Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred gelding Vanderbilt has been a work in progress and the rising five-year-old looks set for a successful campaign for astute Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams.
Vanderbilt will be having only his 18TH start in a race when he begins from the No. 5 barrier in the $21,000 Retravision, Lowest Price Guarantee Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This will be his third appearance after a five-month absence, and only his fourth start at Gloucester Park. He will be driven by Ryan Warwick, and his clash with several other smart four-year-olds, including Mikis Beach, Spicey Major and Frisky Styx, and exciting three-year-old Waverider should provide abundant action.
Vanderbilt warmed up for this assignment in fine style with an impressive victory over the fast-finishing Blazing Reactor in a 2185m event at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
He began speedily from the outside barrier in the field of six and raced in the breeze outside the pacemaker Soho Skyfall before forging to the front 100m from the post. The final quarters were run in 28.8sec. and 27.4sec.
Vanderbilt has had 13 starts in WA for seven wins (four at Northam, two at Pinjarra and one at Gloucester Park) and two seconds. He raced twice in New Zealand in stands at Addington in June 2023 when he impressed greatly with his powerful finishing bursts.
On debut, he galloped from the inside of the front line, and he settled down a distant last in the field of eleven. He was in last place, ten lengths behind the leader with 600m to travel, and he was still last at the 200m mark before he charged home, out five wide, to finish fourth behind Choco Lou in the 2000m stand.
Then at his next outing, in a 2600m event, he was trapped three wide early before being restrained to 13TH in the field of 14. He was 11TH at the 400m before running home powerfully to finish a close third behind Winnyzback and Don Juan.
Vanderbilt has had 13 starts in WA for seven wins and two seconds. His chief rivals on Friday night are expected to be Mikis Beach, Spicey Major, Waverider and Travelban.
Gary Hall Jnr has chosen to drive his own nomination Spicey Major (barrier eight) ahead of Mikis Beach (barrier seven), with Deni Roberts being engaged to handle Waverider for trainer Ryan Bell.
Hall drove Spicey Major to an all-the-way victory over Travelban at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon, and he has also driven Mikis Beach for wins at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park at his past two runs.
Justin Prentice trains Mikis Beach, and he will handle the speedy four-year-old on Friday night.