Champion reinsman Chris Lewis has given punters a strong pointer by choosing to drive Bettor Finish in preference to Beltane, Innocent Affair and Destined To Rule in the Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He has handled the Barry Howlett-trained Bettor Finish in 28 races for six wins, ten seconds and two thirds and he will be aiming to take full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier on the front line by attempting an all-the-way victory.
Bettor Finish has good gate speed and is a noted frontrunner. The five-year-old led from barrier one when a fighting second to crack three-year-old Bletchley Park in a 2185m event at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon. Two starts before that Bettor Finish led from barrier one and won from Northern Emperor and Luis Alberto over 2130m at Gloucester Park.
Lewis drove four-year-old Beltane to a decisive 8m victory over Luis Alberto at Gloucester Park two starts ago and at Gloucester Park last Saturday night trainer Nathan Turvey was in the sulky when Beltane impressed greatly when he charged home from the rear to finish a nose second to Major Rush. Turvey will again drive Beltane on Friday night.
Lewis has driven Innocent Affair, a four-year-old mare trained by his wife Debra, at 22 of her 23 starts for seven wins and eight placings. Innocent Affair is in top form, with her past five starts producing three wins and two placings. Jocelyn Young will drive Innocent Affair, who will start from barrier five.
Deni Roberts will drive Destined To Rule for her mother, Millendon trainer Sonia Zucchiatti. Lewis has enjoyed a successful association with Destined To Rule, with his 33 drives on her producing six wins, two seconds and six thirds.
One of the best bets on the ten-event program should be Our Angel of Harlem, who will enjoy the luxury of starting from the No. 1 barrier for the first time in 16 starts in Western Australia when she contests a heat of the Coulson Pace. The New Zealand-bred four-year-old has yet to lead all the way in any of her races, but trainer Mike Reed is confident she will lead and win on Friday night. Her chief rival will be the Justin Prentice-trained Our Major Mama, an effortless first-up winner at Pinjarra on November 12.
