Prentice’s three hopes of winning the $150,000 Golden Slipper

At the age of 34 Justin Prentice is one of the leading harness racing trainers in Western Australia.

He has trained 24 Group 1 winners and the next looks to be just around the corner.

Prentice has a three-pronged attack in Friday’s (Sep. 30) $150,000 Golden Slipper – a race Prentice is well accustomed to.

The young horseman has won the last two editions of the two-year-old Group 1 and is hoping to make it a hat-trick.

His obvious leading chance is the unbeaten Sweet Lou gelding Never Ending who has drawn barrier one.

“We purchased him at the Perth APG Sale and he took a bit longer to come up than the others,” said Prentice.

“He wasn’t as mature as the others but I liked him the most, he just took a bit of time.”

Never Ending had his first race start on July 11 at Pinjarra and rated 1:59.3 over the 2185m distance.

“First up he couldn’t have gone any better, we asked a lot of him and pulled the ear plugs,” said Prentice.

“Ever since then the ear plugs have not been pulled.

“We’ve been really lucky with barrier draws with him in the big races that’s for sure.”

The same cannot be said for Prentice’s other starter Valedictorian, an Art Major gelding that boasts a record of five wins in his nine starts.

“He’s an absolute professional and doesn’t race like a baby,” said Prentice.

“He’s just been unlucky with barrier draws in the other big races.

“He is in with a chance just needs racing luck from barrier six.”

Prentice’s third runner is Rolling Fire and the son of Roll With Joe has drawn barrier seven.

“He’s been a bit behind the others in ability but in his work of late, he is certainly closing the gap on them,” said Prentice.

“He showed that with his win last start but he is going to need luck from the draw.”

Of horses to beat in the feature, Prentice outlined recent New Zealand import Im The Black Flash that won first up for trainer Gary Hall Snr on September 9.

“There are huge wraps on this horse and he’s `definitely the one to beat,” said Prentice.

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by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink