Northview Punter is tough and durable and star harness racing driver Gary Hall junior is hoping that his decided edge in class over his rivals will carry him to victory on Friday night.
Northview Punter is engaged in the Gloucester Standardbreds RWWA Cup at Gloucester Park and faces a tough task from his outside of the second row draw.
Champion trainer Gary Hall also is holding out hopes the five-year-old, the youngest runner in the race, will make amends for his narrow defeat in the Cup 12 months ago when the New Zealand-bred stallion set the pace from barrier three before finishing a neck second to the fast-finishing Hokonui Ben.
Northview Punter gave a sample of his class when he finished second to David Hercules in the Fremantle Cup and third to My Hard Copy and David Hercules in the WA Pacing Cup last month before he revealed great fighting qualities to work hard in the breeze and win the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
Northview Punter warmed up for this assignment with a smart trial win at a 1:58 over 2150 metres at Byford last Sunday when driven by Alysha Johnston.
“It was a good trial,” said Hall junior, who has driven the horse to 15 of his 22 wins. “Northview Punter sat behind the leader Zacs Nugget before pulling out down the back and winning comfortably from Ben Cartwright.”
“It’s a good race on Friday night and it won’t be easy. I imagine that Northview Punter will start somewhere close to favourite, but he won’t have everything his own way from his wide draw over 2130 metres.
“His best form is near the lead, and he’s not going to get near the lead early from that barrier.”
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KEN CASELLAS