Former Victorian harness racing pacer Magnificent Art, who revealed dazzling gate speed to burst straight to the front from barrier six before setting a brisk pace and winning easily from stablemate Scuba Steve at his West Australian debut last Friday night, will contest a standing-start event for the first time when he starts from barrier three off the front in the Lakes Electrical Distributors Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The five-year-old rated a slick 1.56.2 over 1730m last week and will step up to a 2503m event this week.

But the change from a sprint to middle-distance event and from a mobile to a stand is not a concern for leading trainer Gary Hall sen., who is confident the gelding will maintain his winning form.     

Magnificent Art has raced 55 times — all in mobiles — for 12 wins, 11 seconds and two thirds.

“He qualified for a stand at the Byford trials two Sundays ago,” Hall said. “He jumped to the front, led and won by more than a length from Our Jimmy Johnstone, coming home in 28.2sec. and 27.6sec.”

Magnificent Art’s most serious rival appears to be rejuvenated eight-year-old False Promise, who will start from the 10m mark. False Promise followed three successive fast-finishing wins over 2503m with a close-up fourth behind Lovers Delight in the Easter Cup, a 2907m stand last Friday night.

The Hall stable has 11 starters on Friday night and the champion trainer said that his best winning prospects were Magnificent Art and John of Arc in the 2130m Gannon’s Pacing Colours Pace.

John of Arc will start from barrier four on the front line in a race in which he will clash with four stablemates, Mohegan Sun, The Court Jester, Say It Now and Vapour.

John of Arc started from barrier three, dashed to the front after 250m and was not extended in winning from Mohegan Sun, Notabadexcuse and Vapour in a 2130m event last Friday night to give Hall the first four in the race. The stable again has bright prospects of landing the quartet.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia