Remarkably, New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Livura has drawn the prized No. 1 barrier only once in his first 63 starts in mobile events in Western Australia.
The Nathan Turvey trained and driven gelding will enjoy starting from barrier one for just the second time when he contests the opening event, the DTS Farmlock Fencing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he should give punters a flying start by setting the pace and winning the 2130m event.
The previous time Livura started from barrier one was three starts ago, at Gloucester Park on December 7 last year when he set the pace and finished third behind Saying Grace and Carter Micheal.
He resumed racing last Friday night after a three-month absence and had no luck at all, finishing last in a field of seven behind Mattjestic Star. A 12/1 chance, he raced three back on the pegs in fifth position before he hung out slightly 500m from home and lost ground when he locked wheels with the sulky of Lord Willoughby. And then he was blocked for a clear passage in the final stages.
Livura makes strong appeal as the pacemaker in this week’s race. He has set the pace in five of his 16 wins in this State.
One of his dangers appears to be Kimani, who will start from the outside (barrier three) on the back line. Kimani reappeared last Friday night after a two-month absence when he started from the inside of the back line and trailed the pacemaker Bronze Seeker. He was blocked for a clear run throughout the final circuit and finished second to Bronze Seeker.
Gary Hall Jnr, who drove Bronze Seeker to victory last week, has opted to handle Kimani this week, with the drive on Bronze Seeker going to Michael Grantham. Bronze Seeker, who will be competing in his 227th race, is awkwardly drawn at barrier seven and will need luck to figure in the finish.
One of the best bets on the program should be Im Soxy in race two in which he will be driven by Ryan Warwick from the favourable No. 2 barrier.
Im Soxy, a WA-bred gelding trained in Bunbury by Brian Clemens, caught the eye last Friday night when he raced three back on the pegs in fifth position before finishing with a powerful burst to be a close-up third behind Caviar Star and Herrick Roosevelt, with the final quarter whizzing by in 27.2sec.
