Mighty Ronaldo is ready

Promising colt Mighty Ronaldo will reappear after a 23-week absence when he contests the Catalano Truck And Equipment Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The two-year-old, who is prepared by Justin Prentice, has enjoyed a beneficial spell since he gave a superb performance to win the $100,000 Golden Slipper on July 10 and he showed that he is ready for a strong first-up performance with an effortless win in an eight-horse trial over 2185m at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.

Driven by Cody Wallrodt, Mighty Ronaldo began from the back line and raced in third place on the pegs before moving into the breeze with 1000m to travel. He took the lead 300m later and was not extended in coasting to an 8m win over Disco Dynamo.

Mighty Ronaldo is the only runner on the back line in Friday night’s 2130m event in which he will be handled by Gary Hall Jnr and will surely meet stiff opposition from Eldaytona and Lavra Joe.

Eldaytona, to be driven by Lindsay Harper for trainer Sue Wiscombe, is ideally drawn at barrier No. 2. He possesses sparkling gate speed and Harper is sure to be keen to take an early lead and set a solid pace. However, Eldaytona could be tested in the battle for the early ascendancy by the polemarker, the Mike Reed-trained Our Shelley Beach, who has good gate speed and is a capable frontrunner.

Eldaytona last appeared when he began speedily from barrier eight but was unable to cross to the front before obtaining a good sit in the one-out, one-back position. He then did not threaten danger and finished sixth, four and a half lengths behind the winner Jumpingjackmac over 2130m last Friday week.

Eldaytona was most impressive at his previous start when he led from barrier three and dashed over the final three quarters in 28.6sec., 27.2sec. and 29.2sec. and won by two lengths from Lavra Joe, rating 1.56.7. He also led at the start before that when he finished a nose second to Lavra Joe.

Lavra Joe has made a terrific start to what should develop into an outstanding career for Greenbushes trainer Ray Jones, earning $111,000 from ten wins and six placings from 21 starts. He is extremely versatile and, from out wide at barrier seven, Chris Lewis will have many options.

Prentice has a good second string in Friday night’s race, with El Chema at barrier six to be handled by Wallrodt. El Chema led and won at his first two appearances after a spell, at Pinjarra last month, before starting at barrier No. 6 and racing at the rear before finishing ninth behind Jumpingjackmac last Friday week.

Sugar Street, trained by Barry Howlett, and trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo’s The Good Life show plenty of promise and are capable of forward showings in what should prove to be an exciting affair.

Ken Casellas