Serpentine trainer Matt Scott has Cut Above racing with wonderful enthusiasm and the five-year-old New Zealand-bred mare will take a power of beating from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, according to reinsman Shannon Suvaljko.
Cut Above was most impressive last Tuesday week when she began brilliantly from barrier six to set the early pace in a 2536m event before Suvaljko surrendered the lead to the hard-pulling Remit Me Whitby with 1100m to travel.
Suvaljko then eased Cut Above off the pegs at the bell and the mare regained the lead 550m from home and won by a length and a half from Missplay. The win followed Cut Above’s three seconds and five thirds at her previous eight starts.
“That race was a big drop in grade, and I drove Cut Above like the best horse, and she won like the best horse,” Suvaljko said. “This week the 2130m will suit her. She’s a good frontrunner and she’ll run 1.55 or 1.56 in front. She will lead and prove hard to beat.”
Suvaljko chose to handle Cut Above ahead of Qtown Rip Roaring and A Boy Named Rosie, each of whom is racing keenly. A Boy Named Rosie (barrier three) will be driven by Deni Roberts, and Nathan Turvey will drive Qtown Rip Roaring.
A Boy Named Rosie, driven by Suvaljko, impressed last Friday night when he charged home, out wide, from eighth at the bell to finish a neck second to Lightning Jolt. Other serious rivals for Cut Above include Our Rhythm N Blues, Jimmy Mach and Parisian Partygirl.
This will be one of Cut Above’s final race starts before owner Tim Blee sends her to stud. The mare, who has had 65 starts for 14 wins, 23 placings and $104,842, is booked to American stallion Hes Watching.
