Two strong performances in recent trials are a firm indication that Gotta Go Gabbana is poised for a forward showing at her return to racing in the second event, the TABtouch Pace, at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gotta Go Gabbana, trained at Banjup by Annie Belton and bred and owned by her and her husband Colin, will start from the No. 5 barrier, with regular reinsman Chris Voak in the sulky.
The five-year-old with an imposing record of 33 starts for ten wins, eight seconds and five thirds, has completed a solid preparation for her first-up assignment with three trials, two at Pinjarra and one at Byford.
At Pinjarra on October 14, Gotta Go Gabbana broke 30m after the start and made up several lengths to be a nose second to the pacemaker Walkabout Creek. A fortnight later at Byford, Gotta Go Gabbana raced without cover in the middle stages and took the lead with 500m to travel before winning from the fast-finishing Brotha Ofa Gangsta, rating 1.59.2 over 2150m.
At Pinjarra on Sunday morning, Gotta Go Gabbana rated 1.57.2 over 2185m when a nose second to Bettor Reward. She raced in the breeze over the final 1400m and sprinted over the third 400m section of the final mile in 27.6sec. before a final quarter in 29.3sec. She got to the front 50m from the post and was joined on the line by the experienced campaigner Bettor Reward.
Gotta Go Gabbana, a last-start winner at Gloucester Park on June 29, will start from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night and will meet with stiff opposition from Im Soxy, Soho Chelsea, Maxentius, Arthur Lowe, Always Arjay and Forever Remembered.
Maxentius is sure to fight out the finish and deserves a change of fortune after very unlucky seconds at his past two starts. However, he will need all the breaks from an awkward draw at barrier six.
Maxentius, trained and driven by Colin Brown, settled in seventh position, started a three-wide burst with 1100m to travel and then raced in the breeze before getting to the front at the 450m and then being outgunned in the final stages by Khun Ratha, who had enjoyed a perfect passage behind the pacemaker Handsandwheels.
Maxentius had torrid run and covered a lot of extra ground when an unlucky second to Bechers Brook at his previous appearance, a fortnight earlier.
Im Soxy will also have many admirers after drawing the No. 1 barrier. He led early from barrier one and then took the sit behind Thereugo before finishing fast to win from Carter Micheal and Thereugo last Friday night.
