Consistent five-year-old Rock Me Over has been racing against Chicago Bull, Handsandwheels, Galactic Star, While They Pray, Fake News and Our Alfie Romeo in recent weeks and at Gloucester Park on Friday night he gets an excellent chance to end a losing sequence of ten when drops in class and starts from barrier three in the Mental Health Awareness Pace.
“If he gets a good sit, which I think he should, he should prove to be hard to beat,” said part-owner and trainer Matt Scott.
Shannon Suvaljko shares Scott’s optimism and has given punters a lead by electing to drive Rock Me Over in preference to the polemarker Sergeant Oats.
“Even though Rock Me Over ran a really good race last Friday week (when a head second to Bettor Party) I was a little disappointed,” said Scott. “So, I gave him four days off and freshened him up. And he pulled me around (on the track) last Saturday morning, and it was the best he’s worked this time in, and he’s really bright in himself.”
Rock Me Over’s most serious rival looms large as Sir Galahad, who is favourably drawn at barrier three for his first appearance since he covered a lot of extra ground and finished fourth behind Bettor Be Oscar 19 weeks ago.
Six-year-old Sir Galahad, trained by Gary Hall snr and to be driven by Maddison Brown, has been most impressive in a brief career of 15 starts for eight wins and four placings.
Chris Lewis has decided to handle the Ross Olivieri-trained Jimmy Mack (barrier four) in preference to Im Rocknroll Magic from barrier eight. He has driven Im Rocknroll Magic (trained by his wife Debra) in all of the New Zealand-bred gelding’s eight West Australian starts for two wins and four seconds.
Jimmy Mack is in excellent form, having led and won easily from Baylan Jett and Delightfulreaction two starts ago and then finishing strongly from last at the 600m to be a close third behind Bettor Party and Rock Me Over.
Ken Casellas