Two of Western Australia’s most exciting pacers To Fast To Serious and Patronus Star lock horns in the highlight of a stellar Gloucester Park meeting tonight (Friday).
To Fast To Serious drops back in grade from a luckless WA Pacing Cup run and is favourite from gate five, while Patronus Star is first-up from a spell for Team Bond from barrier seven.
Patronus Star, unbeaten in seven Aussie starts, is tuning-up for the major 4YO races, headed by the Golden Nugget, a Gloucester Park through January/February.
Team Bond also holds the key in the free-for-all (race four) with major players Galactic Star (gate six), Mighty Conqueror (nine) and Vampiro (10).
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Queensland’s pin-up pacer Colt Thirty One will enjoy not having to chase King Of Swing this weekend.
Grant Dixon’s stable star ran a terrific second to King Of Swing in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Blacks A Fake and backs up again for his last run before a let-up in “The Creek” Christmas Cup (2680m) at Albion Park tomorrow (Saturday) night.
He’s drawn the pole in his quest for a staggering 42nd win around Albion Park.
One Change adds some Kiwi flavour from gate four and he’s also backing-up from the Blacks A Fake after finishing fifth.
The other highlight at Albion Park is emerging trotter Arnold’s quest for a fifth successive win since joining Craig Cross’ stable in the Trotters’ Christmas Cup.
Arnold, a former Kiwi, switches from winning a mobile sprint last week to a 20m handicap his time.
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The “King” of Menangle steps out again this weekend.
Cash N Flow is chasing his 14th successive win around Menangle when he tackles the Group 3 Harold Park Cup (1609m).
He’s also gunning for a staggering 17th win this season, all at free-for-all level.
Cash N Flow is a $1.22 favourite despite a wide draw.
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Glamour trotting mare Dance Craze is a commanding favourite to bounce-back to winning form in the Group 3 Freestone Trotters’ Cup (2240m) at Melton tomorrow (Saturday) night.
She’s drawn (gate five) inside main dangers McLovin (six) and Sundons Courage (seven) and has been backed from $1.55 into $1.45.
Recent Kiwi import Mr Bohannon is drawn to win Melton’s feature, the Group 3 Gordon Rothacker Memorial.
New to the Andy and Kate Gath stable, Mr Bohannon’s raced five times in Aussie for three wins a second and a third.
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It’s great to see former budding star Ignatius finding his best form again back home in Tasmania.
Ignatius went back from NSW to Tasmania earlier this year and heads the betting at $2.30 in a clash with Tasmania’s other top pacer, Ryley Major ($2.50), in the $30,000 Tassie Golden Apple tomorrow night.
It’ll be a fascinating contest with both coming off 30m handicaps in a big field.
Connections plan a return to Menangle for Ignatius after he races through Tassie’s feature summer races.
