Emily gives punters a valuable lead

Outstanding young harness racing driver Emily Suvaljko has given punters a valuable lead by opting to handle Elsamay (Betting Line) in preference to Make Your Mark (Somebeachsomewhere) in the opening event, the 2130m Elan Energy Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday (Jun. 3) night.

She has been the regular driver of both three-year-old fillies, but was happy to choose the John Graham-trained Elsamay ahead of the Sarah Wall-trained Make Your Mark, a filly she had driven to victory at Narrogin three starts ago and at her following two starts at Gloucester Park for a third to Catch The Red Eye and a sixth behind Wonderful To Fly in the group 2 Diamond Classic last Friday night.

Elsamay will start from the No. 1 barrier, with Make Your Mark, to be driven by Chris Voak, favourably drawn at barrier two.

“Elsamay is not blessed with great gate speed, but in this preparation, she is getting out a lot better,” said Suvaljko. “If she could land on the leader’s back it probably would be a good spot for her.

“She is a nice sit and kick horse who went 1.56.7 at her second start (behind Navy Street over 1684m at Pinjarra last August). She has been stuck in the breeze at her past two starts (for a close second to Northern Gaze at Wagin and a well-beaten third behind smart pacers Goodfellaz and Noted at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week).

“This is a big step up for her, but I think she will keep improving. She is no certainty but will run a really good race. If the pressure is on, she will be right there at the finish.”

Suvaljko is also looking forward to driving star mare Savvy Bromac (Mach Three) in the 1730m Devoted Healthcare Rotary Club of Fremantle Free-For-All. The Nathan Turvey-trained five-year-old will start from the outside barrier in the field of seven.

“It’s a race with a lot of speed, and hopefully we’re the last man standing,” she said. “Savvy Bromac is racing really well. It’s an awkward draw, and if the pace is a cracker she can win.”

Suvaljko also gives Medieval Man (race nine) and Bracken Sky (race six) sound each-way prospects.

Egerton-Green in rare form

Brilliant reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green is riding on the crest of a mountainous wave, and he has bright prospects of continuing his golden run at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gives his seven drives sound each-way chances.

His legion of fans will be anxious to support several of his runners, particularly Champagne Everyone (race one), Tyler Brett (race four), Glenledi Chief (race seven), Talks Up A Storm (race eight) and Typhoon Banner (race ten).

The 29-year-old Egerton-Green enjoyed a remarkable day to remember when he was successful with his five drives at Pinjarra on Monday, scoring with Fess Up, Extinction, Miss Jodi, Lucky Galleon and Might As Well, improving his record to seven wins from eight drives in the space of four days, following wins with Quartzz at Gloucester Park last Friday night and Seeryanfly at Narrogin on Saturday night.

He now sits in third place on the WA drivers’ premiership table with 63 wins and 103 placings.

“I’ve got a good book of drives on Friday night; they’re all nice drives with sneaky chances from their draws,” he said.

He hinted that Typhoon Banner (Bettors Delight) could prove to be his best winning prospect, saying: “He is racing in career-best form. It’s a great five-horse field.”

He trains the New Zealand-bred Typhoon Banner, who will start from the No. 4 barrier in the 2130m Broken Hill Hotel Pace, and his clash with smart pacers Beat City and Ideal Agent promises to be a highlight of the ten-event program.

Typhoon Banner’s purple patch began three starts ago when he set the pace from barrier three and dashed over the final 800m in 55.9sec. and won from Heez Our Perseus and Vespa. He then started from barrier two and led before finishing a neck second to Ideal Agent, who impressed after racing three wide early and then in the breeze.

Typhoon Banner again started from the No. 2 barrier two Fridays back when he trailed the pacemaker Eldaytona before finishing powerfully to win from that speedy pacer and Heez Our Perseus. Ideal Agent had a tough run in the breeze before wilting to sixth.

TYPHOON BANNER MAY 20 REPLAY

Former Victorian performer Beat City maintained his splendid form when he raced without cover and fought on grandly to finish a head second to the pacemaker Jack Farthing last Friday night.

