Seven-year-old Eclipse Line, who managed one win from 28 starts in Victoria and New South Wales, has made a bright start to his WA career for leading trainer Michael Young, and he looks one of the best bets on the nine-event program at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Eclipse Line, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko, has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting from out wide at barrier eight in the field of nine in the $21,000 Barn Babes Animal Farm Pace over 2130m.
He has raced six times in WA for four wins and one second placing, taking his career record to 34 starts for five wins, five placings and $39,396.
Eclipse Line has revealed admirable toughness in winning over 1832m at Albany at his past two starts. He began from barrier six last Saturday night when he raced three wide for the first 600m before moving to the breeze and then hitting the front with 470m to travel and beating Snakey Bay by two lengths, rating 1.58.8 after final quarters of 28.8sec. and 29.3sec.
At his previous start Eclipse Line raced three wide for much of the way before winning by two and a half lengths from Reddy To Fly. Eclipse Line’s chief rival is quite likely to be the Matt Scott-trained Bet On The River, who will be driven by Emily Suvaljko’s father Shannon.
Young’s only other runner on Friday night is Pinny Noir, who is favourably drawn at barrier two in the 1730m Trotsynd, Register Your Interest Pace.
This appears to be a very competitive race, with Lincoln River, Henty, Yawoma and Eastern Advance sure to have many admirers.
Lincoln River, to be driven by Abbey Vidovich for trainer Jemma Hayman, has the ability to overcome the wide draw at No. 7. He made an impressive WA debut in a 1730m event last Friday night when he began from barrier six, raced three wide early and then was restrained back to last in the field of twelve.
Lincoln River followed Heez Good As Gold’s three-wide burst from the 900m to surge home powerfully to finish a close-up fourth behind Illawong Mustang. He will pay to follow.
Henty, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed, will be fancied from the No. 1 barrier. He raced in much stronger company last Friday week when he began from barrier four and set a solid pace before fading badly to finish last in the field of eleven. That followed smart wins at Northam and Gloucester Park at his two previous outings.
Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop has engaged Gary Hall jnr to drive Yawoma, a consistent performer who has raced 23 times for four wins, eleven seconds and three thirds. Yawoma, who will start from barrier three, dashed to the front after 30m and set a fast pace when second, beaten in the final stride by Sebastian James, who rated 1.53.7 over the 1684m journey at Pinjarra on Monday.
Trainer Hayden Hancock has Eastern Advance racing keenly, but from barrier four with speedy beginners on his inside, he will need a good share of luck. Eastern Advance ran home strongly to win from the pacemaker Balingup Boy over 1177m at Pinjarra on Monday this week, and the previous Monday over 1684m at Pinjarra he rated 1.56.7 when he dashed over the final 400m in 27.7sec. to win by three and a half lengths from Hurricanehope.
