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Outstanding young driver Emily Suvaljko has formed a wonderful association with Rakasinc, having driven the New Zealand-bred six-year-old to seven wins. And she maintained her wonderful form in the sulky by driving both Blue Blazer and Rockin Rufus for their successes on Tuesday night.
Rakasinc has managed just one placing from his past five starts a fighting third behind Extradite in a fast-run 1730m event three starts ago and he is awkwardly drawn at barrier five in Friday night’s 2130m event.
“It’s a drop in class and I thought it would be a race in which we could drive him the way he likes,” said Turvey. “He likes to run along. I would like it if he could lead, but he could still be hard to beat from the breeze.
“He is not a sit-sprint sort of horse, and in the stronger company he’s been racing in, you have to drive him that way when you draw badly. This is a drop in grade, and I think he can return to the winning list.”
Turvey is also hoping for good efforts from Captains Beachbabe and Bettor Beach Belle in the opening event, the 1730m Quayside Transport Pace for three-year-old fillies.
Captains Beachbabe will be driven by Suvaljko from barrier six, and Turvey will handle Bettor Beach Belle from the outside barrier at No. 9.
“They are awkward draws over the short trip,” said Turvey. “Captains Beachbabe is working well, but six is a tricky draw.”
The Colin Brown-trained Joelene is poorly drawn at barrier eight and has won at only two of her 17 starts, but her form in much stronger company has been most encouraging.
“We were slightly disappointed with her latest run (sixth behind Newsy in the Group 2 Diamond Classic) when we though she should’ve run in the top four,” said Brown.
Joelene led and finished a good third behind Always An Angel and Newsy in a heat of the Diamond, and if she reproduces a similar effort, she is sure to prove hard to beat this week.
By Ken Casellas for Gloucester Park
