New Zealand-bred five-year-old Crusader Banner has managed just one placing from his past eight starts, but he looks to be a star bet at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he resumes harness racing after a spell in the 2130m Seven News Pace.
He will start from barrier two and trainer Gary Hall sen. is full of enthusiasm after his son Clint drove the Christian Cullen gelding to an effortless seven-length victory over stablemate Big Spook in a three-horse trial over 2150m at Byford on Sunday morning.
“His trial was sensational,” said Hall sen. “It was fantastic and he’s come back better than ever and should win first-up. He went 1.57.3 in the trial and I expect him to lead from barrier two on Friday night. I don’t think the polemarker Mosquito Buzzin can hold him out.”
The nine-year-old Mosquito Buzzin has a losing sequence of 25 and has won once from his past 41 starts.
Crusader Banner, an M5-class pacer, drops significantly in class after contesting the interdominion championship series last November and December. He has won at 12 of his 34 starts.
Little Boy Blue (barrier five) and Firebomb (three) possess good gate speed, but it is difficult to suggest that either pacer will be abler to wrest the early lead from Crusader banner.
The Hall stable will also be represented by Our Arlington, an eight-year-old who has an M7 classification after winning at 18 of his 81 starts. He faces a stern test from the outside of the front line at his first appearance for 12 months.
“Our Arlington has recovered from a damaged suspensory ligament,” Hall sen. said. “He has been working well and I wouldn’t say that he’s not without some chance. However, I doubt whether he can win first-up. But if he stands up he’ll win more races.”
Hall also has high hopes of making a flying start to the ten-event program by winning the first event, the 1730m House Rules On Seven Pace, with the promising but inexperienced Dali gelding El Barcelona.
El Barcelona, to be driven by Gary Hall jun., will start from the outside in the field of seven and should carry too many guns for his rivals, providing he is on his best behaviour.
He was a hot favourite in the $50,000 Champagne Classic last Friday week when he galloped at the start, was last in the field of nine at the bell and went six wide on the home turn when fifth behind the pacemaking Wesley.
El Barcelona overcame difficulties to get up and score a narrow win on debut at Bunbury two starts before that and then worked hard in the breeze before finishing third behind Major Pocket at Bunbury a week later.
The main danger appears to be the Ed Dewar-trained Our Zak Whitby, who caught the eye at Bunbury last Saturday night when he came from eighth and last at the bell with a powerful finishing burst to be a close third behind Sergeant Oats and Heza Head Honcho in the 1609m de Campo Memorial.