Simba Bromac, who boasts a remarkable record in WA of 17 wins, four seconds, two thirds and one fourth from 24 starts, faces the biggest test of his brief career when he clashes with Mitch Maguire in the $25,000 www.gloucesterpark.com.au Schrader final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The clash between the two New Zealand-bred four-year-olds, the youngest runners in the 2130m event, promises to be the highlight of the ten-race program.
Both are brilliant frontrunners, but neither is expected to lead after Simba Bromac drew out wide at barrier seven on the front line and Mitch Maguire drew the back line.
However, each is extremely versatile and should fight out the finish.
Simba Bromac was not extended in scoring an easy all-the-way victory last Friday night when, after a moderate early pace, he sped over the final quarters in 28.4sec. and 27sec. This week Chris Lewis is unlikely to have the luxury of being able to send Simba Bromac to the front in the early stages, with speedy beginners Mister Versace, Debt Free Charlie, Extreme Prince and Arthur Lowe drawn on his inside.
Lewis will be hoping for better fortune than he experienced in last year’s Schrader final when he drove the 6/4 favourite Military Master and was involved in a hectic battle for the early lead and then, after getting to the front, was challenged strongly by Ideal Tyson. Military Master led until the final 100m before wilting to finish eighth behind the fast-finishing 20/1 chance Rabchenko.
Simba Bromac is prepared by Nathan Turvey, who will also be represented by Arthur Lowe and Livura. Turvey will handle the consistent Livura (barrier No. 6) and Jocelyn Young will be in the sulky behind the polemarker Arthur Lowe, who is capable of improvement after two unplaced efforts following a two-month absence.
Mitch Maguire, a $43,000 yearling and winner at 17 of his 26 starts, has returned to action after a 13-month absence in grand fashion with three easy victories. The small and speedy Sportswriter stallion is trained by Greg and Skye Bond, who have won the Schrader Pace with Tuapeka Kahu in 2014 and Risk in 2016.
Tuapeka Kahu was favourite at 7/4 when Ryan Warwick drove him to victory over Say It Now, with three other Bond runners, Jay Bees Grin, Lunar Tide and Condrieu finishing third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Bonds had three runners in the 2015 Schrader final, with Ohoka Squire finishing second, Jungle Jewel third and Condrieu fourth behind the winner Norvic Nightowl. Ryan Bell drove Risk to victory over the 7/4 on favourite and pacemaker American Boy in 2016.
Leading trainer Gary Hall Snr, who was successful with Norvic Nightowl, is pinning his faith on Extreme Prince, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from barrier five on the front line. Extreme Prince trailed the pacemaker Simba Bromac and battled on gamely when a well-beaten second to that pacer last Friday night.
Ken Casellas