Young trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green plans to use similar tactics to those he deployed last week when he drives Tyler Brett from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the $30,000 Trevor Itzstein Kersley final over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He said it was his aim to capitalise on the inside barrier and he was hoping the promising five-year-old would be capable of leading throughout.
Tyler Brett began speedily from barrier five in a qualifying heat last week when the West Australian-bred horse surged into the lead after 220m and then gave a bold frontrunning display to win by a half-length from the favourite Our Max Phactor. He dashed over the final quarters in 27.9sec. and 28.3sec. and improved his record for owner-breeder John Bell to 35 starts for ten wins and three placings for earnings of $100,271.
Our Max Phactor, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, came into that event with an unbroken sequence of eight wins. He again looms as a major threat to Tyler Brett, and from barrier four he will have many admirers.
Our Max Phactor, an experienced and versatile New Zealand-bred six-year-old, began a three-wide move after 600m and moved into the breeze 100m later. He fought on with admirable spirit.
Tyler Brett is the only progeny of Jossies Belle to have raced. Jossies Belle, also bred by Bell, was retired with a modest record of 51 starts for three wins and eight placings for stakes of $18,553.
Thereugo, trained and driven by Kyle Harper, is handily drawn at barrier three on Friday night and must be considered. He began speedily from barrier eight and took the lead after 300m last Friday week before setting a modest pace and then sprinting the final quarter in 27.6sec. He held on grimly to win by a half-head from the fast-finishing Carter Micheal.
The Nathan Turvey-trained Cater Micheal fared poorly in the barrier draw and will start out wide at No. 8 with Jocelyn Young in the sulky.
Smart four-year-old Benhope Rulz, with five wins from his past eight starts for trainer Gary Hall snr, also faces a stern test from out wide at barrier No. 7.
Mundijong trainer Kristian Hawkins has decided to drive Bettor Not Bitter from barrier five in preference to stablemate Danieljohn, who will be handled by teenager Corey Peterson from the inside of the back line.
