With an imposing record of eight wins and three placings from 15 starts Wonderful To Fly looks superior to her seven rivals in the Thank You Volunteers Of York Racing Inc. Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday morning.
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young agrees, and he is confident his Follow The Stars filly will overcome an awkward draw at barrier five and emerge triumphant.
“She hasn’t done a lot since her win two weeks ago,” said Young. “I have just been trying to maintain her where she’s at. This looks a winnable race for her. She should be able to find the front, and if she does, unless there’s something wrong, she should be winning.”
Wonderful To Fly led from barrier three, and after setting a meandering early pace she sprinted over the final 400m in 27.4sec. and won by 10m from Precocious Lady over 2130m last Friday week.
Chris Lewis said that Wall Street Girl was capable of a bold showing. “I’m looking forward to the race, and she should run well,” he said. “There is no doubt that Wonderful To Fly is the one to beat, but Wall Street Girl is not impossible.”
Midnight Assassin has created a big impression since arriving from New Zealand, and the five-year-old trotter looks set to remain unbeaten in Australia by winning the final event, the Better Your Industry With TABtouch Handicap.
Trained by Greg and Skye Bond and to be driven by Ryan Warwick, Midnight Assassin should lead from the No. 1 barrier on the front line in the 2503m standing-start event and prove too strong for his four rivals.
Midnight Assassin set the pace and sprinted over the final 400m in 27.5sec. when he won from Line The Starzzz and Mr Sundon in a 2185m mobile trot at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon. He made a successful Australian debut six days earlier when he led and beat Tricky Ric in a 2096m stand at Gloucester Park.
The Bonds and Warwick also have excellent prospects with the promising New Zealand-bred Double Up in the 2536m Happy 60TH Wedding Anniversary Joan and Graham Compson Pace.
Double Up, who will start from barrier four, will be making his first appearance for 11 weeks and should extend his winning sequence to six.
