News & Media

27 February 2008 Stephen Reed Fancied With Flying Nemo

by Ken Casellas

Stephen Reed should celebrate his triumph in the Australasian Young Drivers’ championship by guiding Flying Nemo to victory in the Super Saturday Fireworks Spectacular Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The consistent Flying Nemo was most unlucky when fifth behind Spin The Wheel last Friday night when he started from the second line, raced three back on the pegs and was badly blocked for a clear passage until the final stages, when he flashed home on the inside.

A week earlier Flying Nemo, a six-year-old trained by Adam Kirke, started from barrier eight, settled in seventh position and started a three-wide run with 1100m to travel. He sustained his solid finishing effort to be a sound fourth behind Spin The Wheel.

Flying Nemo is ideally drawn at No. 2 barrier and Reed should have him in front or in a prominent position throughout the 2130m event. Flying Nemo has won more races (15) than any of his 11 rivals.

Flying Nemo’s chief rival is likely to be the promising five-year-old Spot The Ace, who is trained by Reed’s father and will be driven by his brother Mark.

Spot The Ace, who will start form the outside of the back line, settled in tenth position before moving to third (three wide) at the bell and then faded to seventh behind the speedy Captain Bluff over 1730m at Gloucester Park last Saturday week.

He impressed at his previous start, at Gloucester Park the previous Monday when he started from barrier three, took the lead after 450m, set a solid place and won from Echoes over 2536m.

The 24-year-old Stephen Reed clinched the Australasian Young Drivers’ title at Moonee Valley last Saturday night when he finished second with 16/1 chance Open Land in the seventh and final heat of the championship. He finished the series with 65 points and beat the 2007 champion, Tasmanian James Austin by three points. New Zealander Dexter Dunn finished third with 54 points.

He won a heat at Bendigo last Friday night with Cobargo Magic and he was placed at four of his other six drives.