Star pacer Handsandwheels is close to his top after four runs following a spell and has the ability to overcome the distinct disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the 2130m $25,000 Worldwide Printing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I think he’s a winning prospect,” said the six-year-old’s trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “He has drawn the outside because he is the most proven horse in the race, which includes a lot of up-and-coming Free-For-All types, horses I expect to be racing in the Cups later this year.”
Handsandwheels, a winner of 28 races and $664,646 in prizemoney, raced three back on the pegs in fourth position before fighting on with an inside passage to finish third behind Chicago Bull and Bletchley Park over 2536m last Friday night.
“I was happy with that run,” said de Campo. “He needed that, a confidence run. It was a perfect run for him; he finished with the plugs in and on the bridle. I’m looking forward to racing this Friday without Chicago Bull in the field. He’s got good gate speed, but I’ll make up my mind out of the gate. We’ve got options; he’s a versatile horse.”
De Campo said that the six-year-old’s second appearance after a spell (when he set the pace and finished a short half-head second to Chicago Bull) had “knocked a fair bit out of him.”
“I then made the mistake by backing him up a week later,” he said.
Bletchley Park, the only runner on the back line, looms as a definite danger. He is in top form for trainer Stephen Reed and driver Dylan Egerton-Green. He trailed the pacemaking Chicago Bull last Friday night before sprinting home fast to be an excellent half-length second to the champion.
Ace reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is poised to set the pace with the Michael George-trained four-year-old While They Pray, who will start from the No. 4 barrier.
“I’ll do the same thing again press forward,” said Hall, who marvels at the great natural speed of While They Pray, who has won in fast time at three of his past five starts to boost his career record to 14 wins and nine placings from 31 starts.
Stroke of Luck and Convert Denario also are in splendid form, with the Ray Williams-trained Convert Denario impressing with two placings behind Chicago Bull from his three starts after resuming from a spell. Stroke of Luck notched his 14th win from 57 starts when he worked hard in the breeze before beating Destined To Rule and Courage Tells over 2130m last Friday night.
Michael Grantham has been engaged to handle Convert Denario. He replaces Aldo Cortopassi, who will produce Theo Aviator and Roman Aviator for their first-up runs after winter spells.
“They trialled really well at Byford on Sunday morning and I’m happy with them,” said Cortopassi, who has elected to drive Theo Aviator from the No. 1 barrier, while Nathan Turvey will handle Roman Aviator from the No. 6 barrier.
“I’ll run the gate with Theo Aviator as hard as I can,” Cortopassi said. “His gate speed is average and there are some horses with really good gate speed on his outside. We’ll punch through hard and see what happens. Roman Aviator will be driven cold from out there at barrier six.”
Theo Aviator rated 1.55.8 and won a 2150m Byford trial on Sunday by seven lengths from Cavalry Call, with final quarters of 29.1sec. and 28.2sec. Roman Aviator beat Jimmy Mack by a head at a 1.55.9 rate, with a final sections of 27.9sec.
