Group 1 winner Patrickthepiranha will make a much anticipated return to racing in Friday night’s Book Your Christmas Party At Gloucester Park Pace (2130m) and trainer-reinsman Colin Brown is confident he will do so in winning fashion.
The Four Starzzz Shark gelding was a last start winner of the Westbred Classic (2130m) for the three-year-old colts and geldings in June and took his record to 10 wins from 18 starts in doing so.
He starts his Golden Nugget campaign against a red-hot field this Friday night, headlined by Mighty Conqueror and Convert Denario.
Patrickthepiranha has the barrier draw advantage on his rivals in barrier three, while Mighty Conqueror (seven) and Convert Denario (10) look to have their work cut out to beat the four-year-old.
Brown takes the drive behind Patrickthepiranha for the first time on Friday night, with regular driver Dylan Egerton-Green to steer his own horse Tyler Brett.
Chris Lewis teams up with Mighty Conqueror for the first time.
Patrickthepiranha will be out to continue a good week for Brown, who had another four-year-old Its Rock And Roll win at Gloucester Park last night.
Brown said Patrickthepiranha had a tougher task than Its Rock And Roll to win first-up, but felt he was just as well equipped for it.
“Its Rock And Roll, Eden Franco and Patrick have been working up together, so they’ve had plenty of opposition,” he told RWWA Harness.
“It’s going to be tougher for him.
“He needs to be fitter and I think even though they’ve had the same amount of work…he’s 10 per cent better than this horse (Its Rock And Roll).”
Brown said he had Patrickthepiranha slightly in front of Its Rock And Roll as a Golden Nugget chance, but felt that could easily change prior to December’s four-year-old feature.
"He should be pushing forward. I think he can find the front and that should be good enough..."
Lindsay Harper is confident Vincenzo Peruggia can start his Friday night off on a winning note @GloucesterPark
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Its Rock And Roll justified his short quote in taking out last night’s Perth Plasterboard Centre Pace (2536m), scoring by 3.5m to Our Mista Kalle.
The Rocknroll Dance gelding led all the way over the long journey and ran home in a sound 56.9 and rated 1.58.8.
Brown said he saw enough from Its Rock And Roll to suggest he was on the right track.
“He’s one of those horses that waits for them, he never runs away from them, whereas Patrick does,” he said.
“Knowing the horse, there would’ve been a little bit more there if something had have challenged him.
“I’m happy enough with the run.”
Friday’s Gloucester Park meeting gets underway at 5.22pm
Tim Walker
