Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond look set to produce a trifecta result in the final event, the Retravision Every Day’s A Sale Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Wednesday night.
Their runners When In Vegas, to be driven by Stuart McDonald from barrier four, Captains Creek (Liam Elliott; barrier five) and Delulu (Tom Nally; barrier six) are expected to dominate betting in the field of seven.
Captains Creek, the only New Zealand-bred runner in the race, should prove hard to beat, following his eye-catching performance last Friday night when he began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and was restrained to the rear.
He was last in the field of twelve at the bell before he unwound a sparkling late burst and thundered home, out five wide, to finish fourth behind Spring Line.
Captains Creek was the only three-year-old in the field and his effort against older and more experienced rivals was particularly meritorious. He is sure to appreciate competing against six other three-year-olds on Wednesday night.
His fourth placing followed a winning sequence of four. Ten days before last Friday’s performance Captains Creek began from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line when he surged home from sixth at the bell to win from Sebastian James, who rated 1.56.4 after final 400m sections of 28.2sec. and 28.7sec.
Captains Creek led and won at his three previous starts when he began from barriers four, five and four. He has a splendid record of seven wins and six placings from 23 starts. When In Vegas has raced 24 times for five wins and nine placings, and Delulu, the only filly in the race, has had 25 starts for seven wins and eight placings.
Delulu is a smart sit-sprinter who impressed last Friday night when she began from barrier No. 7 and was tenth and last at the bell before charging home, out five wide, to finish fifth behind the pacemaker Hunger Strike.
