Gloucester Park hosts a nine-race program on Friday night with the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup the feature event for the evening. 

A capacity field of 12 runners will contest the $50,000 Lord Mayors Cup which sees iron-horse Lavra Joe drawn barrier one. He will be trying to recapture some of his best form from earlier in his career.  

Read on for our race-by-race Gloucester Park harness racing form analysis.  

Gloucester Park Preview – Friday, February 20 

 Race 1 

The last run by ROLLINDOWNTHERIVER (5) was good, although they failed to break 30 seconds for the final quarter. He was forced to work three-wide without cover from the 1000m mark and this looks a touch easier than that. Hopefully he doesn’t settle too far back from barrier five and can look to work into the race late, although Stuart McDonald has the option of going forward early.  

Outside of my top pick, it is a wide-open race with plenty of winning chances. GREVIS (12) can look to work into the race late, MIKIPELO (6) and RELLIM (7) are good enough to win despite their poor draws, while AMERICAN MONARCH (1) and GIRL OF BRIGHTNESS (2) are capable from the inside two barriers. YOUR GRACE (3) disappointed last start but could bounce back.  

Selections: 5-12-7-1 

ROLLINDOWNTHERIVER (5) to win 

 

Race 2 

The addition of former NSW pacer SPITFIRE (8) makes this contest immediately more interesting as the four-year-old gelding joins trainer Jocelyn Young. He was last seen running sixth in the Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO Colts and Geldings Final (1609m). This is a horse that was constantly running 1:51, 54.4 splits at Menangle. Will be interesting to see what he does in the west.  

VINITA ROSE NZ (5) does her best racing on the speed and trainer-driver Aldo Cortopassi will be looking for a forward position here. She was a winner three starts back in a Pinjarra stand and has won twice from six attempts at Gloucester Park. Her effort when seventh in the Northam Pacing Cup (2560m) was full of merit and has each-way claims.  

CEE DEE THREE (7) joins trainer Shane Tognolini and has his fair share of ability. A recent trial didn’t tell much as the horse wasn’t asked to do much so it’s hard to ascertain whether he will need a few runs or whether the three weeks since that trial has seen a lot of fitness put into his legs. DIAMOND WORLD (12) improved last start to win so could be a chance again. Smaller hopes to ROCKSTAR QUALITY (3), ALLWOOD MACH (4) and DOURADO (9). 

Selections: 8-5-7-12 

SPITFIRE (8) to win 

VINITA ROSE NZ (5) to win 

 

Race 3 

Another race with a former NSW pacer and it is five-year-old gelding RESET THE BAR NZ (4). Stuart McDonald drives for Gary Hall Jnr who is in Queensland competing in the Ultimate Driver Championship. The gelding has won six races from 18 starts, the latest was February 2025 at Goulburn. He was fourth in the Goulburn Cup (2240m) four starts ago and this is a drop in grade.  

HEEZ GOOD AS GOLD (1) comes up with barrier one as Shannon Suvaljko jumps back in the cart. Looks an immediate improver. This is a tough race with plenty of winning hopes and I am not confident about finding the winner here. ELWADDELL (12) was a good winner last time and has each-way prospects. KURIOUS BOY (7) has the best consistent sectionals in the race and despite the poor draw, must be considered a serious winning threat.  

Selections: 4-1-12-7 

RESET THE BAR NZ (4) to win 

 

Race 4 

TALKS UP A STORM (2) set the pace in FFA company last start and just battled in the last 400m when finishing seventh, beaten 4.6m by Star Casino. Drops in class and looks the leader once again. Dylan Egerton-Green will be hoping to get a cheap early sectional as that will enhance the chances of the eight-year-old gelding returning to the winner’s circle. 

MINOS NZ (8) has been racing well since arriving in WA with two wins from three starts – the latest saw Lindsay Harper race outside the leader and prove too tough. That looks the map here and he will go close from that position. ALCOPONY (3) will appreciate not bumping into Magnificent Storm and can be dangerous from the good draw. Next best to THELITTLE MASTER (9) and MAXIMUM ROCK (5). 

Selections: 2-8-3-5 

TALKS UP A STORM (2) to win 

 

Race 5 

The feature race of the night is the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (2130m) and LAVRA JOE (1) looks the leader in the race from the inside draw. SORRIDERE (10) will boot through to try and hold the leader’s back. OTIS (2) and STAR CASINO NZ (11) should both be close to the pace in the moving line.  

