Bad draw, no worries

Rising West Australian harness racing star To Fast To Serious fared poorly in the random draw and will start out wide at barrier seven in the field of eight in the $22,000 Fly Like An Eagle Standing at Allwood Stud Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

However, reinsman Aldo Cortopassi is confident that the Ray Williams-trained five-year-old can overcome the wide draw and notch his 16th win at his 27th start.

“His forte is sit and sprint and we all know how quick he can run a half (800m),” said Cortopassi.

“Barrier draws really don’t hurt him that badly. There is plenty of speed inside of him, and from seven I’ll probably be looking to lob midfield and save him up for one run. We know how devastating he can be when held up for one run. We don’t need any good luck; we just don’t need any bad luck.”

To Fast To Serious has won effortlessly at his past two starts. He led from barrier three and cruised to victory over Burning Rubber, rating 1:55.1 over 2130m two starts ago and then led early before sitting behind the pacemaker Lavra Joe and sprinting over the final 800m in 55sec. to beat the star three-year-old at a 1.54.5 rate over 2130m a fortnight ago. He sped over the final 400m in 26.3sec.

Valbonne (barrier one), Back In Twenty (two), Bracken Sky (three) and Tyler Brett (four) all possess excellent gate speed, and there should be a keen battle for the role of pacemaker.

Chris Voak, who will drive the smart and consistent Boom Time from barrier five, conceded that To Fast To Serious would prove very hard to beat, saying that Boom Time should have sound place prospects.

Cortopassi is also looking forward to driving the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Cyclone Banner in the Follow Ther Stars at Allwood Stud Past Presidents Cup. He has driven the Bettors Delight gelding at 32 of his 36 WA starts for 12 wins.

Cyclone Banner, who will be at liberal odds from barrier five against powerful opposition, led by Shockwave, Mighty Conqueror, Patronus Star and Perfect Major, will do his future racing in America and this is expected to be his final appearance in Australia.

“It is a shame to see him go,” said Cortopassi. “He has done a great job here; he is still a young horse who should do a good job over in the States. I’ll be driving him quietly as a sit-sprinter. That’s the best way to drive him.”

Aiden de Campo has completed a brief period of suspension and will resume in the sulky behind the Ryan Bell-trained Shockwave, who will be a hot favourite from out wide at barrier seven.

Shockwave, a brilliant runaway winner over Perfect Major in the 2536m Winter Cup last Friday night, should carry too many guns for the outstanding Greg and Skye Bond-trained pair of Mighty Conqueror and Patronus Star.

by Ken Casellas for Gloucester Park