Voak Excited By Strong Book
4 January, 2018
Harness
In-form reinsman Chris Voak won’t be shocked if Vultan Tin can upstage Inter Dominion champion Lazarus in the Princi Smallgoods Pace (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Voak will draw inspiration from the opening two heats of the TABtouch Inter Dominion series when Soho Tribeca and Tiger Tara defeated Lazarus after holding the front from the inside draw.
Voak, who drove a double at Gloucester Park last Friday night, elected to stick with the Phil Costello-trained gelding when he drew barrier one, and said he would adopt similar tactics to what Soho Tribeca and Tiger Tara used successfully in November.
“On exposed form you’d says Lazarus handles this field quite comfortably, but we all saw how Soho Tribeca and Tiger Tara handled him when he was running into a bit of fitness,” Voak told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“Phil Costello was very adamant to hold the front as he believes his horse runs the best races there.
“I don’t think it will hurt his chances leading, as I think he can still run second leading, as opposed to handing up and trying to guarantee second.”
Vultan Tin proved to be one of the major surprises of the Inter Dominion series, finishing third, fourth and sixth in the three heats, before he finished fourth in the final behind Lazarus.
Voak said his best drive came in the last race of the night, where he again partners the Michael Brennan-trained Miss Sangrial in the Perth Plasterboard Centre Pace (2130m).
The three-year-old was beaten as a $1.40 favourite last Friday night, finishing third behind Cott Beach, however Voak said he hoped he could capitalise on barrier one this week.
“I’d expect her to be stronger again,” he said.
“I think you’ll see her leave the arm a lot stronger this time.
“She should lead and be hard to beat.”
Voak will also team up with Brennan in the Imthemightyquinn Qualifying Heat on Friday night with Im Rockaria.
Despite the gelding being well beaten in the Golden Nugget three starts ago, Im Rockaria has overcome awkward draws in his past two starts to finish third and fourth behind Herrick Roosevelt and Zach Maguire respectively.
Voak conceded it would be difficult to beat tough mare Maczaffair to be hard to beat in the 2130m event, but said he couldn’t rule out Im Rockaria.
Tim Walker