Leading harness racing trainer Gary Hall sen. holds a strong hand in the $18,000 Westforce Pace for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he leans slightly in favour of Mach Time, who faces a stern test from the outside barrier in the field of eight over the 2130m journey.
Hall’s other runners are Chok Chai (barrier one), Campora (two) and King Lebron (six). Clint Hall looks set to drive Mach Time, with Justin Prentice in the sulky behind Campora and Morgan Woodley driving King Lebron.
Standing firmly in the path of an easy Hall victory is the Gary Elson-trained star Ideal Tyson, who will start out wide at barrier seven. Ideal Tyson notched his tenth win from 19 starts when Nathan Turvey brought him from seventh at the bell with a powerful three-wide burst to hit the front 60m from home and hold on to beat the fast-finishing Alfs Odyssey. Ideal Tyson sprinted over the final 800m in 57.2sec.
This was Ideal Tyson’s first appearance since he started from the No. 1 barrier and raced three back on the pegs before finishing powerfully, out wide, to be third behind Chicago Bull and Lets Chase The Dream in the WA Derby last Friday week. Mach Time, who raced wide early and then in the breeze before obtaining the one-out, one-back trail, was a fighting fifth.
“Mach Time is the most efficient of the stable’s four runners on Friday night,” Hall sen. said. “I thought the son of Mach Three's run in the Derby was just a bit better than that of Ideal Tyson.”
Chok Chai, a gelding by Washington VC, is a most interesting runner. He made his debut at Pinjarra on Sunday afternoon when he led from barrier five and scored an effortless seven-length victory over The Tornado, rating 1.57.9 over 2185m in an R0 event. He rises considerably in class on Friday night.
Campora, a winner in 1.56.2 over 1609m at Bunbury in January, has maintained his sound form and has sound claims from his favourable draw. King Lebron has won four races, including easy victories at his past two outings over 2100m at Bunbury on the past two Saturday nights.
Scoobys Delight, a stablemate of Ideal Tyson, has won only once from 14 starts, but has been placed nine times. He worked hard when a good second to My Platinum Belle at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Lightning Jolt and Destined To Rule complete a strong field. Lightning Jolt notched his sixth when he finished boldly to score over 2185m at Pinjarra on Sunday and Destined To Rule also produced a strong finishing effort to win over 1780m at Northam on Thursday of last week.
Ken Casellas