Redoubtable mare Gotta Go Gabbana has been plagued by bad barriers in recent starts and she should appreciate starting from the No. 2 barrier in the Simmonds Steel Pace for mares over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She possesses good gate speed and Chris Lewis is likely to make a bold bid for the early lead and then dictate terms in front , with in-form runners Delightfulreaction (barrier three) and Parisian Partygirl (No. 1) seemingly best suited when used in a sit-sprint capacity.
Gotta Go Gabbana, prepared at Banjup by Annie Belton, gave a stout-hearted performance when a fighting fourth behind Arma Indie, Delightfulreaction and Balcatherine in the 2130m WASBA Breeders Stakes last Friday week. She started from barrier seven and raced three wide early before working hard in the breeze.
A week earlier she was far from disgraced when, at $101, she began speedily from barrier six, raced in sixth position in the one-wide line and fought on gamely to finish fifth behind Iceenothink and Chicago Bull.
Apart from Delightfulreaction and Parisian Partygirl, Just Rockon Bye should prove to be a formidable opponent for Gotta Go Gabbana.
Just Rockon Bye, prepared by Gary Hall Snr, has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier in the field of six. She impressed greatly last Friday night at her second appearance after a five-month absence when she started from barrier eight and raced in last position in a field of 11 before surging home powerfully to win from the fast-finishing Our Perkins and Parisian Partygirl at a 1.57.7 rate over 2130m.
Parisian Partygirl, from the No. 1 barrier, trailed the pacemaker Sightseeing Anvil and was hampered for clear running in the closing stages before fighting on restricted room.
Delightful Reaction is in top form for trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo with two wins and two second from her past four starts. From the No. 3 barrier she raced in sixth position in the one-wide line before finishing strongly with a final quarter in 28.4sec. to win from Queen Shenandoah at a 1.58.5 rate over 2130m.
Ken Casellas