One of the most remarkable success stories in WA harness racing this year is the meteoric rise of 19-year-old Abbey Vidovich, who is forming a strong association with rejuvenated mare Jolted Charm.
The six-year-old Jolted Charm has struck a purple patch under the care of Gnangara trainer Luke Edwards, winning at four of her past six appearances after breaking a losing sequence of 32 before this burst of form, with Vidovich driving her three times for a fourth followed by wins at Narrogin and Pinjarra.
Jolted Charm is a versatile performer, and there is a strong chance that Vidovich will be aiming to set the pace after drawing the coveted No. 1 barrier. It was at Narrogin five starts ago that Jolted Charm previously began from barrier one, and Vidovich rated her perfectly to score a convincing victory over Liquidator.
In her first season of race driving last year Vidovich landed four winners from 55 starters before blossoming forth this year with 82 winners and 138 placegetters to be in sixth position in the State’s drivers’ premiership table.
Earlier on Friday night’s program twelve four-year-olds will clash in the $27,000 Follow @Skyracingau On X Golden Nugget Pace in which former smart Victorian performer Nathan Street will make his long-awaited West Australian debut.
Nathan Street, trained by Gary Hall snr and to be driven by Gary Hall jnr, is a winner at six of his 21 starts. He will begin from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line at his first appearance since finishing fourth behind Some American in a $100,000 feature event at Melton on November 16 last year.
“We have had him for ages,” said Hall jnr. “We really liked him, but he fractured a pedal bone. He is working in good style, and he would have been a good chance from a good draw. All his dangers are drawn inside of him.”
