Galactic Star Likes to Lead

08 April 2021 | Ken Casellas
Logo

Veteran New Zealand-bred pacer Galactic Star is poised for his 31st  win after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier in the 2536m In Appreciation of Bill Crabb Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The evergreen eight-year-old, who will be driven by ace reinsman Ryan Warwick for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is an excellent frontrunner who has set the pace at seven of his Gloucester Park victories.

He has been unplaced from poor draws at his past three runs since he led from barrier four and won from Vultan Tin and Bletchley Park over 2536m when he dashed over the final 800m in 55.5sec.

Galactic Star began out wide from barrier seven when he worked hard in the breeze for most of the 2130m journey before wilting to finish sixth behind his talented stablemate Mighty Conqueror, who led from barrier one and defeated Diego and Runaway Three last Friday week.

Mighty Conqueror faces a sterner test this week when he will start from the outside barrier in a field of nine. He will be handled by Dylan Egerton-Green.

Adding interest to the race will be the return to action of six-year-old Jack Farthing, a New Zealand-bred pacer in the stables of Justin Prentice. Jack Farthing won at his WA debut when he ran on to beat Braeview Bondi over 2536m last October. Then, after finishing third behind Chicago Bull and Shockwave at his next start, he was unplaced in top company at his following three starts before being sent for a spell.

Jack Farthing warmed up for his return to racing in fine style with a most encouraging win in a seven-horse trial over 2185m at Pinjarra last Wednesday week. He raced in last position before Aiden de Campo eased him off the pegs and sent him forward with a lap to travel.

Jack Farthing finished strongly to gain a last-stride victory over Aliman and Jack Mac in a three-way photo finish. The final 400m sections were covered in 27.9sec. and 27.5sec. and the winner rated 1.56.6.

Jack Farthing will start from barrier four and Prentice is confident of a good first-up performance. “The trial was good, and Aiden was happy with him,” said Prentice. “He settled really well which is obviously the main thing.

“He is up to the class, but first-up over 2536m we will be on the cautious side, and, hopefully, he’ll hit the line strongly.”

Phil Costello’s nine-year-old Vultan Tin is in excellent form and should make a bold bid for victory. He will start out wide at barrier eight and Emily Suvaljko is likely to send him forward to race in the breeze.

Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri is happy with Im Full Of Excuses draw at barrier two, and said that after working strongly this week, the nine-year-old was capable of a bold showing.

 

Related News

29 March 2024
Gibson family honoured in more ways than one at Bathurst Carnival
SINCE the inception of the Bathurst Gold Crown in 1987, the Gibson family and their Success Stud have positively contributed to shaping the hugely-successful juvenile carnival. Originally based in Queensland before relocating to the idyllic Young region, the late John Gibson initially operated Success...
29 March 2024
Group 1 mares add star power to Riverina Championships
Four Group 1 winning mares - including two currently considered to be among the nation’s best - will clash in an intriguing battle at the Riverina Championships finals program at Wagga on Sunday. The meeting features two $100,000 finals for four and five year-old pacers - one each for the boys...
29 March 2024
Ford looking for Gold on Good Friday
The combined harness and greyhound meeting on Good Friday night in Hobart is fast becoming a Tassie racing tradition, and it’s back again with eight greyhound races and six harness events making up this year’s 14-race program. Driver Dylan Ford will be out to continue his excellent start...
28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
Click for more