Young stars step out in Pearl Heat

Spots in next week’s $50,000 Pearl Classic (2130m) go up for grabs in three harness racing heats at Gloucester Park tonight.

The unbeaten Never Ending (Sweet Lou) headlines the group of three-year-old colts and geldings, with the Justin Prentice-trained pacer to line up in the second heat.

Never Ending will start from barrier two in his heat, with Soho Firestone (American Ideal) drawn inside him.

Last month’s APG Gold Bullion (1730m) Rocket City (Huntsville) is the other key runner in the race and will start from barrier three.

Rocket City’s trainer and driver Dylan Egerton-Green said he was happy with the gelding following his last start third to Never Ending but conceded it would be hard to win tonight’s heat.

“He led the breeze up and he had Never Ending sitting on him,” Egerton-Green told TABradio.

“I think if you reverse the roles, we would’ve had a race.

“If Soho Firestone led and Never Ending was outside him tonight it could play into our hands.

“It doesn’t look like it will happen being a heat.”

Prentice also has the favourite in the third heat of the night, with Rolling Fire rated a $1.34 chance with TABtouch.

The first heat of the night looks poised to be the most open, with Magnus Victor, Reddy To Fly and Overly Excited all considered chances.

Egerton-Green has Overly Excited engaged in the event and said he expected another strong performance after his last start win at Northam.

“We were over the moon with his run at Northam,” he said.

“He was three-wide from the 900 and his own section was 27.5 down the back and he was able to fight on to the end.

“Obviously, the main goal is to qualify for the final but I dare say he can give it a shake tonight.”

The first of the Pearl Classic heats get underway tonight at 5.51.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim Walker for RWWA