Reed fancies Sweet Maddison

Talented reinsman Mark Reed indicated that Sweet Maddison’s ability to beat colts and geldings three starts ago was a strong pointer to her winning prospects in the Join The Club Pace, a 2130m event for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“Following that she was unplaced at her next two starts,” Reed said. “But she had drawn poorly (barrier No. 8 and the outside of the back line) in those events.

“She will start from barrier five and has good gate speed. And we will be going forward, and if she finds the top she will be hard to beat. Three starts ago she led and beat the boys, rating 1.57.5 over 2130m.”

In that event, Sweet Maddison was driven by Michael Grantham, set a brisk pace and won easily from her stablemate Power And Grace, who had won in fine style at his first two starts in a race.

At her most recent appearance, Sweet Maddison started out wide at barrier seven in the Golden Slipper three Saturdays ago. She raced in 11th position and was forced wide in the final circuit before finishing ninth behind Jasperbellabeach. Her task this week promises to be considerably easier.

Several of Sweet Maddison’s rivals are racing enthusiastically and it promises to be a keenly-contested event. The Kevin Keys-trained Sunshine Swift warmed up in good fashion with a first-up victory at a 2.1.3 rate over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday afternoon. Driven by Chris Lewis, Sunshine Swift led and fought on tigerishly to win narrowly from Advance Your Dream and Star In Art.    

Sunshine Swift will be driven by Ryan Warwick from barrier four on Friday night, with Lewis committed to the Peter Anderson-trained Star Fromthepalace, a winner at two of her nine starts, but facing a stern test from the outside barrier, No. 9. However, Star Fromthepalace is capable of a bold effort, particularly if the race is run at a fast tempo.

Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr had the choice between Sunshine Swift and the Justin Prentice-trained Star In Art and his decision to drive Star In Art has given punters a good lead. Star In Art ran on gamely from sixth at the bell to finish third behind Sunshine Swift on Tuesday afternoon. She finished strongly from the rear when a half-head second to Miss Lamarr over 2185m at Pinjarra at her previous outing.

Oldbury trainer Kim Prentice will be represented by two promising Art Major fillies in Soho Major Player and Soho Whisper. He will handle Soho Whisper, a winner of three races from seven starts, including a last-start Gloucester Park victory over 2130m.

Soho Whisper will start from the outside of the back line, with Corey Peterson engaged for Soho Major Player, who looks a major player from the favourable barrier of No. 2 on the front line. Soho Major Player is a nine-start maiden, but she has impressed with four seconds and two thirds.

Banjup trainer-reinsman Colin Brown has Fifty Five Reborn racing keenly and she is capable of winning, despite the disadvantage of the wide draw at No. 8.

Ken Casellas