Prentice Looks To Cap Off Perfect Season In Juvenile Ranks

h

Harness

Trainer Justin Prentice has had a season to remember.

He took out the WA Pacing Cup and successfully defended his WA Oaks title.

To go with that, he’s won almost everything in the two-year-old ranks.

Manning took out the Pearl Classic, while Major Martini was victorious in the colts and geldings edition of the Sales Classic and the Westbred Classic.

For good measure, he drove Major Martini to both of those successes.

He will look to cap off the super season in the Group 1 Choices Flooring-Golden Slipper (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Saturday night, where he has Manning, Major Martini and Aristocratic Star engaged.

The best lead could be Gary Hall Jnr teaming up with Major Martini, who will start from barrier 11.

Prentice said he was pleased with how the gelding had done since the Westbred Classic win and felt he was the pick of his three going into Saturday night.

“That run did him the world of good,” he told RWWA Harness.

“It was the first run he’d had in three weeks and he missed some work before that run.

“He’s well in himself now though and came through last start well.”

The son of Art Major is joined on the second row by Power and Grace and Jaxon Jones, who have barrier 10 and 12 respectively.

He will have in-form filly Star Fromthepalace in front of him in barrier two.

Prentice said he felt barrier 11 was a good draw for Major Martini, but indicated it may cause some problems.

“I didn’t think the draw was too bad,” he said.

“It probably depends on how many get in front of him.

“He could be handy to them, or he could be a quite a fair way back.”

Aristocratic Star has been the bridesmaid to his two stablemates in the Pearl Classic and Westbred Classic, with a win in the Westsired Pace between those placings.

The colt has been a model of consistency as a two-year-old though, having finished in the top three at each of his nine starts.

Prentice said he was a little underwhelmed by Aristocratic Star’s effort in the Westbred Classic and hoped for significant improvement from barrier five on Saturday night.

“His last run was disappointing, but he was beaten by a better horse on the night,” he said.

“I think it was a better run in the race Manning won.

“He’s had three runs in three weeks and he pulled in each one.

“Now with a fortnight between runs, I thought he’d run well.”

Prentice said he expected Manning to find it difficult to overcome barrier seven.

Major Martini is a $4.20 second elect with TABtouch, behind Jaspervellabeach ($1.75).

Aristocratic Star and Manning are $20 and $26 chances respectively.

Prentice said he was nervous ahead of this week’s Slipper and admitted he was feeling a bit of pressure.

“Winning the Slipper would mean more than the other two-year-old races,” he said.

“It’s the Grand Final and it’s a race I’ve always wanted to win.

“There’s plenty of good horses that have won it.”

The Golden Slipper gets underway at 7.55 on Saturday night.

Tim Walker

Image: Keane Bourke

The Choices Flooring-Golden Slipper is the highlight event @GloucesterPark this Saturday.

We take a look at the key runners below..

@OfficialRWWA @TAB_touch pic.twitter.com/osPEG4FjeX

— The Trots WA (@TheTrotsWA) July 11, 2019