“He worked beautifully at Byford this morning (Tuesday) and is a big chance in the first at Gloucester Park on Friday night,” declared eight-time WA premiership trainer Ross Olivieri when assessing Military Master’s prospects in the first heat of the 2130m Clipsal By Schneider Electric Westbred Pace.
The five-year-old Bettors Delight stallion, who has had 21 starts for six wins, seven seconds and a third, will begin from barrier two on the back line and is sure to meet stiff opposition, particularly from Mister Versace, Rich Yankee and Hindu Kumara.
“He’s still waiting to get clear,” said Olivieri when referring to Military Master’s unlucky fifth behind Superimposed last Friday night when he started from the inside of the back line and raced three back on the pegs in sixth position.
At his previous outing, a fortnight earlier, Military Master began speedily from barrier seven, burst to the front after 250m and went on to win by a length from Mister Versace, who began from barrier eight and settled in last position before sustaining a powerful three-wide burst.
“Drawing two on the back line is better than one on the back line,” Olivieri said. “However, it won’t be a walk in the park against some good horses.” Military Master will again be driven by Chris Lewis, fresh from a treble at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.
It is significant that Lewis has chosen to drive Military Master ahead of the speedy Americanbootscoota, who is now being prepared by Lewis’s wife Debra. Americanbootscoota, a four-year-old who has won seven races, led and scored an easy 2185m trial win over Nicnak Paddy Wak at Pinjarra last Sunday week. The final quarters in the six-horse trial were 28.1sec. and 27.6sec. The gelding will be driven on Friday night by Clint Hall.
Mister Versace, a four-year-old by Bettors Delight and trained by Annie Belton, will be driven by Kim Prentice. The gelding ran on solidly from four back on the pegs at the bell to finish fourth behind Bettor Reward in the Manea Classic at Bunbury last Saturday week. He is in the best form of his fledgling career.
Rich Yankee, to be driven from barrier six by Dylan Egerton-Green for Northam trainer Jesse Moore, will have many admirers after his dazzling performance over 2190m at Northam on Thursday of last week when he charged forward from eighth at the bell to race away to a six-length victory over Saleahs Command, rating 1.57.6. His 20 starts have produced nine wins, six seconds and one third placing.
Byford trainer-reinsman Joe Suvaljko has five-year-old Hindu Kumara firing and stylish wins at his past two starts indicate more wins in store for the gelding.
