Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Exciting two-year-old Waverider will reappear after an absence of 20 weeks when he begins from the No. 2 barrier in the final event, the 2130m Bridge Bar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Downbytheseaside colt, trained by Ryan Bell and to be driven by Kyle Symington, showed that he is ready for a strong first-up performance when he finished a half-length second to Bet The House in a 2150m Byford trial on Sunday morning.
He raced three back on the pegs in the four-horse trial and ran home strongly, without being extended. The final quarters were run in 29.6sec. and 28.1sec.
Waverider is unbeaten, after having contested a heat and the final of the Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings early this year. He set the pace in both races and was most impressive in the final in which he rated 1.55.4 over 1730m and defeated Blaze Away by 25 metres, with final 400m sections of 28.3sec. and 28.4sec.
His clash with his speedy stablemate Heez A Vibe, Prince Of Pain and Bet The House promises to be a major highlight on the ten-event program.
Heez A Vibe, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from barrier No. 3, possesses sparkling gate speed and he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.7sec. and 27.7sec. when he won in fine style from stablemate Franco Encore over 1730m last Friday night. That took his record to three wins, a second and a fifth placing from five starts, and he cannot be underestimated.
Prince Of Pain, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, will be having his first start for three months — since he crossfired and fell in a race at Pinjarra on May 1. He impressed on debut three nights earlier when he ran home powerfully from the rear to finish a close second to Bet The House in the group 3 Champagne Classic at Gloucester Park.
Prince Of Pain, to be driven by Deni Roberts, has not been seen in public since he contested a three-horse 2150m trial at Byford on May 14 when he led and won by ten lengths from Tiffany Robyne, rating 2.2.3 with quarters of 32.7sec., 30.4sec., 30sec. and 28.5sec.
Bet The House, to be driven by Chris Voak for Byford trainer Ron Huston, will be having his first start for three months — since he trailed the pacemaker Rocknroll Train and won the Champagne Classic from Prince Of Pain on April 28. Bet The House trailed the leader Gaitcrasher before he took the lead 350m from home and beat Waverider in a 2150m Byford trial on Sunday.