Ragazzo navigating a path to the Nullarbor

Talented harness racing pacer Ragazzo Mach (Mach Three) will be out to enhance his claims for the inaugural edition of The Nullarbor (2536m) when he lines up in tomorrow night’s Tony Ditri Memorial (2536m).

Ragazzo Mach is owned by Jim and Willie Giumelli’s Swandoo Harness Racing, who have a slot in April’s $1 million event.

The five-year-old is first-up for five weeks in tomorrow night’s event and will start from barrier four in a small field of seven.

The son of Mach Three’s last start was in Free-For-All company and drops in class noticeably tomorrow night.

Trainer Mike Reed said he expected Ragazzo Mach to be competitive tomorrow night but warned he would improve into the campaign.

“He’s coming along good,” Reed told TABradio.

“He’s a little bit underdone but he’s had plenty of long, slow work and he’s raring to go.

“I reckon he will run a good race on Friday night.”

Talks Up A Storm, an impressive winner last Friday night, has drawn barrier one for the $22,000 event in a field which also features impressive pacers Ima Fivestar General and Tenzing Bromac.

Reed said he expected driver Shannon Suvaljko would press forward at the start.

“I think he will press forward and if we get the top then we get it, if we don’t then we don’t,” he said.

“If he found the top, I think he would definitely win.”

Reed said he hoped Ragazzo Mach would use the Pinjarra Cup and Bunbury Cup on March 6 and 25 respectively as his lead up races to the Nullarbor.

Ragazzo Mach’s return follows a successful Tuesday night at Gloucester Park for Reed, who had Lion Queen and Water Lou qualify for Friday week’s Group 1 APG Sales Classic (1730m) for the two-year-old fillies.

Shannon Suvaljko drove both fillies on Tuesday and will get to choose which filly he wants to drive.

Reed said there wasn’t a lot between the fillies and hoped to secure the services of Gary Hall Jnr to drive the other runner he has in the race.

For complete Gloucester Park race entries, click here.

by Tim Walker, for RWWA