De Campo Backs Champagne Everyone

“She’s ready to rocknroll,” declared star trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo when assessing the prospects of quality harness racing mare Champagne Everyone (Shadow Play), who faces a serious test from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line in the 2130m Free Entry Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Champagne Everyone resumed after a six-month absence in splendid form with a stylish first-up victory over 2130m three Fridays ago when she set the pace from barrier five, dawdling through the lead time in 38.5sec. and opening 400m section in 32.1sec. and then dashing over the final three quarters in 29.5sec., 28.3sec. and 28.4sec.

Then, a week later, Champagne Everyone was seen in a different role when she surged home with a powerful three-wide burst from tenth at the bell to finish a half-length second to Dame Valour in the 2130m Coulson Pace.

“She was really good when second to Dame Valour, and she is probably the class runner in this week’s field — and that’s why she has drawn the outside barrier,” said De Campo. “It is a winnable race in which tactics will depend on what the speed is like inside of her.”

In a reasonably open event on Friday night, Champagne Everyone’s main rival is likely to be the Mike Williams-trained Loch Tay, who will be driven by Ryan Warwick from the prized No. 1 barrier at the five-year-old mare’s first out since finishing fourth behind Maximum Rock over 2130m on October 24. Loch Tay possesses good gate speed and is an excellent frontrunner.

Ace trainer Kim Prentice holds a strong hand in the race in which he has three runners — Lenora Jane, Our Lililou and Soho Vesper Lind.

Mitchell Miller has chosen to drive Soho Vesper Lind, who will begin from the No. 6 barrier. Stuart McDonald will handle Lenora Jane, and Our Lililou will be driven by Liam Elliott, who handled the six-year-old at her past two starts for strong-finishing wins over 1177m and 1684m at Pinjarra.

Our Lililou will start from the No. 4 barrier, and Lenora Jane will start from barrier three after second placings at her two most recent outings.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park