who will drive Ten To The Dozen for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond. “Manhattan Moon goes good, so it should be a good race.
“I really like Ten To The Dozen. He can go forward or sit back. I’ll see how he gets off the gate.” Ten To The Dozen has led and won at each of his past three starts. He faces an acid test this week.