Prentice confident with Aristocratic Star
Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice is confident Follow The Stars entire Aristocratic Star is capable of winning at his third run back from a spell in tonight’s Vili’s Pies Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The four-year-old finished a distant eighth at his race return at Gloucester Park on December 11, however, he improved sharply second-up when finishing third to Cordero at Pinjarra on January 4.
Speaking to Matt Young on TABradio’s One-Out, One-Back program on Tuesday morning, the astute horseman says the five-time winner has found a likeable assignment but will need luck from barrier six.
“It does look suitable,” Prentice said.
“I was happy enough with his last run.
“I thought his run at Gloucester Park where he copped a check at the 400, although it was a hotly-run race, he still didn’t get to finish the race off.
“Last start was almost like first-up, as well.
“I thought he battled on well after the mid-race pressure and the lead time was quick and he was pretty close to the speed.
“I’m not sure what he does from the draw, but I think he’s going to be really hard to beat in that race no matter what.”
Prentice will launch a two-pronged attack in the opening event of the night, the Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace (2130m), when he steps out three-year-old pair Lets Get Messi and Beat The Bank.
The former, a Follow The Stars gelding, was a first-up winner at Pinjarra on November 30 before finishing seventh, fourth and second at his next three starts.
To be driven by Cody Wallrodt out of gate five, Prentice says he is the pick of his pair.
“Lets Get Messi has the ability but he’s got a lot to learn still,” he said.
“Cody’s just trying to educate him in his races as much as he can.
“I think he’s definitely the better chance, I just don’t know where he’s going to end up from the draw.”
Stablemate Beat The Bank, a Bettors Delight gelding, is a last-start winner to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr but will also have to overcome a tricky draw in barrier eight.
“Beat The Bank is a ripper little horse,” Prentice said.
“He tries his hardest every time but the dollars last three makes it really hard for him after winning last start.
“He’s going to find it hard to get into it from out there, he probably needs to be on the speed somewhat.
“He’s only a little tacker and it’s a bit hard to make up a lot of ground if you get back in the field.”
Prentice’s final runner for the twilight meeting will be Back In Twenty, a Sportswriter five-year-old who should be ready to show his best at his fourth run back from a spell when he contests the Catalano Truck & Equipment Pace (2536m).
“I was a lot happier with his last start,” he said.
“I was really disappointed with his run before, his work at home had been really good.
“He’s definitely a much better horse in front and on the fence but he’s not going to be there tonight.
“His work at home suggests that he’s still going to be competitive in this race.
“Valentines Brook will be hard to beat if it finds the front, but I think he’s definitely working well enough and on his last start he’s an each-way chance.
“The distance doesn’t worry him at all.”
Meanwhile, veteran trainer Mike Reed is very confident Valentines Brooke will score his eighth win from 31 starts when he lines up in the same event.
The talented Rock N Roll Haven four-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing 10th at Gloucester Park on December 21, however, Reed is expecting him to show sharp improvement.
“He had an abscess in his foot and it’d been there for a while,” he said.
“You could feel the pulse there and the vets kept looking at it and treating it and nothing came out, then all of a sudden it busted out.
“I think you’ll see the true Valentine’s Brooke tonight.
“I think he’ll lead and I think whatever beats him home will win, but I don’t think anything can beat him home, to be honest.”
Reed also predicts a bold showing from Our Shelley Beach earlier in the nine-event program when he takes on Prentice’s pair Lets Get Messi and Beat The Bank.
Set to jump from barrier two, he says a change in routine should see three-year-old colt return to his best.
“We’ve changed his work around a little bit,” Reed said.
“Mark’s been riding him through the bush, we’ve stopped hobbling him.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he goes but he’s feeling well in himself.
“I just put him out in the paddock and he was galloping around so he’s feeling really above himself.
“I think he’ll go good tonight, I really do.”
Reed will also do battle with Prentice in the second event when his stablemates Macz Brother and The Code Breaker line up against Aristocratic Star, however, he still feels his pair can feature in the finish.
“Justin Prentice’s horse goes good,” he said.
“It’s quite an even sort of field, but I think if Mach’s Brother can get handy enough and it’s run truly, he will kicking home at the finish.
“The Code Breaker, I was happy with his run last start and on Saturday morning he worked really good.
“I think both of them have an each-way chance, that’s for sure.”