Gartrell Gives Galactic Star A Pacing Cup Chance
16 January, 2019
Harness
Galactic Star will get another chance to record his first Group 1 win when he lines up in this Friday night’s TABtouch-WA Pacing Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park.
The six-year-old finished second to My Field Marshal in last week’s Fremantle Cup, after he sustained a three-wide run for much of the final lap.
It was Galactic Star’s first run since coming back from his sixth placing in the Inter Dominion final in Melbourne last month.
Owner Rob Gartrell said he was pleased with how the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Galactic Star performed in the Fremantle Cup and admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect going into that race.
“We had to truck him back from Melbourne and it was quite a long journey across,” he told TABradio.
“You’re always concerned how they’ll pull up from such a long journey.
“We sort of try to treat him like a Grand Circuit horse and race him as sparingly as we can.”
Galactic Star’s hopes of winning on Friday night were dealt a minor blow following Tuesday morning’s barrier draw, where he received barrier seven.
My Field Marshal, looking to become the first horse in 15 years to win the Village Kid Pace, Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup in the one season, drew barrier three and sits at the top of the TABtouch market at $2.
Rocknroll Lincoln, one of the unlucky runners from the Fremantle Cup, was allocated barrier two and is on the second line of the market at $4.20 ahead of Galactic Star at $4.60.
Gartrell said barrier seven wasn’t ideal for Galactic Star, but indicated the gelding would benefit from the Fremantle Cup run.
“He seems to thrive on racing,” he said.
“He’s a no fuss horse…he’s very athletic and he continues to step up every time we ask him.
“I would expect a bold showing from him this week for sure.
“We probably had better draws last week.
“The thing in our favour is the longer trip.
“I don’t think My Field Marshal is a certainty over that trip.”
Gartrell also owns Vampiro and Our Jimmy Johnstone, who drew barriers eight and nine respectively.
The Bond stable once again have a strong representation in this week’s feature with six runners selected for the race, only one less than they had in last week’s Fremantle Cup.
Mitch Maguire, also owned by Gartrell, was the only runner from the Fremantle Cup not to be selected for the WA Pacing Cup, after the selection panel elected to give last week’s Free-For-All winner Im Full Of Excuses a start.
The WA Pacing Cup starts at 7.55 on Friday night.
Tim Walker