Chris Voak, WA’s leading driver last season, is seriously considering setting brilliant filly Black Jack Baby on fire from the outside barrier (No. 6) at the start of the 2130m Direct Trades Supply Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She is a very good filly and could lead from the outside barrier,” he said. “She is exceptional off the gate and I daresay that this is the race in which we could pull the trigger early and burn to the front and see what she’s made of. She should prove hard to beat.”
Voak did not use Black Jack Baby’s sparkling gate speed from out wide at barrier seven in the Daintys Daughter Classic three weeks ago when she raced in ninth position before finishing strongly to be third behind Rumour Has It and Just For Love.
“It was a very good run in the Daintys Daughter Classic,” said Voak. “She just got back before coming home strongly.”
The Shane Quadrio-trained Black Jack Baby, who has won at nine of her 16 starts, is expected to receive the most serious opposition from Unconditional, who will be driven by Ryan Warwick from barrier five. Unconditional, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, made most of the running when a last-start head second to Sound Wave over 2185m at Pinjarra last Monday week. That followed a hard-working first-up win over 2242m at Narrogin.
The Ross Olivieri-trained Our Shooting Star, to be driven by Chris Lewis from the No. 2 barrier, should also be prominent. She led when a head second to Benesari Lane over 2100m at Bunbury last Friday night.
Voak is also bullish about the prospects of the lightly-raced five-year-old Papinik, who will start from the No. 4 barrier in the DTS 55,000 Stock Lines Under One Roof Pace.
“He can lead or sit up, and either way he should prove too fast for his rivals,” Voak said. “On form and over the 2536m you would expect the three drawn inside of him to hand up. So, I think we could press forward in a bid for the lead.”
Papinik has won in effortless fashion over 2116m at Pinjarra and over 2130m at Gloucester Park at his first two starts after a nine-month absence to improve his record to11 starts for nine wins and two third placings.
His most serious rival is sure to be Antero, who has won at four of his past six starts. Antero, trained by Gary Hall Snr, covered extra ground before winning convincingly from Mister Ardee over 2185m at Pinjarra last Monday week. He led when he beat Roman Art and Walsh over 2130m at GP at his previous outing.
“I would have given Antero a strong winning chance if he had drawn inside of Papinik,” said Hall Jnr.
On a busy night for Voak, he gives Boom Time, Carrera Mach, Bettor Finish and Star Of Willoughby sound each-way chances.
He predicted that the Olivieri-trained Star of Willoughby would make a bold showing in the eighth event in which the Follow The Stars colt is awkwardly drawn out wide at barrier eight.
“He will have to be driven sit and sprint,” said Voak. “If the race is run to suit, he will play a part. The pace should be genuine which will suit Star of Willoughby. He finished with the plugs in when sixth behind Lavra Joe last Saturday night.
“It was an excellent run. Ross has changed his training in the past month, and I think he is getting fitter.”
By Ken Casellas