Smart WA-bred mare Champagne Everyone has made a full recovery from a damaged knee and is poised for a strong first-up effort when she begins from the No. 6 barrier in the $21,000 $9 Pints In Steelo’s Or JP’s Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It’s a good field for her first-up but if she is able to fine the front, she should go close (to winning),” said her trainer and driver Aiden de Campo.
“She worked well at home this morning (Tuesday), and she has had enough work to go well, first-up.”
Champagne Everyone was trained by Ray Williams when de Campo drove the mare for the first time in a race at Gloucester Park on June 13 this year. She displaced a knee boot in running and finished at the rear.
“She cut her knee open and had to have the injury stitched up,” explained de Campo, who has had the mare in work for the past three months. She has a record of 50 starts for eight wins and 17 placings.
De Campo is facing a busy time on Friday night when he will be seen in action in the first nine events in the ten-race program. All his drives have excellent each-way prospects, with Sorridere looking a strong winning chance from barrier seven in the $27,000 Book Into Steelo’s Tonight Pace over 2130m.
Five-year-old Sorridere has a losing sequence of 13 but has impressed with seconds to Maungatahi and Rolling Fire at his past two runs. He raced in the one-out, one-back position in the WA Pacing Cup Consolation last Friday night when he took a narrow lead approaching the home turn and was beaten by a head by the fast-finishing Rolling Fire.
“He seems to be getting back to his best,” said de Campo. “There is a bit of speed inside of him, but it would be nice if he could find the front.”
Sorridere’s chief rivals are likely to be Spyglass, Infinite Sign and Tiger Royal.
Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young has Infinite Sign (barrier four) and Insta gator (five) engaged, and she has decided to handle Insta Gator, with Gary Hall being engaged for Infinite Sign.
“Insta Gator was okay last start (when he raced in the breeze and finished fifth behind Sweet Lucifer),” said Young. “That was his first run for three weeks, and this looks a nice race for him. If Infinite Sign can find the front he should be hard to beat.
Infinite Sign has a losing sequence of 18, but he has impressed at his latest two outings, finishing second to Dame Valour and third behind Magnus Victor and Star Casino.
