The ten –event harness racing program at Gloucester Park on Friday night is set to explode into action with an exciting confrontation between rising four-year-old stars Better Scoot and American Boy in the www.gannons.com.au Pace over 2130m.
This promises to be a classic showdown between the State’s most powerful training establishments, with Greg and Skye Bond preparing Better Scoot and Gary Hall snr the trainer of American Boy.
Better Scoot has been untroubled to win easily at his first three Australian starts, one at Northam and two at Pinjarra, and from the favourable barrier at No. 2 on the front line he will have a host of admirers.
American Boy faces a sterner test from out wide at barrier seven. But he has revealed his class with easy victories at his past four starts – at Gloucester Park, Pinjarra, Bunbury and Narrogin.
Ryan Warwick has driven Better Scoot at his first three starts in WA and he will be anxious to get past the polemarker and noted frontrunner Baptism of Fire and set a solid pace to make the task of American Boy difficult. Better Scoot has sped over the final quarter in his three WA starts in 27.9sec., 27.4sec. and 28.6sec.
American Boy, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr, won at his only start in New Zealand and his nine WA starts have produced seven wins, a second and a fifth. Hall jnr has driven the gelding five times for five wins.
Adding further interest to the race will be the first appearance in WA of five-year-old Jambiani, a recent arrival from Victoria where he had 27 starts for seven wins and 12 placings. Now trained by Ross Olivieri, Jambiani has not contested any trials in this State. He is favourably drawn at barrier two on the back line.
Olivieri will also be represented by Deluxe Edition, who has returned to her best form in recent weeks. Two starts ago she set the pace and won from Lady Willoughby and Sovereign Faith over 2130m at Gloucester Park.
The Bond V Hall rivalry comes up in several other races on the card – Swimbetweentheflags, Pay Me Cullen and Offtocullect will represent the Bond camp in Race 3, with Lettuceriprita the only runner from team Hall.
Tuapeka Kahu will start from barrier 2 in Race 5, the Hall snr trained Mohegan Sun will be right outside him from the get go in barrier 3.
The Hall camp outnumber the Bond runners in the WA Oaks, with Dior Mia More and Madame Croupier coming up against the mighty Dodolicious.
Heez About To Rock will start from barrier 2 in the final event on the program, right behind him will be the handy pacer Mach Time for Hall snr and jnr.
Who will win! Think you know which team will take away more wins on the program? Head to the Gloucester Park Facebook page and vote for Team Bond or Team Hall!
Ken Casellas | Scott Hamilton