Five-year-old Blissfullabbey is racing keenly for Port Kennedy trainer Chris Willis, and star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr said he expected the mare to prove hard to beat in the opening event, the Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She’s going super and it was a good run again last week,” he said.
Blissfullabbey settled down in eighth position in a 2130m event last Friday night before Hall set her alight after a lap to move outside the pacemaker Art Tutor. She fought of determinedly to finish third behind Art Tutor and Bettor Finish when the final 800m was covered in 56.9sec.
At her previous outing Blissfullabbey impressed when she finished strongly from the rear to win by a head from Little Bit Of Fun over 2185m at Pinjarra when the final two quarters were run in 28sec. and 27.6sec.
This week Blissfullabbey will start from the inside of the back line and should be capable of unwinding a powerful finishing burst.
“She’s going super,” said Hall. “I think there will be speed on, which will suit her. She’s going to be dangerous and if she gets the breaks, she’ll win.”
Weewah, the only three-year-old in the event, will start from the back line, alongside Blissfullabbey, and she will have many admirers after chalking up nine wins and six placings from 23 starts this season. Others who will be fancied include Just Makemine Diamonds, the hard-pulling Millwood Gucci, Starlight Destiny and Leap of Faith.
Hall, who also is confident about the prospects of Wildwest and Mister Bushido, said he was looking forward to driving My Carbon Copy in the GPHR Pace in which the New Zealand-bred four-year-old will start from the No. 4 barrier.
“My Carbon Copy is dropping back in class and I was impressed with him when I drove him two starts ago (when he ran home strongly from eighth at the bell to be third behind Petronus Star in the Binshaw Classic).
“This will be an interesting race this week, with Justasec resuming after a spell.” Justasec, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will be driven by leading reinsman Ryan Warwick from the prized No. 1 barrier.
Justasec is a smart frontrunner who will be having his first start since finishing third behind Iceenothink and Mighty Santana on March 27. A winner of one race from two New Zealand starts, Justasec has raced 12 times in WA for eight wins and three placings. My Carbon Copy was placed at three of his nine New Zealand starts before his first 19 starts in WA produced nine wins and five placings.
Ken Casellas