Trial points to Importer Exporter

26 January 2017 | Ken Casellas
Logo
Importer Exporter will be driven by Kyle Harper from barrier two.

Importer Exporter will be driven by Kyle Harper from barrier two.

An impressive win by Importer Exporter in a 2550m trial at Byford last Sunday week was a strong pointer to the six-year-old’s prospects in the $19,000 Stephenie Smedley Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Importer Exporter, bred, part-owned and trained by Chris Winston, will be driven by Kyle Harper from barrier two on the front line and the capable frontrunner will be strongly fancied to notch his ninth victory from only 32 starts. He also has finished second ten times.

This will be his second appearance after a spell. He was a 2/1 chance when he started off the 10m mark and raced in sixth place in the one-wide line before finishing sixth behind Major Rush over 2503m at Gloucester Park on January 3. He did not make up any ground in the final circuit when the final 800m was run in a smart 56sec.

A standing-start specialist, he excelled in his previous preparation when he had 11 starts for five wins and four seconds.      

He rated 2.3 in his recent trial win (by 4m over Nothing In Between) when he covered the final quarters in 29.7sec. and 28.5sec. His chief rival on Friday night looks set to be Ohoka Cooper, who will be resuming after a spell.

Ohoka Cooper warmed up for his first appearance for 21 weeks in fine style with a splendid win over Bettors Ace in a 2550m trial at Byford on Sunday morning. Driven by Nathan Turvey, Ohoka Cooper started off the 20m mark and rated 2.4.1, with final sections of 28.8sec. and 29.8sec. Trained at Mt Helena by Ray Williams, Ohoka Cooper excels in standing-start events and looks set to improve on his good record of ten wins and 11 placings from 46 starts.

Chris Voak, who had the choice of four drives in Friday night’s race, has opted for the Matt Scott-trained Another Ayjay, who will have admirers from the inside of the front line.

If he reproduces his effort in the 2560m Northam Cup two starts ago he will take a power of beating. He raced three wide early before setting the pace in the Northam Cup and fought on doggedly when third behind the talented Im Full of Excuses and veteran open-class performer This Time Dylan.

There were excuses for his last-start eighth behind Hear It Now in a 2631m stand at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon. He started off the 30m mark and he quickly moved forward to race in the breeze. However, he lost his winning chance when he locked wheels with another runner and dropped back to the rear.

Voak has driven Another Ayjay only once in a race --- 18 starts ago at Gloucester Park last June when the gelding finished third behind American Boy and Persistent Threat. Though a winner at only one of his past 22 starts Another Ayjay could give his supporters a great run for their money.

Voak gave punters a strong lead by choosing Another Ayjay ahead of Major Rush, Glow Bright and Authorized. He drove Major Rush when the six-year-old set the pace and won comfortably from Another Ayjay in a 2503m stand three starts ago. Michael Grantham will handle Major Rush on Friday night, Luke Edwards will drive Glow Bright and Dylan Egerton-Green will handle outsider Authorized.

Well-performed five-year-old Twoandahalf Tigers, trained by Gary Hall sen., will return to standing-start racing after appearing in mobiles at his past eight starts, He will start off 10m and must come under consideration. His eight runs in stands in WA have resulted in four wins.

 

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