Olivieri’s Perfect Situation
Trainer Ross Olivieri appears well placed to record his second win in the Allwood Stud Farm-Mount Eden Sprint (1730m) at Gloucester Park tonight with two key chances.
Perfect Major and Thats Perfect will fly the flag for the Olivieri stable in the $50,000 feature, as they continue their preparations for January’s WA Pacing Cup.
Perfect Major will be out to make it two wins in a row, following a breathtaking last-to-first win in the J P Stratton Cup a fortnight ago.
Unlike the Stratton Cup, the gelding will be a key player in the early stages of tonight’s feature, where he has drawn barrier one.
Vampiro (barrier six) and Hurricane Harley (seven) could also play an important role early in the race.
Olivieri said he hoped Perfect Major could hold the front from the inside draw.
“I know he got beaten out by Vampiro last time over the 1700 we drew two and Vampiro drew out,” he told TABradio.
“He got us three-quarters of the way around the bend.
“Every time they leave the gate, they leave a little bit differently.
“We will be trying to hold up.
“He’s a good 1700m horse and he doesn’t mind the pace being on the whole way.”
Perfect Major is a $2.50 favourite with TABtouch, ahead of Hurricane Harley ($2.80) and Vampiro ($3.10).
WATCH – Perfect Major’s Stratton Cup win.
Olivieri said Perfect Major’s last start win gave him confidence the five-year-old was getting better with each run.
“The win coming from behind in the Stratton Cup was something we hadn’t seen before from him,” he said.
“That was a spectacular win.”
Thats Perfect will have to overcome barrier eight if he’s to win the Group 2 event.
Olivieri said Thats Perfect had a small chance in the race but indicated tonight’s performance would give him an idea on where the six-year-old is at in his preparation.
“We will only know after the race if he needs another run or whether he’s right,” he said.
“He seems to be a good sit and sprint horse.
“It’s possible (to win) as long as he gets a nice run.”
Tim Walker
Image – Hamilton Content Creators