Bell pair draw best in $50,000 Pearl

The Ryan Bell-trained pair Franco Encore (Captaintreacherous) and Waverider (Downbytheseaside) have been the big harness racing winners from this afternoon’s Team Bond-Pearl Classic (2130m) barrier draw.

Franco Encore and Waverider drew barrier one and two respectively, having entered last week’s heats as two of the key contenders for the series.

Franco Encore defeated Waverider earlier this month, before he was unplaced in his heat run behind Ideal Muscle last Tuesday.

Waverider finished second to Arma Believer in his heat run last week, with the Colin Brown-trained three-year-old a notable absentee from this week’s $50,000 event.

Ideal Muscle will have to overcome a tricky draw in barrier five, while another heat runner-up Cork Can Run has drawn barrier six.

The Greg and Skye Bond stable will be represented by Prince Of Pain, who drew kindly in barrier 10.

Meanwhile, four two-year-olds will make their debut in the $50,000 Champagne Classic (2130m).

Bell has American Major, out of WA Oaks winner Our Major Mama, set to start in the event from barrier three.

Majestic Reale, out of 2017 Champagne Classic runner-up Miss Sangrial, will make her debut from barrier two, while Crunch The Numbers (barrier four) and Everywhere Man (seven) are the other debutants.

Captain Stirling, who made his debut at Pinjarra in March, gets the coveted barrier one.

Elsewhere, Jumpingjackmac will have to overcome barrier nine if he’s to make it three consecutive Free-For-All wins in the Flying Jett To India Pace (2130m).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim Walker for RWWA