Owner-breeder Mark Congerton, trainer Gary Hall sen. and reinsman Gary Hall jun. are full of hope that Massive Attack will make partial amends for her defeat as the 9/4 favourite in the $100,000 Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park 12 months ago by winning the $25,000 Lumex Electrical Westsired Pace for three-year-olds at the harness racing meeting at Bunbury on Friday night.
Massive Attack started from barrier five in last year's classic when she worked hard in the breeze and got to the front 270m from home before finishing second to Straittothehilton.
Again Massive Attack has had little luck in the random draw and will start out wide at barrier six in the field of seven, with Straittothehilton at No. 7.
Massive Attack has struck top form with decisive victories over 1684m at Pinjarra at her past two outings.
On June 8 she started from barrier four, raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning from Formyeyesonly at a 1.55.5 rate.
Then on Tuesday of last week she started from the No. 6 barrier and was restrained back to sixth in the early stages before she burst to the front at the bell and led by six lengths on the home turn before wilting slightly after her tremendous sprinting effort (a third quarter in 26.8sec.) and winning by 4m from the fast-finishing four-year-old Jungle Jewel.
That win took Massive Attack's record to 20 starts for seven wins and eight placings for earnings of $59,971.
Hardest for her to beat this week look to be the Debra Lewis-trained Sea Me Smile and the Ross Olivieri-trained Lady Willoughby.
Sea Me Smile, a stylish frontrunner who is perfectly drawn at barrier one, has won four times from 17 starts.
She reappeared after a four-month absence when she started from the back line and finished solidly from the rear to be third behind Honey And Lime and Lovers Prayer.
Lady Willoughby is a versatile filly who has won eight times from 23 starts and she looks well placed from barrier three.
Ken Casellas