Chance for Galactic Star

Talented seven-year-old Galactic Star has had to lower his colours in recent weeks to stablemates Vampiro and Mighty Conqueror as well as Chicago Bull and Vultan Tin, but in the $25,000 Catalano Trucks Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night he gets an ideal opportunity to bounce back to winning form.

He will be driven by Ryan Warwick from the No. 6 barrier in the 2536m Free-For-All, and this should give him the edge over his classy stablemate Mighty Conqueror, who faces a stern test from the outside barrier (No. 9).

Galactic Star began speedily from barrier seven in last Friday night’s Lord Mayor’s Cup and was forced to work hard without cover before wilting late to finish fifth, two lengths behind the winner Mighty Conqueror, who set the pace from barrier two, and after moderate opening quarters of 30.8sec. and 29.4sec., sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.9sec. and 28sec.

A week earlier, in the 2936m WA Pacing Cup, Galactic Star raced without cover for almost two laps before gaining an ideal trail in the one-out, one-back position and finishing a sound fourth behind Vultan Tin, Chicago Bull and Mighty Conqueror.

Mighty Conqueror trailed the leader Vampiro and was held up until late before finishing strongly.

Form suggests that Galactic Star, a winner of 29 races and $649,559, should fight out the finish with Mighty Conqueror, a winner at 17 of his 33 starts and $558,843 in stakes. Stablemate Vampiro, who finished fast when second in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, should again be prominent this week after drawing the inside of the back line. A fourth runner from the Bond stable, 11-year-old Our Jimmy Johnstone, will start from barrier two on the back line.

The Bonds, who have prepared 265 winners this season, have sound winning prospects in several other races with Justasec (race three), Patronus Star (race five) and Lawrence (race nine).

Justasec, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old, will be at a short quote in the 2130m Catalano Trucks Your One Stop Shop Pace, in which he is favourably drawn at barrier three on the front line.

Justasec, who has a 50 per cent winning record, raced in last position in a field of seven last Friday night before finishing fast and being hampered for room when third in a three-way photo behind Cyclone Banner and Sir Galahad.

Lawrence, a recent arrival from New Zealand, led when an easy winner at Narrogin at his Australian debut on November 28, and then he finished gamely from the one-out, one-back position to be second to Diego over 2130m at Gloucester Park last Friday week.

He will start from the front line in the 2503m standing-start Sefs, You Name It, We Fund It Handicap, in which he will be handled by Warwick, with Dylan Egerton-Green in the sulky behind stablemate Kilowatt Kid.

Lawrence, an experienced pacer in stands in New Zealand, should carry too many guns for several in-form horses, including Yes Hes A Ladies Man, Gran Chico, Kilowatt Kid, Triroyale Brigade and Jesse Allwood.

Ken Casellas