Star reinsman Mark Reed is far from unhappy that stylish four-year-old Kiwi Legend has drawn the inside of the back line in the $35,000 John Higgins Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he gives the gelding a strong winning chance in the Group 3 feature harness racing event.
“He has come back really good in this preparation and seems to be improving with every run,” he said. “We’ve got a draw on Friday night that I think could be a good draw; we’ll be behind the leader or three back on the pegs at the worst.
“It’s a pretty classy field and there should be plenty of pace on. All we’ll need is a bit of a look at them. I’ll be driving him patiently and he’ll need a bit of luck. I’m sure he will be hard to beat.”
Kiwi Legend, trained by Reed’s father Mike, has struck top form. Two starts ago, last Friday week, he began speedily from out wide at barrier eight before working hard outside the pacemaker Gaz Wannabet and then revealing great determination to get up and beat that pacer by a nose after final quarters in 27.7sec. and 28.5sec.
Then last Friday night the Art Major gelding was restrained to the rear after starting from the No. 9 barrier. He impressed in finishing powerfully from tenth at the bell to be second to the pacemaker Glenferrie Affair over 2130m.
Kiwi Legend arrived in Western Australia with a big reputation after winning at his only two starts in New Zealand. He made a great Australian debut, starting at 11/2, leading and winning a prelude of the WA Derby in March 2015, in which 3/1 on favourite Beaudiene Boaz worked hard in the breeze before wilting to finish eighth. Kiwi Legend rated a smart 1.54.7 over the 2130m journey.
“He had a hard run which knocked him around a bit,” Reed said. “He then had a few issues during his second preparation, but this time, touch wood, he’s come back really good. He’s still a bit immature, but he is a class horse and I expect him to go through the classes.”
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond hold an extremely strong hand in Friday night’s race in which they have five of the 12 runners — Char Do Neigh, Bungalow Bill, Mighty Major, Better Scoot and Our Regal Ideal.
Char Do Neigh, who will be driven by Ryan Warwick from barrier four on the front line, is unbeaten at his first three starts in Western Australia after arriving from New Zealand where he had 30 starts for five wins and nine placings.
Char Do Neigh warmed up for the Higgins Memorial in fine style at Gloucester Park on Monday afternoon when he settled down in tenth position before dashing forward, three wide in the first lap to work hard in the breeze. He fought on grimly to win the 2130m event from Mister Ardee and Livura, rating 1.56.3.
Bungalow Bill (barrier six) and Better Scoot (seven) also are racing in fine form, with Bungalow Bill, a winner at nine of his 18 starts, working hard in the breeze when a head second to Three Bears in a qualifying heat at Pinjarra last Monday week after winning easily at Gloucester Park and Bunbury at his two previous outings.
Better Scoot’s past eight starts have produced five wins and three seconds and he has the ability to overcome his wide draw.
Gary Hall jun. will drive the Michael Brennan-trained four-year-old Rub Of The Green, who has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier.
“The aim will be to lead,” said Hall. “I have driven him only once and that was at his latest start in a heat of this race when we had no luck at all and were lucky to scrape into the final by finishing fourth behind Three Bears.”
Brennan has a good second-string runner in Im Master Charlie, who will be driven by Chris Voak from the outside of the back line. Im Master Charlie sat behind the pacemaker and stablemate Naughty Maravu and fought on gamely when third to that pacer in the 2503m BOTRA Cup last Friday night.
Ken Casellas