New South Wales-bred five-year-old Bracken Sky has a losing sequence of 11, but Wanneroo part-owner and trainer Debbie Padberg is confident he will prove to be hard to beat from the prized No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Intersport Slater Gartrell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Boosting her confidence is the fact that he has been placed at three of his past five starts, including a second to this season’s WA Derby winner Patronus Star and an eye-catching second to WA Pacing Cup candidate Eloquent Mach last Friday night.
Bracken Sky will be handled by Dylan Egerton-Green, who was in the sulky last week when the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding finished with a spirited four-wide burst to come from sixth at the bell to be a half-length second to Eloquent Mach when the final 800m was covered in 56.3sec.
“He’s been very consistent at his past few runs,” said Mrs Padberg. “We’ve worked him out and he’s happy. We’re hoping he will lead, but if he sits, he sits and should still be very hard to beat. I wasn’t surprised when he finished second to Eloquent Mach because he’s been running really good times. He’s fit and he’s strong.”
Bracken Sky won ten times in New South Wales and his 34 WA starts have produced two wins and 12 placings. In quite an open field on Friday night, Bracken Sky’s chief rivals could be Mister Bushido, Maras Ace Man and McArdles Gem.
Mister Bushido, trained by Gary Hall Snr, has the form and the ability to overcome a back-line draw. He put in an outstanding performance last Friday week when he galloped and lost ten lengths at the start before finishing powerfully from ninth at the bell to be second to Delightfulreaction over 2536m.
Eight-year-old Maras Ace Man continues to race with youthful enthusiasm. He had a tough run in the breeze and fought on grandly when a close fourth behind Eloquent Mach last Friday night.
McArdles Gem is a smart sit-sprinter who should settle in a commanding position after starting from the No. 2 barrier.
Mrs Padberg said that she was looking for a good performance from Deeorse from barrier four in the Direct Trades Supply Pace. “He was held up (behind the tiring pacemaker Jack William) last Friday night. Otherwise, he would’ve finished closer than sixth behind Eloquent Mach,” she said.
“I like Deeorse and he is improving all the time. He’s got good gate speed, but I haven’t decided yet whether to launch him (at the start) or to duck down to the fence. And, with a sit, he can sprint very quickly. He is going to make a nice horse in about six months when he matures.”
Ken Casellas