“That was one of Beat City’s better runs, and he has started to strengthen up a bit,” said trainer Michael Young. “It’s a tricky race with just five runners, and I’d love Beat City (to be driven by Gary Hall jnr) to lead.”

Egerton-Green is upbeat about Champagne Everyone’s (Shadow Play) prospects in the opening event, the $20,250 Elan Energy Pace for three-year-old fillies over 2130m. He trains the filly who will start from the inside of the back line.

“She was brave last start (when she led early and then trailed the pacemaker before finishing fourth behind Wonderful To Fly in the group 2 Diamond Classic last Friday night),” said Egerton-Green. “Ten is a handy draw and she should go well.”

Eight-year-old Tyler Brett (Robin Hood) has earned $198,455 from 18 wins and 25 placings from 83 starts, and he continues to perform strongly, with his past 15 starts producing two wins and eight placings. He has drawn perfectly at barrier one in the 1730m Devoted Healthcare Rotary Club of Fremantle Free-For-All.

“Barrier one over a mile is a huge bonus, and Tyler Brett has good gate speed,” said Egerton-Green. “I’ve got the ace draw, and I’ll work things out when I get there.”

Glenledi Chief (Well Said), prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will start from the back mark of 30 metres in the 2503m Cash Converters Handicap. He is an outstanding standing-start performer who boasts an impressive record of 38 starts for 13 wins and 11 placings.

Glenledi Chief also began off the 30m mark last Friday week when he covered extra ground and raced without cover and finished second to Twobob Cracker. “He is a nice horse who can run a good race,” said Egerton-Green.

Four-year-old Talks Up A Storm (Artspeak), prepared by Murray Lindau, faces a stern task from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the Naked Jule Pace, but Egerton-Green refuses to concede defeat, saying: “It’s a bad barrier, but Talks Up A Storm put in a huge run last start (when he raced in the breeze and finished fourth behind Pinny Tiger last Friday week.

Cool Water Paddy fancied at WA debut

Cool Water Paddy (Ohoka Arizona) arrived in Western Australia from Tasmania less than three months ago and his strong work for Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey is an excellent indication that he should prove hard to beat at his WA debut when he contests the $20,250m The Naked Jule Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The New Zealand-bred six-year-old was an exciting performer in Tasmania where his 33 starts produced 15 wins and 12 placings. He also raced twice in Victoria in June last year when he recorded an encouraging third placing.

His most recent appearance was in a 1609m sprint in Hobart on February 27 when he began from barrier five on the back line and settled down in 11th position before starting a fast move from the rear at the bell to race three wide for the entire final lap and finish a close second to Lockaway Kacie.

A week earlier Cool Water Paddy had a tough run in the breeze and fought on determinedly to finish a close third behind Offthetopofmyhead and Izaha.

Cool Water Paddy will be driven by Emily Suvaljko, who has been impressed with his natural speed in recent workouts.

“I have been driving him in trackwork, and he has been working really well,” she said. “In Tasmania he was a horse with a lot of high speed, so I will see what Nathan wants to do (regarding tactics). I drove him the other day and he felt nice and strong, and he’s ready to go.”

Cool Water Paddy will need to be close to his top if he is to succeed against strong opposition, headed by Markham Eyre, Master Publisher, Moonlite Drive, Sound Wave, Talks Up A Storm and The Code Breaker.

Markham Eyre (Sportswriter), to be driven by Ryan Warwick for star trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has the ability to overcome his wide draw at barrier eight. He set the pace and won from the talented Ezana over 2185m at a 1.56.9 rate at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.

Considerable Interest will surround the first-up appearance of the smart New Zealand-bred five-year-old Master Publisher (A Rocknroll Dance), who is trained by Gary Hall snr and will be driven by Gary Hall jnr from barrier three.

This will be Master Publisher’s first start for 15 months. He was unplaced at his three starts in New Zealand before his 20 starts in WA produced seven wins and two placings.

He contested a trial at Pinjarra a month ago when he started from barrier six, settled down in fifth position, started a three-wide move at the bell and raced without cover in the final circuit before fading to fourth, five lengths behind the pacemaker Watch Me React. He is sure to be improved by the outing.

