Fireworks predicted in G1 Fremantle Cup

Prepare for fireworks for the second week in a row in a major WA feature harness racing contest.

While the likes of Spirit Of St Louis, Hot And Treacherous and even Minstrel mid-race set sparks flying in last week’s $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor, it will be Lavra Joe and Pinny Tiger going at it early in Friday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup.

Lavra Joe’s new driver Gary Hall Jr is committed to an early burn from barrier to try and hold the lead from noted speedster Pinny Tiger in gate five.

“I’ll be hellbent on leading,” he said. “I know there’s talk of letting Pinny Tiger cross me and then looking for the re-take, but I think it’s easier just to try and hold the lead at the start.

“I’m pretty sure I can, too. I know Pinny Tiger flies out, but Lavra Joes does as well.

“If I time my run at the gate well, I’m pretty sure I’ll hold him.

“Then it’ll be a matter of how long his (Pinny Tiger’s) driver (Chris Voak) wants to go on with it and how much petrol we spend.

“Lavra Joe is tough. I’m sure of that. I think it’s a toss of the coin whether he or Minstrel is tougher. They’re the real stayers of the race and don’t forget they stretch-out to a real staying trip (2936m) this week.”

Hall Jr replaces Kyle Harper, who was dumped by trainer Ray Jones after a luckless and huge fourth aboard Lavra Joe in last week’s Nullarbor.

“I spoke with Ray last Saturday and he said he was considering a change and I told him I was available. He confirmed it Sunday,” Hall Jr said.

“He’s a great drive to pick up. There’s been times when he’s been considered the best here and he looks like he’s back in that sort of form on his past few runs.

“It was a terrific run last week and gives me the confidence to drive him aggressively on Friday.”

Lavra Joe is a clear $2.50 favourite ahead of Minstrel ($4.40, gate 11), Hot And Treacherous ($5.50, gate two), Tenzing Bromac ($6.50, gate 10) and Nullarbor winner Catch A Wave ($7, gate seven).

Trainer Andy Gath said Catch A Wave had thrived since the richest win of his stellar career in the Nullarbor.

“You wouldn’t know he’d had a run. He’s actually put on weight since the race,” he said.

“I know he’s drawn wide, but it just means we’ll go back, probably close to last, and our chances will be in the hands of others. It’ll all be tempo related as to whether we can get into the finish or not.”

Gath was heartened to hear Hall Jr’s aggressive tactics.

“That’s good. It’s what we need. If Lavra Joe and Pinny Tiger went at it early, it would bring us backmarkers into it,” he said.

“But when you get back to near last, especially around an 800m track, it’s an almighty task to win. We know that.

“We know we’ve got a horse good enough if everything goes our way, but it’s almost like anything this week is a bonus after his Nullarbor win.”

Jack Callaghan replaces friend and fellow young gun driver Cam Hart aboard Hot And Treacherous from gate two.

The Jason Grimson-trained pacer had nothing go right in the Nullarbor and his third to Leap To Fame and Swayzee is a gruelling Blacks A Fake last year underlines his staying prowess.

Both Gath and Hall Jr pointed to Minstrel as the hardest to beat.

“You just know what you’re going to get with him and if they’re all flat out at the 400m, you know he’ll keep going,” Gath said.

Hall Jr added: “Minstrel is right to his best and Deni (Roberts, driver) will out him into the race at the right time. Catch A Wave is the other, he’s shown his class and got around the track really well last week.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for RWWA