De Campo Eyes Top Prize In Sales Classic
Trainer-driver Aiden De Campo is hopeful he has to go one better in Friday night’s colts and geldings two-year-old Sales Classic (1730m) at Gloucester Park, following a successful heat night last Tuesday.
De Campo, who finished second in the race last year with Rock On The Beach, qualified Floewriter and Rock On Top for the $100,000 final with their performances in heats two and three respectively.
Floewriter finished second to impressive winner Whataretheodds in the quickest of the three colts and geldings heats, while Rock On Top scored an effortless 23.8m win in his heat.
Rock On Top was arguably the most impressive winner on the night, where he crossed to the front from barrier two and recorded the quickest last half of 55.8.
De Campo said he was pleased with the gelding’s effort and was raring to go for this week’s Group 1 event.
“He came through the run last week really well,” he said.
“He’s improved with every trial he’s had and improved from the run last week.
“It did surprise me a little bit how well he went.
“I’ve always liked him but race day is different to trials.
“To see him do it against the better horses was good.”
Floewriter was beaten 15m by Whataretheodds at his first start at Pinjarra on February 8, but De Campo said he was pleased by the sharp improvement second-up.
“He’s a nice horse and I actually can’t split him and Rock On Top at home,” he said.
“He was disappointing first-up, but he did have some issues and we got that sorted last week.
“He will improve off that again.”
De Campo said it was the Ryan Bell-trained Whataretheoddds he expected to provide the stiffest test this Friday night.
De Campo confirmed his stable star Handsandwheels was also nearing a return to the track, having been out injured since July.
“He had six weeks swimming at Graham Yuill’s place and has just done some jog work for the last three weeks,” he said.
“He’s probably 7-8 weeks away from racing.”
Tim Walker
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