Brilliant but enigmatic pacer Wildwest will reappear after a five-month absence when he contests the $25,000 RAC Members Save 5% Every Day at Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The lightly-raced New Zealand-bred five-year-old has raced first-up four times in his brief career for four wins and he has excellent prospects of maintaining this outstanding record.
Prepared by Gary Hall Snr and to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, Wildwest is awkwardly drawn at barrier six in the 2536m Free-For-All. He has revealed a splendid turn of foot in winning two 2150m trials at Byford last month.
“The first trial was all right, but in the second trial he did a few things wrong,” said Hall Jnr. “This is a pretty good race for him, first-up, and over 2536m I’d say that we’ll drive him with a sit.
“Hopefully, the pace will be on and we can pounce on them late. Hopefully, we can drive him for his speed, which is his asset. I think he has the ability to win.”
Wildwest, a winner at his only New Zealand start, a 2400m stand at Winton in May 2019, has experienced tractability problems, including negotiating his way around the 804m Gloucester Park track. However, there is no doubting his wonderful potential.
Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey has brought Simba Bay back from a spell in fine fettle and the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old impressed at his most recent outing when he finished strongly from seventh at the bell to be second to Im Full Of Excuses over 2536m last Friday week.
Simba Bay, to be driven by Chris Lewis (fresh from a treble at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening), looks the early leader. But he is quite likely to surrender the lead to the speedy, freewheeling Talktomeurmattjesty.
Talktomeurmattjesty dashed to the front after 500m and set a fast pace before fading badly to finish a distant last behind Im Full Of Excuses last Friday week.
The Bird Dance, a lightly-raced New Zealand-bred five-year-old in the stables of Greg and Skye Bond, will be reappearing after a three-month absence and is capable of a bold showing from his favourable draw at barrier two. He has won first-up three times in his 28-start career of 16 wins and two placings.
The Bond stable will also be represented by evergreen 12-year-old Our Jimmy Johnstone, who will be handled by Deni Roberts from barrier No. 4. Our Jimmy Johnstone has finished strongly at his past three outings for a third behind Talktomeurmattjesty, a neck second to Chicago Bull and a fourth to Im Full Of Excuses.
Ken Casellas