Golden Nugget taking shape

The picture of harness racing’s Golden Nugget will continue to take shape at Gloucester Park this Friday when the Mike Reed-trained Blitzembye (Bettor’s Delight) and Ragazzo Mach (Mach Three) make their much-anticipated returns to the track.

The pair trialled over 2150m at Byford on Sunday and finished one-two in a small field.

Both horses are expected to be prominent throughout the quartet of four-year-old races.

Ragazzo Mach, driven by Shannon Suvaljko, was too strong in Sunday’s trial, leading throughout to beat his stablemate by 14.3m.

Reed said he was happy with both horses but indicated there would be significant improvement as their campaigns went along.

“Ragazzo Mach ran a 55.6 half, and he needed the run,” he said.

“There wasn’t much to trial against on Sunday, but Shannon said he felt a bit different.

“For Blitzembye, the other horse dropped him, but he’s a bit behind him at this stage of the preparation.

“He’s also not in the same class as Ragazzo Mach, even though he’s beaten him before.”

Ragazzo Mach is a $14 chance with TABtouch for the Golden Nugget, while Blitzembye is a $51 chance.

Lavra Joe heads up the market and is the $3.60 favourite.

Ragazzo Mach drew barrier 11 in the Michael Young Pacing Stables Pace (2130m), where he will face fellow four-year-olds Talks Up A Storm, Tenzing Bromac, Kimble, Ezana and Machnificent.

Reed said he didn’t want to ask too much of Ragazzo Mach this week.

“If he wins this week, he will win naturally,” he said.

“We don’t want him to have a gut-buster this week.

“It will be great if he wins, but we don’t want him to be sitting outside the leader.”

The pair are expected to head to the $30,000 Pinjarra 4YO Classic on November 7, ahead of the 4YO Championship on November 18 and 4YO Classic on December 2.

To watch Blitzembye and Ragazzo Mach’s trial, click here.

by Tim Walker, for RWWA