Franco Rayner, a noted frontrunner, is the youngest runner in the 2130m event.
Speedy four-year-old Franco Rayner is relishing a program of beach work and astute Banjup trainer Colin Brown predicts the gelding to bounce back to his best when he contests the second qualifying heat of the Lewis Pace sponsored by Westral Plantation Timber Shutters at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Franco Rayner, a noted frontrunner, is the youngest runner in the 2130m event and Maddison Brown is planning an all-the-way win from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the field of eight.
Franco Rayner gave dashing frontrunning displays to score easy wins over 2130m and 1730m on December 30 and January 6 before he started out wide at barrier eight in the group 2 Nights of Thunder final over 1730m on January 13. He began speedily, but was forced to race outside the pacemaker Nathans Courage before fading to finish last, eleven lengths behind the winner Nathans Courage.
“They went too quick for him at his latest start,” said Colin Brown. “He was racing solid every week and running time. So, I backed off him for a little bit.
“He needed a bit of a freshen up and he seems to have rallied. His recent beach work of galloping, wading and swimming has been terrific. He will lead on Friday night and should go close. His main danger is Bungalow Bill, who has drawn the outside barrier.”
Franco Rayner has raced 38 times for 13 wins and nine placings and five-year-old Bungalow Bill, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has a similar record, having had 31 starts for 12 wins and nine placings.
Bungalow Bill, to be driven by leading reinsman Ryan Warwick, will appreciate a considerable drop in class, with his two most recent city starts being against open-class pacers, including Bronze Seeker, Kiwi Legend, Flaming Flutter, Lisharry, David Hercules and This Time Dylan.
At his latest appearance, Bungalow Bill was not extended against much inferior competition, leading from barrier six and scoring an effortless victory from Responder and Dredlock Rockstar over 1828m at a 1.56.8 rate at Albany on January 28.
The Bond stable has a good second string runner in Mighty Major, who is ready to return to his best form. He will start from barrier five and will be handled by Chris Lewis. He sustained a strong three-wide burst from the rear to be third at the bell before wilting to seventh behind Ohoka Kentucky over 2130m last Friday night.
Ohoka Kentucky, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, impressed in scoring a one-length victory over Im Lisart after working in the breeze. He will have admirers again this week from barrier six.
And Twoandahalf Tigers cannot be discounted from barrier seven. He fought on gamely from the one-out, one-back position to finish third behind Bronze Seeker and Major Rush over 2130m last Friday night.
