Olivieri Has Double Expresso Primed For Biggest Test
25 April, 2019
Harness
Star two-year-old Double Expresso will face the toughest test of her short career thus far when she lines up in Friday night’s Group 2 Champagne Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The Sweet Lou filly has been unflappable in her five career runs to date, but the barrier draw for Friday night’s $50,000 event has opened the door for a key rival to break the winning sequence.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained Poisedtopounce has drawn barrier one for the Champagne Classic and is poised to back up from his stylish win at Pinjarra on Monday.
Double Expresso’s trainer Ross Olivieri is under no illusion how difficult it will be for his filly to win the Group 2 event, despite it being a field of five.
“I think it’s her toughest test, provided Poisedtopounce turns up with what he turned up with on Monday,” he told RWWA Harness.
“If he does that, he will be very hard to beat.
“The old saying is a good colt will always beat a good filly.
“I’m very pleased with Double Expresso though.
“We have tuned her right up for this.”
Double Expresso has drawn barrier two and has led in all bar one of her starts so far.
Olivieri said he would leave it up to reinsman Chris Lewis as to whether he would lead or sit outside Poisedtopounce.
The pair met in a 1684m trial at Pinjarra on March 31, which Double Expresso won.
Olivieri also has a strong hand with Veiled Secret and Madame Meilland in the other feature event on the evening; the Johnson Final (2130m) for the fillies and mares.
Veiled Secret and Madame Meilland have drawn barriers one and 11 respectively and Olivieri said he expected both to be very competitive.
“Madame Meilland was a good thing beaten last start,” he said.
“She had a bit of a foot problem after her last start, but she’s okay now.
“Veiled Secret will be doing her best to hold up and lead.”
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Olivieri received a further boost when tough pacer Im Full Of Excuses drew barrier one in the Memorial Day Stakes (2130m).
He said the gelding was capable of leading the eight horse field.
“They’ll know what their chasing,” Olivieri said.
“He’s been unlucky in his last couple of starts in shorter races.
“If you threw the field in the air and came up with a different draw, there would probably be a different favourite.”
It promises to be a bittersweet night for Olivieri though with consistent pacer Lord Willoughby set to have his final Australian start, fittingly, in the Allwood Stud Pace (2130m).
Olivieri, together with owners Allwood Stud, have elected to sell the pacer to America.
The Gloucester Park meeting gets underway at 5.20pm.
Tim Walker