STAR CASINO NZ (11) won back-to-back races in January before failing to beat a runner home last time. He never had a chance to get into the race and was held up in the straight. Looks a much better map here and with a bit more luck this time around, he can figure in the finish at close to double figures.  

LAVRA JOE (1) and SORRIDERE (10) will both enjoy racing on the pegs and have strong claims in the race. MIGHTY RONALDO (9) is the class horse resuming from a terrible draw. He will need a lot to go right but he is capable of a strong finishing burst. Happy to back SORRIDERE (10) also as he will relish being the sniper in the race with any luck.  

Selections: 11-10-1-2 

STAR CASINO NZ (11) to win 

SORRIDERE (10) to win 

 

Race 6 

Trainer Cameron Ross has a two-pronged attack in the race with Group 1 Mares Classic (2536m) winner LITTLE DARLING (9) and SUGAR DELIGHT (3). Jocelyn Young sticks with the Mares Classic winner which is no surprise and Chris Voak picks up the drive on SUGAR DELIGHT (3) who will be trying to find the fence. Her past two runs have been excellent and if she could lead, she would give a massive sight.  

ALTA ALLURE (6) was a brilliant winner last start and is the other key winning prospect in the race with smaller claims going to STARLIGHT DREAM (5), CHAMPAGNE EVERYONE (7) and WONDERFUL TO FLY (8).  

Selections: 9-3-6-5 

Trifecta: 3,9 / 3,6,9 / 3,5,6,7,8,9 

 

Race 7 

ROCKOKOKO (1) gets his chance to turn the tables on OUR CRUNCH TIME NZ (5) following their January 30 clash where the latter led all the way to defeat the former by 4.7m. This time, Aiden De Campo will lead and dictate with ROCKOKOKO (1) who has been runner up at his past two starts. The latest was a touch disappointing for a horse of this talent but was still a game run in defeat so the stable should be confident from barrier one. 

OUR CRUNCH TIME NZ (5) has won both starts since arriving in Perth and this is his toughest test to date as he will likely have to sit parked outside of the favourite. We will know more after this race about how tough the Greg and Skye Bond-trained four-year-old gelding is when forced to work.  

I expect one of the duo to win with place claims to LINCOLN RIVER NZ (8), NORTHVIEW DANCE NZ (2) and CHASING REX (6).  

Selections: 1-5-8-6 

ROCKOKOKO (1) to win 

 

Race 8 

An interesting race where DAWSON NZ (9) has a class advantage and as such, has drawn barrier nine. He is currently around the $2 mark and I couldn’t take that sort of a price as his recent racing has been in standing starts. At his best, he simply wins this, but there are scenarios where a few rivals can get the better of him. 

BEAT THE BANK (3) doesn’t win often but he does run good races against good opposition. His fourth placing two starts back behind Minos was excellent. From the good draw, I am happy backing him at a bit of a price.  

LOUIE LEBEAU NZ (7) is ticking along nicely and could have knockout claims in the race. MARBEECHSAM (2), FOLLOW ROCKNROLL (6) and IDEAL TOMADO NZ (8) have much smaller claims. 

Selections: 3-9-7-8 

BEAT THE BANK (3) to win 

Trifecta: 9 / 3,7 / 2,3,6,7,8 

 

Race 9 

The last race is a stand and the handicaps make this a competitive event. PETES HONOUR (9) will have a 40m handicap for his first race behind the tapes. He has won back-to-back races and will be trying to stay ahead of ELDAYTONA (10) and BLUTO NZ (11) in the run. All four horses off either 40m or 50m, the other being BLING IT UP (8) look the horses to beat.  

ELDAYTONA (10) looks a huge threat to the current favourite as he has won two of his past three races. One of those was a stand off 40m which means tonight’s mark won’t bother him at all. Outside of those already mentioned, ECLIPSE LINE (7) has really relished racing behind the tapes with a win two starts back and then a luckless run in the Northam Pacing Cup (2560m). Looks a great race to conclude the program. 

Selections: 9-10-7-8 

PETES HONOUR (9) to win 

 

Summary 

Best Bet: Race 7 – ROCKOKOKO (1) 

Next Best: Race 1 – ROLLINDOWNTHERIVER (5) 

Best Value: Race 5 – STAR CASINO NZ (11) 

 

For complete Gloucester Park entries, click here. 

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink