Versatile harness racing mare Ideal Alice should appreciate a considerable drop in class and looks hard to beat in the Book Now for the TABtouch Interdominion Pace for mares over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The six-year-old American Ideal mare, prepared by master trainer Gary Hall sen., will start from the outside (No. 9) on the front line, but she has the ability to overcome this distinct disadvantage.
Ideal Alice, who won at nine of her 21 starts last season, will be having her fourth start in her current campaign and she has impressed with solid displays at her past two outings — when second to John of Arc and fourth behind Waylade.
On October 28 she dashed to an early lead from barrier five and bowled along in front before sprinting the third quarter of the final mile in a sizzling 26.8sec. She wilted to finish second to John of Arc, but did well to beat home the third placegetter, Our Jimmy Johnstone.
Then last Friday night she started from barrier five in the Brennan Memorial and she raced in sixth position, four back on the pegs, before finishing gamely to be a sound fourth behind TABtouch Interdominion hopes Waylade, Beaudiene Boaz and Delightful Offer.
Her opposition this week in mares’ company is considerably weaker. Her chief rivals appear likely to be the Nathan Turvey-trained Hidden Bad, a winner at three of her past four starts, the Justin Prentice-trained Quite A Delight and the Hall-trained Delightful Jade.
The Hall stable will also be fancied strongly in the second event (Harry Hoo), the seventh race (Cyamach) and the ninth event (Twoandahalf Tigers).
Harry Hoo made a successful return to racing after a spell when he started from the outside barrier and charged home from ninth (three wide) at the bell to take the lead 140m from home before scoring an easy victory at a 1.54.4 rate over 1730m. That was his ninth victory from 29 starts and he looks hard to beat from barrier four on Friday night, with his chief rivals, VC Manoeuvre (No. 9) and Ohoka Darcy (eight) drawn out wide.
Twoandahalf Tigers looks set to notch his eleventh win from 40 starts when he begins from the outside barrier (No. 8) in the Sports Daily Pace. He followed a good first-up second to Rycroft with a fighting third behind Commander Chapel and Lagoon Stride last Friday night after working hard without cover.
Ken Casellas