Ryan Warwick Photo by Scott Hamilton Media
Top-flight reinsman Ryan Warwick is poised to take full advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier and make use of the sparkling early speed of Rock Diamonds by attempting an all-the-way victory in the $50,000 Westral Four-Year-Old Championship over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rock Diamonds, prepared by leading trainer Skye Bond, warmed up for this group 2 feature event with a solid third behind star New Zealand pacer Ultimate Machete in the Group 1 Yes Loans Classic last Friday night in which he began speedily from barrier five to burst to the front after 150m.
Warwick then took the sit 250m later when Mark Purdon urged the outstanding New Zealand pacer forward. Rock Diamonds fought on determinedly to be third behind Ultimate Machete, who dashed over the final quarters in 28.2sec. and 28sec.
Rock Diamonds has set the pace and won four times in a 24-start career of 11 wins and seven placings. His most dangerous rival looms large as smart Victorian performer Motor Meteor, who is trained and driven by Kerryn Manning.
Motu Meteor caught the eye in last Friday night’s classic when he was 12th and last at the bell before finishing with a spirited burst, out wide, to be sixth which took his record to 25 starts for ten wins and nine placings.
“The run was really good,” said Manning. “He’s more of a stayer, generally, than a sprinter. But he certainly had to go pretty quick last week. He just kept coming on in the straight. We will need a bit of luck, but if he gets it, he’ll be running on.”
The lightly-raced Ross Olivieri-trained Space Junk has sound prospects from an ideal barrier at No. 2 on the front line. His driver Chris Voak has guided him to victory at his first three starts in Western Australia, at Pinjarra, Narrogin and Northam, and has a high opinion of the gelding.
Trainer Michael Brennan has engaged star Victorian reinsman Chris Alford to driver Im Rockaria, a speedy pacer who is handily drawn at barrier two on the back line. Im Rockaria has won at 14 of his 25 starts and is capable of a bold showing.
The Bond camp has a second runner in the well-performed Mighty Mr Sharkey, who will be driven by Todd McCarthy from barrier three on the front line.
