Baldivis harness racing horseman Nathan Turvey holds a powerful hand in the $18,000 WA Racing Hall of Fame Nominee Harold Richter Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with three runners — Our Gamma Lady, Bethany Aitch and Stunin Eyes Only.
He has chosen to drive Stunin Eyes Only, a winner of eight races who is handily drawn at barrier two on the back line. Shannon Suvaljko has been engaged for Our Gamma Lady and Jocelyn Young will handle Bethany Aitch.
And Turvey is quick to point out that his three mares will need to be at their top to beat the in-form Chelsea Royale, who has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier. Turvey is well credentialled to pass judgment on the Mike Sangalli-trained Chelsea Royale, having driven her to two all-the-way victories last month — over 2130m at Gloucester Park and 2692m at Pinjarra.
Sangalli has engaged Chris Lewis to drive Chelsea Royale, whose past 14 starts have produced five wins, four seconds and a third.
Our Gamma Lady, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old by Mach Three, is sure to prove hard to beat from barrier three. A winner at nine of her 24 starts, Our Gamma Lady was most impressive when she surged home from ninth at the bell to win from Touch of Success at a 1.56.8 rate over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday night.
That followed runaway victories in modest company over 2258m and 2683m at Albany at her two previous outings.
Bethany Aitch, who will start from barrier five on Friday night, has won at her past two starts. She worked hard and covered extra ground before winning easily over 2258m at Albany before she set the pace and sprinted over the final 800m in 56sec. to win easily from Questionable Gesture over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday night.
Five-year-old Giuliana Rancic, trained by Gary Hall sen., will be fancied from the favourable No. 2 barrier. She will be driven by Clint Hall. Giuliana Rancic raced without cover for much of the way before winning from Kissmecougar over 2100m at Bunbury on Tuesday of last week. She unwound a powerful burst to win from Hilmore Disco over 2242m at Narrogin a week earlier.
Ken Casellas