Class drop and perfect draw put Chivalry in the hot seat

New Zealand-bred harness racing gelding Chivalry (Sweet Lou) should appreciate a drop in class and is poised to run a bold race when he begins from barrier one in the $27,000 Westral Meshlock Security Doors And Screens Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“If he is anywhere near his best he should lead and be hard to run down,” said his trainer Lindsay Harper, who will drive stablemate Spyglass from barrier four. Both five-year-olds are by champion sire Sweet Lou and are raced by Mick Boots.

Harper’s son Kyle will handle Chivalry, who has raced 52 times for 12 wins and 16 placings.

Spyglass, is a quality performer and a winner at 13 of his 34 starts. He will be making his first appearance after a six-month absence and impressed when he raced four back on the pegs in a five-horse Indian file trial over 2150m at Byford last Saturday week. He was not extended in winning narrowly from Our Sandy Shore.

“I will drive Spyglass to make sure he is right,” said Lindsay Harper. “But I expect Chivalry is a better chance of winning. He lacks a bit of top-end speed but is a good frontrunner who has plenty of depth. Last Friday night he raced up in grade when he drew the back line and overraced (finishing tenth behind Justcallmemiki over 2536m).

“Four starts ago he led in a 2536m Free-For-All and just got run down (finishing a half-length second to Brickies Dream after final quarters of 28.1sec. and 28.2sec.).”

Aiden De Campo has chosen to drive Magnus Victor (barrier five) in preference to stablemate Rockandrollartist (barrier nine). “Magnus Victor is first up for a while (five weeks) and I have been having trouble keeping him right at the moment,” said De Campo. “His work this morning (Tuesday) was a bit better.”

The three runners on the back line — Quinton, Hale Saint Louie and Mikis Pride — are racing keenly and are capable of strong efforts.

Hale Saint Louie was a smart winner over 2130m two starts ago and was unlucky last Friday night when he finished 11TH behind The Iron Duke after locking wheels with Maximum Rock in the back straight in the final lap.

“From barrier two on the back line Hale Saint Louie should be able to punch through quite nicely and probably sit very close to the leaders before running home strongly,” said trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green. “Last week he locked wheels at a critical stage. If he hadn’t, he would have fought out the finish.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park