Voak opts for Roman Art

Dashing reinsman Chris Voak, who has driven 124 winners this season, has given punters a good lead by choosing to handle Roman Art ahead of the highly-promising Papinik in the opening event, the TABtouch Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

When Roman Art drew barrier one and Papinik No. 2, Voak was faced with a dilemma. The two four-year-olds, the least experienced runners in the field of 12, look set to have an intriguing battle for ascendancy.

Voak has a high opinion of the Ross Olivieri-trained Papinik, who has won at six of his eight starts. Voak has driven the black gelding six times for four wins and two thirds, with Mitch Miller having driven him twice for two wins. Miller will drive Papinik on Friday night.

Roman Art, who is trained at Coolup by his lessee owner Victor Bryers, has had 15 starts for eight wins and three placings. He is in top form, having won at each of his past five starts on South-West tracks. His only appearance at Gloucester Park was on August 30 last year when he finished seventh.

Roman Art has won six times at Pinjarra and twice at Bunbury. Voak has been the successful driver seven times and he is sure to attempt to take full advantage of the No. 1 barrier. Roman Art has started from barrier one three times for three all-the-way victories.

Papinik has an excellent turn of foot and he has unwound strong finishing bursts in several of his victories.

Collie owner-trainer Wayne Justins has engaged Dylan Egerton-Green to drive the speedy Carramar Arapaho, who will start from the No. 4 barrier. The only time Egerton-Green has driven the six-year-old was five starts ago when he led from barrier one and held on to win by a short half-head from Flying Mister Ideal over 1684m at Pinjarra on March 23. That has been his only win from 11 starts in Western Australia after winning once in the country in Victoria and nine times in New South Wales.

Voak also had the choice between two Olivieri-trained pacers in the eighth event, the Catalano Truck And Equipment Handicap, a stand over 2503m. He chose newcomer GI Joe over fellow frontmarker Kiwi Bloke, who will be driven by Chris Lewis.

GI Joe is a lightly-raced seven-year-old who has had only 29 starts for seven wins and eight placings. He raced 15 times in New Zealand where his five wins included victories in stands over 2400m at Ashburton and over 2700m at Addington in the winter of 2016. He then had 13 starts in Victoria for two wins (in mobiles at Stawell and Charlton) and four placings.      

Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond hold a strong hand in the race with front-line runner The Buckeye Bullet and The Bird Dance, who will start off the 20m mark.

Ryan Warwick has given punters a lead by choosing to drive The Bird Dance, who will be making his first appearance in a stand. But he goes into the race with an impressive record of 11 wins from 16 starts (two wins from five starts in New Zealand ands 11 starts in Western Australia for nine wins and a last-start second to Sergeant Oats).

The Buckeye Bullet, to be driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, has raced three times in stands for two wins and a second placing. After a win and a second from two New Zealand outings The Buckeye Bullet has raced 15 times in WA for seven wins and five placings.

Ken Casellas