Weight Of Numbers Key For Graham
20 June, 2018
Harness
Trainer John Graham may not have the best credentialed pacers engaged in Friday night’s dual Group 1 meeting at Gloucester Park, but he is hopeful one of his five runners across the three features will make their presence felt.
Graham has a two-pronged attack in the 3YO Colts and Geldings Westbred Final (2130m) Mister Spot and War Club engaged.
Mister Spot won at Pinjarra on May 14, but has been beaten by boom three-year-olds Jack Mac and Bettor Aim at his last two starts.
Graham rates the gelding as his best chance to win one of the features on Friday night, where he starts from barrier three, but expected the Gary Hall Snr-trained One Off Delight to prove difficult to beat from barrier one.
“Mister Spot and three or four others in the race if they drew barrier one then they would’ve had a solid chance,” he said.
“Mister Spot can cross Bountiful Reactor who is in gate two, then I’ll leave it up to Chris (Lewis) as to what he does from there.
“It’d be great if he could lead and cross the one.”
War Club is Graham’s other runner engaged in the Group 1 for the Colts and Geldings, where he has drawn barrier 11, but Graham said it may not be the worst result for the pacer.
“He should’ve won last week,” he said.
“This is obviously a more difficult race, but if the one does lead, then we can drop behind the 10 Highroller Joe and sit three back on the pegs.
“If some of the better chances in the field have to work a bit hard then it gives War Club a big hope.”
Graham rates the Fillies edition of the Westbred Classic, where he has The War Nurse engaged, stronger than the Colts and Geldings.
The War Nurse has found some consistency in recent performances, highlighted by a gallant third to Veiled Secret from barrier seven last week.
The filly has drawn barrier eight this week, and Graham said she will need luck to win from that draw.
“It’s a very strong crop of fillies this year,” he said.
“If The War Nurse had have drawn well she could have snuck into the placings again.
“She could finish eighth or ninth this week and we would still be very happy with the run.”
Graham also has Joey Girl and debutant Stop The Watch engaged in the 2YO Westsired Pace (2130m) on Friday night.
He said he favoured Joey Girl slightly over Stop The Watch given her race experience, but was hopeful the pair would be able to get into the 2YO Westbred Classic’s next week.
The Gloucester Park meeting gets under at 5.20pm on Friday, with the 3YO Westbred Fillies Classic the first of the features at 7.25pm.
Tim Walker