Libertybelle Midfrew
Star mare Libertybelle Midfrew will again be the star attraction at Gloucester Park this Friday Night as trainer Mike Reed continues her introduction to ‘fast class’.
The rising 5yo daughter of Christian Cullen asserted her authority over a similar field at Gloucester Park on the 8th of May. On that occasion she drew perfectly in barrier one whereas this Friday she has drawn outside the back-line in eleven.
She was able to handle a similarly tricky gate last Friday night in winning the WASBA Breeders Stakes where she drew barrier five over the sharp 1730m trip. Whilst on paper barrier five doesn’t look that precarious a starting position, Libertybelle Midfrew was drawn outside of a fast front-line and regular driver Mark Reed was forced to check out of the early speed battle.
Reed was able to catch a trail home at the bell when Justin Prentice made his move on The Parade, and he will no doubt be looking to employ similar tactics here.
Central to her chances will be the result of the early burn for the lead.
Notabadexcuse has drawn perfectly outside of renowned sit and sprinter Danieljohn and he looks the most likely to set the pace. His recent form has been ‘below the required’, but it is worth noting that premier reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has jumped back aboard having not driven the horse in his past seven starts.
Former kiwi Our Jimmy Johnstone is the other likely pacesetter in the event. The rising 7yo son of P Forty Seven was a 1:53.7 winner over this course and distance during the heats of the Nights Of Thunder series from the breeze, and Colin Brown appears likely to employ the same tactics here.
‘Jimmy’ is coming off a record breaking win at Pinjarra last start where he made light of the 70m handicap to score by a neck over Chevayo in a smashing 1:57.8 for the 2631SS. He now comes back to the minimum trip and you suspect connections will rely on fitness and stamina to outstay rivals on Friday night.
Fremantle Cup placegetter Copagrin has come up with a useful barrier draw in eight. Driver Kyle Harper will be content to follow the pegs from the outset and hope that a strong pace can break the field up, ensuring he can find clear running late on.
Pure Steel Qualifying Heat 3
Nights Of Thunder winner Soho Lennon resumes from a spell on Friday night looking to establish himself amongst the stars of the Gary Hall Snr stable.
The rising 5yo son of Mach Three looked very progressive last campaign taking out nine wins from eighteen starts including the Group 2 $50,000 Nights Of Thunder Final defeating In The Perfect Storm and Machtu.
As such he was nominated for the Fremantle Cup series, eventually making the consolation and finishing down the track. A win against moderate opposition followed that before his campaign was ended after running unplaced in the $25,000 Im Themightyquinn FFA.
Soho Lennon has not trialed in preparation for Friday night’s race, however it is not unusual for the stable to produce them in this manner. Hall Snr has a proven ability to produce them ‘race fit’ first up from a spell and the awkward barrier position arguably presents itself as more of a problem for backers of Soho Lennon.
Former Victorian Must Be Nice has drawn gate 1 and it is likely connections will want to hold the front should he be quick enough. He is likely to be tested by Mein Guy, The Court Jester and/or Ohoka Squire in the early stages so Hall Jnr may be presented with an opportunity to work away from the pegline on Soho Lennon should he so desire.
In any case, Must Be Nice has shown reasonable form since arriving in WA and would present as one of the main dangers to Soho Lennon, especially if he can hold the lead.
He was an M0 winner at Melton before joining the stable of Debbie Padburg and his last start 11th of 12 can be dismissed as he hung in and broke on that occasion. He has since trialed to the stable’s satisfaction and ace reinsman Chris Voak will take the steer.
McLoughlin Butchers Conditioned Pace M1+
Arguably the most interesting race of the night is the M1 or better standing start event where rising star Heez On Fire tackles the very classy Lovers Delight.
Heez On Fire has been a ‘talking horse’ since his 2yo days but trainer Rod Oliver has plotted a slow and steady course with the son of Courage Under Fire. The rising 6yo has graced the track on just 29 occasions in what has been a very patient build up to fast class racing for the dual Group 2 winner.
With his star pacer now assessed as an M4, Oliver has fewer options available and has had to resort to a standing start contest to continue on with the horse’s education and introduction to fast class racing.
Blessed with a terrific turn of foot, Heez On Fire is certain to be one of the big players in the feature races over the coming months and continuing on towards November’s Inter Dominion Series.
While Heez On Fire continues on his inevitable rise up the ranks, another horse is continuing to re-establish his reputation as one of the more talented horses in the state.
A year younger than Heez On Fire, Lovers Delight made an immediate impression on WA race goers when debuting for Ross Oliveri back in 2011. Only 4 starts later he was running 3rd in the WA Derby, and he came back as a 4yo to further enhance his reputation by placing in both the McInerney Ford and the 4yo Championship.
But after three more runs the horse was badly injured and not seen on a racetrack for 2 years. When he was seen again it was for a new trainer in Andrew De Campo.
De Campo was able to coax a Group 3 success in the Harvey Cup out of the then 5yo but after a handful more wins the horse was back to the paddock. When he was again ready to resume it would be with another trainer – Stephen Reed.
Reed has built a solid reputation with bad-legged horses and in Lovers Delight he has found a willing subject. The son of all conquering Bettors Delight has won 4 of 6 since joining his new mentor including wins in the $40,000 Easter Cup at Gloucester Park, and last start in the $30,000 Narrogin Cup defeating Our Jimmy Johnstone.
Lovers Delight would seem to hold a small advantage over Heez On Fire this Friday night due to the fact that he is more experienced than his younger rival from this mode of start, and despite this they will start from the same mark of 20m.
