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 Sundayās 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.
āRagazzo Mach ran a 55.6 half, and he needed the run,ā he said.
āThere wasnāt much to trial against on Sunday, but Shannon said he felt a bit different.
āFor Blitzembye, the other horse dropped him, but heās a bit behind him at this stage of the preparation.
āHeās also not in the same class as Ragazzo Mach, even though heās beaten him before.ā
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 didnāt want to ask too much of Ragazzo Mach this week.
āIf he wins this week, he will win naturally,ā he said.
āWe donāt want him to have a gut-buster this week.
āIt will be great if he wins, but we donāt want him to be sitting outside the leader.ā
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 Machās trial, click here.
byĀ Tim Walker, for RWWA