The Ryan Bell-trained Sound Wave (Mach Three) will have many admirers after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier. He will be handled by Kyle Symington and appeals as the likely early pacemaker. He followed a strong-finishing victory over 2100m at Bunbury two starts ago with a sound second to American Arma in the group 2 $50,000 APG Consolation for four-year-olds last Friday night.

Trainer Michael Young has engaged Maddison Brown to drive the in-form Moonlite Drive (Bettors Delight) from barrier six. “He is some chance,” said Young. “He sat in the breeze and went good when second to Pradason over 2536m last week.”

Steam Punk ready for WA debut

Former Victorian performer Steam Punk (Mcardle) showed that he is fit and ready to perform strongly at his West Australian debut in the 2503m Cash Converters Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night with a sound trial at Byford three Sundays ago.

Steam Punk, prepared by Ross Olivieri and to be driven by Chris Lewis, will start from the inside of the front line, and he impressed with a smooth beginning in a standing-start trial at Byford when Chris Voak sent him to the front after about 80m.

Steam Punk set a solid pace and the final three 400m sections were run in 29.7sec., 29sec. and 28.6sec. He was not extended in finishing a half-length second to Keegan Banner, who trailed him throughout.

This will be Steam Punk’s first appearance in a stand. He also has not raced beyond 2240m. However, the 2503m should not prove to be any problem. He won once from three New Zealand starts and ten his 17 Victorian starts produced seven wins and two placings. This will be his first race start for 20 months.

Steam Punk will be one of Olivieri’s three runners in Friday night’s event, the others being fellow front line runners Yankee Lincoln (Chris Voak) and Cowboys N Bandits (Emily Suvaljko).

Also holding a strong hand in the race are leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who will be represented by front line runner Socrates (Ryan Warwick) and 30m co-backmarker Glenledi Chief (Dylan Egerton-Green).

Socrates (Art Major) is undefeated at his first five starts in WA, the first four in mobile events followed by a head victory over Acuto in a 2631m stand at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week after galloping at the start. He performed admirably in three stands in New Zealand for a win and two placings.

Socrates will need to be on his best behaviour to beat Steam Punk and Glenledi Chief, who boasts a splendid record of 13 wins and 11 placings from 38 starts. He started from 30m, paced roughly early and then covered extra ground before finishing a close second to Twobob Cracker last Friday week. That followed impressive wins at his four previous outings.

Charles turns back the clock

Hayden Charles was in a warm, nostalgic mood after driving Galvinston John (American Ideal) to an all-the-way victory in the 2130m Steelos Pace at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.

Not only did the win give Charles a welcome present on his 39th birthday, but it kindled fond memories of his first driving success, as a teenager when he landed outsider Rattlesnake a head winner over Via Las Vegas in a 2100m C1-C2 event at Gloucester Park on October 22, 2001.

Rattlesnake’s win, charging home from last at the 400m, was the seven-year-old’s only win from 70 starts for Wanneroo trainer Charlie Luca.

In a set of interesting similarities, the 75-year-old Luca is the owner and trainer of four-year-old Galvinston John, who broke through for his initial win at his ninth start when he was the $1.70 favourite from the No. 2 barrier. The victory gave Luca his first success for seven years, and it was his 43rd success as a trainer.

Rattlesnake rated 2.1.8 in his win in an event in which the opening quarter of the final mile was run in a dawdling 32.2sec. Galvinston John ran his opening quarter in 32.3sec. and he rated 2.1.5.

Galvinston John’s win gave Charles, a chartered accountant, his 145th victory from 2738 drives in WA. He also was quite a trailblazer when he drove many winners during his time as an accountant in England a few years ago.

Charles predicts further successes for Galvinston John, the first foal out of the unraced mare Soho Margaux, a daughter of the Queensland-bred Fake Left mare Miss Galvinator, who amassed $1,148,446 in prizemoney from her 60 wins and 75 placings from 231 starts.

Miss Galvinator won 18 times in Queensland and was successful at her only start in New South Wales when she scored at Harold Park in May 2004 before leaving for the United States where she won a further 41 races.

For complete Gloucester Park Friday fields, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park