An impressive workout in a 2150m trial at Byford last Saturday is a pointer to a strong showing from Sweet Coco, who will start from the No. 6 barrier in the $25,000 TABtouch Christmas Gift Qualifier No. 4 at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sweet Coco, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old trained and driven by Gary Hall jnr, should also appreciate a considerable drop in class.
She raced behind the pacemaker Hi Sugar Rush in the trial before Hall eased her off the pegs 600m from home and took her to the front 200m later before she finished second, four lengths behind the winner Captain Ravishing, an accomplished open-class performer, who rated 1.55.9 after final quarters of 28.1sec. and 28.3sec.
The richly talented Hall attracts a legion of fans and he will pay to follow on Friday night when he has a drive in nine of the ten events, with many of them excellent each-way prospects, headed by champion five-year-old Mister Smartee, who should make a bold bid for victory in the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup despite an unfavourable back-line draw.
Apart from Sweet Coco and Mister Smartee, Hall will drive Her Presence, Hes Never Been Beta, Skylou, Heavenly Gipsy, Chasing Rex, My Watchlist and Master Remi.
Hes Never Been Beta, trained by Gary Hall snr, has strong winning claims in race three in which he will begin from the No. 2 barrier. He raced in stronger company last Friday night when he trailed the pacemaker Arma Believer and finished a sound fourth behind The Iron Duke. At his previous start he raced without cover for much of the way and finished third behind Henty and My Silver Spoon over 2130m.
One of his chief rivals is likely to be the Ray Jones-trained Dawson, whose form has been quite sound in four starts in his current campaign, with his first-up second to Copy Cat Queen in a Golden Nugget preview suggesting much better things to come.
My Watchlist, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old trained by Gary Hall snr, will create considerable interest when he begins from out wide at barrier eight in the $23,000 TABtouch Past The Post Payouts Pace over 2300m.
This will be his first appearance for five months, and he is capable of a bold showing against moderate opposition, with his main rivals likely to be the polemarker Hi Sugar Rush and the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Thelittle Master (barrier nine).
Hi Sugar Rush is resuming after a let-up for trainer Michael Young and driver Emily Suvaljko, and he should be suited by setting the pace from the No. 1 barrier.
He has led and won at Bunbury (twice), Pinjarra and Narrogin. And he warmed up for this assignment in a six-horse field in a 2150m Byford trial last Saturday when he bowled along in front and finished third behind Captain Ravishing and Sweet Coco.
Skylou has excellent each-way prospects in the $31,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup Consolation over 2130m in which he will begin from barrier two on the back line and will clash with his stablemate Youre So Fine (Stuart McDonald), Rolling Fire, Star Casino, Nerano, Sorridere, Magnus Victor and Hillview Bondi in what should be a highly competitive event.
Skylou began from the 40m mark in a 2503m stand last Friday night when he dashed forward from the rear to challenge strongly, but unsuccessfully, for the lead at the bell. He fought on grimly to finish a half-length second to the frontrunning Our Vinnie. He began from 30m when he finished determinedly to win from Rock Me Over and Our Vinnie over 2631m at Pinjarra at his previous outing.
