Boyanup harness racing trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice was philosophical when his smart mares Quite A Delight and Where Dreams Grow drew out wide at barrier eight in the second heat of the Fridgies Job The Johnson Pace and the Olive Farms Nice Drop Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He admitted that each mare faced a stern task, but he added that both had the ability to overcome the disadvantage of a wide barrier.
Quite A Delight, a smart New Zealand-bred four-year-old by Bettor's Delight, simply does not know how to perform poorly, with her 18 starts producing nine wins, five second and two thirds.
“She has taken Major Reality’s outside draw from last week,” Prentice said. “She tries her hardest every week.”
Major Reality overcome the outside draw last week when she charged home from last at the bell to score an effortless victory over Am Opulent and Delightful Jade over 2130m last Friday night.
Quite A Delight started this season in dazzling form with five wins in a row before finishing third to Major Reality, second to James Galleon and a half-head second to The Parade at her next three outings.
Prentice said that Quite A Delight would have to be at the top of her game to win this week against several talented, in-form mares, including the Ross Olivieri-trained pair Deluxe Edition and Lady Willoughby, Sovereign Faith, Kiralin, Millwood Faith and Pay Me Quick.
Justin Prentice
Olivieri holds a strong hand with Deluxe Edition starting from the coveted No. 1 barrier and Lady Willoughby at No. 2.
“Both mares have a good chance,” Olivieri said. “And fair dinkum I’m not sure who I lean towards. At this stage I can’t work out which one will lead. You can’t argue with Lady Willoughby’s form and you can’t disregard Deluxe Edition.”
Lady Willoughby (Chris Voak) raced without cover early and then enjoyed the one-out, one-back trail before finishing strongly to win over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Easter Thursday. She dashed over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 28.4sec. and beat Deluxe Edition, who finished boldly from seventh at the bell. Chris Lewis will again drive Deluxe Edition.
Kiralin bounced back to her best form for Oldbury trainer Kim Prentice when she led and won from Sovereign Faith over 1780m at Northam on March 31. Sovereign Faith, trained at Mt Helena by Ray Williams, raced in the breeze when a fighting second to Major Reality over 1684m at Pinjarra at her previous start.
Pay Me Quick, trained and driven by Kristian Hawkins, ended a losing sequence of 21 when she set a fast pace and won easily from Eastwood Crystal and Millwood Faith at a 1.57.5 rate over 1780m at Northam on March 22.
“She’s flying,” Hawkins declared. “But from barrier six I’ll be driving her patiently and for luck. She’s got an explosive turn of foot. Three starts before her win at Northam she raced in last place in a field of six at Gloucester Park and probably ran a 26.5sec. last quarter when an unlucky fourth behind Ohoka Kentucky over 2130m at Gloucester Park. If luck goes her way on Friday night she will be right in it.”
WA-bred five-year-old Where Dreams Grow is in sound form, but will need luck from her wide draw on Friday night. “She’s come back (after a spell) really good, but it’s going to be tough from barrier eight over a mile,” Prentice said.
Where Dreams Grow (Allamerican Ingot) followed a good first-up second to James Galleon at Pinjarra with a strong-finishing fourth behind The Parade over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
Gary Hall jun. said that Delightful Jade had winning prospects, despite drawing the outside barrier in Friday night’s 1730m sprint. “With All About Pink sure to be attempting to lead from barrier three and Mon Lillies and Giuliana Rancic possessing good gate speed, the race could be run upside down. And if it is, then Delightful Jade will come into contention. She went well enough when third to Major Reality and Am Opulent last week.”
Justin Prentice, who also prepares Giuliana Rancic, said that he was hoping for an improved effort from the hard-pulling four-year-old. “I’ve tried a different bit on her this week and she’s been really good. So I have my fingers crossed that she will settle.”
The Katja Warwick-trained Straittothehilton also has solid claims from the No. 4 barrier. She finished strongly when third behind Guns With Cows over 2130m last Friday night. That followed easy wins over 2130m on the same track at her two previous starts.
by Ken Casellas