Trainer Mike Reed has delivered a glowing assessment of promising pacer Bletchley Park, labelling him one of the best horses he’s had ahead of his second-up assignment at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA Derby runner-up returned in style at Gloucester Park on August 27, where he recorded an 18m win as a short-price favourite.
The four-year-old now steps up in company to Friday’s Christmas Sundowner Packages Available At GP Pace (2130m) and is expected to take plenty of beating once again from barrier seven.
Reed said Bletchley Park had enormous potential and was excited about his future.
“I think he’s the best horse I’ve got in my stable,” he told GPTV Powered By RWWA.
“I class him as good as any horse I’ve had.
“He’s a very smart horse.”
The son of American Ideal has seven rivals to contend with this Friday night, where Joe With The Flow (barrier one), The Arsonist (five) and Bee Seventeen (six) are expected to provide the stiffest competition.
A winner at eight of his 15 career starts to date, Bletchley Park’s campaign will centre on the Group 1 Golden Nugget in December, a race Reed finished fifth in last year with Golden State.
Despite the tricky draw this Friday night, Reed said he expected Bletchley Park to be too strong for the small field.
“He should win,” he said.
“It’s never easy, but I think it should be easy for him.
“We worked him on Saturday and he’s right on song.
“He worked the best he’s worked in a long time.”
Bletchley Park was expected to back-up off his first-up win at Gloucester Park a fortnight ago, but Reed said he scratched the pacer after he didn’t eat all his feed following the win.
Meanwhile, trainer Ross Olivieri has given a strong push for The Dali Express in the Book Your Christmas Party At Gloucester Park Pace (2130m) .
The Dali Express won first-up in WA at Pinjarra on July 1, but has since managed just one placing in five subsequent starts.
However, Olivieri said the gelding had his best chance to return to the winners list from barrier one this week.
“I think The Dali Express is the one to beat barring the Bond’s horse (Ocean Ridge),” Olivieri told GPTV Powered By RWWA.
“The Dali Express will run along and whatever is good enough to beat him will beat him.
“He’s flying at the moment.”
Olivieri also has Carrera Mach engaged in the race from barrier nine and indicated he was also nearing a win if he replicated his trackwork.
Elsewhere, a field of 11 has assembled for the Group 2 James Brennan Memorial (2536m) on Friday night.
Simba Bromac (barrier two), King Of Swing (five), Handsandwheels (six) and Vampiro (11) loom as key contenders in the $50,000 event.
Tim Walker
Image: Scott Hamilton
