Walsh To Show Speed From Inside Draw
17 April, 2019
Harness
Driver Aiden De Campo wants to give progressive pacer Walsh his chance to lead from barrier one in tomorrow night’s Glenroy Chaff Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
Walsh, trained by Aiden’s father Andrew, has proven himself to be one of the more consistent performers in this season’s crop of three-year-old colts and geldings, highlighted by his last start fifth in the WA Derby on April 5.
Earlier this campaign, the Art Major gelding finished second in the Sales Classic Final to Patrickthepiranha.
A field of eight has assembled for this Friday night’s event, including WA Derby runner-up Bletchley Park.
De Campo said Walsh had earned enough respect in his career so far to be given a shot at holding the front tomorrow night.
“He was good in the Derby and his work since then has been good,” he told RWWA Harness.
“He does like the rail, so I think we will give him his chance to lead and if he’s good enough he can win.”
Walsh has Sangue Reale directly to his outside in barrier two, while the well credentialed trio of Back in Twenty, Ana Afreet and Bletchley Park have drawn in four, five and seven respectively.
De Campo said Walsh would likely have a short break following tomorrow night’s run, with the Westbred Final on June 21 his next major assignment.
“He will only have a few weeks off after this run before the Westbred,” he said.
“Whether he gets to a race like the Nugget as a four-year-old will depend on his natural progression.”
De Campo regains the drive on Attack On Command in the Group 2 Easter Cup (2902m), after Nathan Turvey steered him to victory in last week’s Standing Start event.
The Jason Woodworth-trained gelding was too strong for his rivals last week and will be looking to make it two in a row when he starts off 20m tomorrow night.
Attack On Command will start off the same handicap as race favourite Mighty Conqueror, but De Campo said the start would be crucial to his chances.
“He normally flies away from the stand,” he said.
“It’s certainly a lot harder field this week, but the Standing Start sometimes sorts out the better ones.
“He was super last week and once he got the position he did he was always going to be hard to beat.”
De Campo said Highroller Joe shaped as the best of the rest of his drives on the 10 event program.
Elsewhere on the Gloucester Park, Dracarys will be looking to keep her good form going ahead of the WA Oaks when she lines up in the Oaks Prelude from barrier 12.
Last week’s Oaks Prelude quinella Fake News and Balcatherine are also engaged in the event from barrier two and nine respectively.
Kiwi Legend will be out to make it back-to-back Free-For-All wins in the Happy 70th Colin Joss Pace (2130m), following his tough win last week.
The Stephen Reed-trained pacer will start from barrier three, while Always Arjay has barrier one once again.
Meanwhile, last year’s Golden Nugget winner Ana Malak will start from barrier seven in the Warragul Cup (2627m) on Sunday.
The former Greg and Skye Bond-trained pacer won his first Victorian start at Stawell on Monday.
Tim Walker
Image: Scott Hamilton