Condrieu winning at Gloucester Park Photo by William Crabb
Talented four-year-old Condrieu has resumed after a spell in sparkling form and Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond have high hopes that he will make amends for his narrow defeat in the 2013 John Higgins Memorial by winning the $35,000 group three event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ryan Warwick has driven the New Zealand-bred gelding assertively for decisive victories at his first two starts after a spell and he is racing with such zest that he is capable of overcoming the distinct disadvantage of starting from the outside (barrier seven) on the front line in the 2130m feature event.
Condrieu possesses dazzling gate speed and it would come as no surprise if Warwick takes advantage of that wonderful asset by dashing the gelding forward in an attempt to burst to an early lead.
Condrieu reappeared after a four-month absence at Pinjarra last Monday week when he began from the back line and settled in seventh position before Warwick dashed him forward, three wide, after 300m to take the lead 250m later. Condrieu relished his pacemaking role and revelled in the heavy conditions as he sped over the final two quarters in 2u8.1sec. and 27.6sec. to win by two lengths from In The Perfect Storm.
Then in a 2536m event at Gloucester Park last Friday night Condrieu started from barrier six on the front line and raced four wide for the first 350m before bursting to the front. He relaxed and meandered through the first 400m section of the final mile in 33.3sec. before he coasted through the next quarter in 31.3sec. He gave his rivals little hope by sprinting over the final sections in 28.7sec. and 28.4sec. and winning easily from stablemate Jays Bee Grin.
Twelve months ago Condrieu was the only three-year-old in the Higgins Memorial and he was favourite at 5/4 on when he began speedily from barrier three and was in front after 120m. After easy opening sections of the final mile in 31.2sec. and 31.1sec. Condrieu sped over the final 800m in 57.7sec. and was overhauled in the final stride by the fast-finishing Pacific Warrior, who gained the verdict by a nose.
Greg Bond has an excellent record in the Higgins Memorial, winning with Money Magnet in 2004 and Richard Henry the following year. Richard Henry, a 7/2 chance, started out wide at barrier six and raced in the breeze before getting up in the final stride to defeat the pacemaker Bank The Money by a nose.
Colin Brown, who was successful with Money Magnet and Richard Henry, will drive Lunar Tide for the Bonds in Friday night’s feature. Lunar Tide, favourably drawn at No. 2 on the front line, is sure to be prominent. He raced wide early and then without cover when fourth behind Condrieu at Gloucester Park last Saturday night.
Before that Lunar Tide had worked hard before winning first-up at Narrogin and then he covered a lot of extra ground before finishing second to Jasper Freeway at the same track.
The Bonds will also be represented in this week’s race by Galactic Galleon, who will start from No. 4 on the back line and will be handled by Morgan Woodley. Galactic Galleon finished strongly when a head second to Erskine Range at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.
Condrieu is overdue for a change of luck in a feature event. He has contested seven group races in his 23 starts in Western Australia for three minor placings last year --- second to Chilli Power in the group 1 McInerney Ford Classic, second in the Higgins Memorial and third in the group 3 Caduceus Club Classic.
His dam Oaxaca Lass won three group 1 events (the Queensland derby at Albion Park and the Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley in 2002 and the Chariots of Fire at Harold Park in 2003. She also won three group 2 features and was placed in four other group events.
Looming as the main dangers to Condrieu are polemarker In The Perfect Storm, Jasper Freeway, Wynberg Terror and Shnappy.
In The Perfect Storm, trained at Pinjarra by Michael Brennan, resumed after a five-month absence when he started from barrier three and led early before taking the trail behind Condrieu and then finishing doggedly along the sprint lane to be second to that pacer at Pinjarra last Monday week.
“His first-up run was good,” said reinsman Gary Hall jun. “We’ve got the speed to hold up, but I’ll wait to see what Mouse (Brennan) says. Hall won the Higgins Memorial in 2010 when he guided Partywiththedevil (barrier two) to an all-the-way victory over Son of Fergie and Lombo Navigator.
