Gloucester Park hosts a 10-race program on Friday night, headlined by the Group 3 The Laurie Kennedy.

A field of 11 mares will compete in the $50,000 The Laurie Kennedy, which looks a competitive race on paper, featuring Shane Young’s star mare Wonderful To Fly, the winner of 33 races and more than $860,000 in prize money. She will do battle against Madam Publisher, Sugar Delight and Hunger Strike.

The open class pacers will contest the Nox World Cup, a sprint race that sees Minos draw the pole against Better Eclipse, a $1.4 million dollar earner, who begins from the outside barrier.

Here is our race-by-race guide to Gloucester Park’s harness racing meeting on Friday.

Gloucester Park Preview – Friday, February 6

 

Race 1

A huge class drop for the Chris Voak-trained OUR VINNIE (10) who finished 11th, beaten 10.6m in FFA grade last start. He paced a 1:55.9 mile rate, running home in 56.6 seconds. Prior to that, he was running in stands and that form reads well enough for this class of race. Will need some luck if driver Kyle Harper stays on the fence, but he is one of the class runners in this event and should run well.

BLAMEITONTHENIGHT NZ (11) enters the race just like our top selection, dropping in grade from recent racing. Three starts back, he was a narrow second against slightly better opposition. Barrier 11 looks quite good here and he should come with a big run in the final lap. Mike Reed’s HOLY MOLEY NZ (1) on debut, and lightly raced MONEY BOSS (2), both have claims in the race.

Tips: 10-11-1-2

OUR VINNIE (10) to win

 

Race 2

Extremely open race here and I am not confident at all in narrowing this one down, so let’s hope we can find something at a little bit of a price. SUGAR STREET NZ (2) for Debbie Padberg was runner up five starts back in a race won by Bettor Arcade. He will have cover in the moving line from barrier two and will require the right tempo and cart into the race.

I could make a case for at least half the field here as BURGHLEY SHARD NZ (3) and TUMBLIN DICE (5) should show early gate speed. Either of those horses leading are good enough to win the race. TRAVELBAN (11) should be midfield and looking to make a late run at them. Racing well enough to win. KURIOUS BOY (4) runs consistent sectionals and with the right run, can win this too. Looks a good race to go wide for an Early Quaddie.

Tips: 2-11-3-4

SUGAR STREET NZ (2) each way

 

Race 3

WHOS THE DAD (1) comes up with gate one and Shannon Suvaljko will be keen to lead with the Kevin Charles-trained seven-year-old gelding. He hasn’t won since August 2024 when defeating Solesseo Matuca but hasn’t led in a long time. He won’t get a better chance to try and break his losing sequence. He has shown enough recently from poor draws to suggest he is ready to run a huge race.

ELDAYTONA (6) is the class runner of the field and overcame a 40m handicap two starts ago to win over the 2503m. Was simply too far back last start due to the barrier and Lindsay Harper should be more positive – the breeze position looks his for the taking if he wants it, and then may consider handing it to MIKI WINDERMERE (9). Outside of those, LOUIE LEBEAU NZ (2) and LIL HAPPY FELLA (5) look next best.

Tips: 1-6-5-2

WHOS THE DAD (1) to win

 

Race 4

The FFA is over the 1730m and this looks an excellent race where MINOS NZ (1) will be trying to hold out the early speed from LONGREACH BAY (3) and MAXIMUM ROCK (4).

MINOS NZ (1) was excellent at his WA debut, making a three-wide run and sustaining it to hold them off. Needs to lead here to be a strong chance as being crossed first by LONGREACH BAY (3) would not be ideal for his chances of success. MAXIMUM ROCK (4) has some chance of finding the top if the inside horse is crossed, otherwise, his recent efforts from the breeze have been great. Going to put him on top here.

BETTER ECLIPSE (9) is thriving in the west now and if there is any early speed, he will be the one to capitalise on it late. Plenty of class in this line up. SORRIDERE (7) is the other key hope if he can get a cart into the race in the final 800m.

Tips: 4-9-1-7

MAXIMUM ROCK (4) to win

 

Race 5

Feature race of the night is the Group 3 The Laurie Kennedy (1730m) which is over the sprint distance and SUGAR DELIGHT (1) is likely to hold the lead rather than surrender it which worked to success last time. Based on her 1:56.3, 55.6 victory last time, the Cameron Ross-trained mare is going to take some catching.

MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (3) is versatile, a former Oaks winner, and was a great run behind Star Casino in the FFA last week. Due to her versatility, I am happy to side with her. If she could somehow get the lead without burning, she immediately becomes the horse to beat but it’s not likely up for grabs.

WONDERFUL TO FLY (6) has been a terrific mare for a while now and deserves a lot of respect – if the race is run to suit, she will make them pay. HUNGER STRIKE (10) gets the trailing draw and if there are some gaps late, she will fly home. CHAMPAGNE EVERYONE (4) can mix her form but is good enough. ALTA ALLURE (7) rates well sectionally but the draw is a concern. Same can be said for SWEET COCO NZ (9).

Tips: 3-1-10-6

MADAM PUBLISHER NZ (3) to win

Trifecta: 1,3 / 1,3,10 / 1,3,4,6,7,10

 

Race 6

PETES HONOUR (2) was backed heavily last week and didn’t let punters down as he led throughout in 1:55.8 to salute with the ‘Voak Train’ aboard. GOODTIME LOUIS (1) should be taking a quick sit on PETES HONOUR (2) today who could simply replicate last start. Without a natural breeze horse in the race, Voak should dictate the affair and looks extremely hard to catch.

It may be a case of the favourite wins and any of the others filling the minors. There is no real weak link in the race, so I won’t discuss their chances as it will likely be repetitive.

Tips: 2-3-1-4

PETES HONOUR (2) to win

 

Race 7

Unlike the previous where there appears to be a standout horse, the standing-start event looks well handicapped, giving quite a number of these horses winning claims.

CHIVALRY NZ (10) comes off a 30m handicap and was second behind Nathan Street in a heat of the Nights of Thunder. He’s had a few weeks off for trainer-driver Lindsay Harper and should be ready to run a big race. Placed in two from five behind the tapes, he can be put into the race and has strong claims.

ROCK ME OVER (9) is an 11-year-old racing in excellent form. He won over 2130m five starts ago in a mobile and was runner up behind Maximum Rock in a stand two starts ago. Nothing wrong with his last run when seventh to Our Crunch Time.

IMA FIVESTAR GENERAL NZ (11) and MAUNGATAHI (12) are the other class runners of the race with each-way claims. BEACH CAPTAIN (5), MY COPY NZ (6) and DOURADO (8) are the other hopes in the race.

Tips: 10-9-11-6

CHIVALRY NZ (10) to win

ROCK ME OVER (9) to win

 

Race 8

FLY TO THE FINISH NZ (5) continues to punch out consistent sectionals, often rating 1:56 or 1:57 and running home in 56.2 to 57.5 seconds. Those times lead the way in this field and if Deni Roberts can settle close to the speed with cover, the Graeme Collins-trained pacer will be dangerous.

HI SUGA RUSH NZ (7) stayed on the fence last start and that was the end of his chances as no clear running presented itself. Won’t have that issue from a wide draw and has a bit of class on most of this field. Looks the logical danger, along with MIKIPELO (1) from the inside barrier. SHES A MARE (3) looks next best from the draw.

Tips: 5-1-7-3

FLY TO THE FINISH NZ (5) to win

 

Race 9

Very keen on the Bob Mellsop-trained SWIZZLESTICK (1) in this race. The main concern is the gate speed, so hoping he can do enough to hold up at the start. If he does so, then Deni Roberts should be able to rate him in the lead in order to give a big kick late. He comes out of stronger races from worse draws, so this should be suitable.

CLASSICAL ELLIE (5) continues to race well with a victory and a second from her last four starts, while VINTAGE BLU (7) is a last-start winner. Both horses can run well again, as can ROCKSTAR QUALITY (6). I expect the winner to come from those four horses.

Tips: 1-5-7-6

SWIZZLESTICK (1) to win

 

Race 10

Shannon Suvaljko takes the reins behind MISTER LINTON (5) which looks a nice change and both runs this prep have looked good behind Wicked Hustler and Oh Miki. There is no horse of that quality in this race. Just needs the right trip in order to walk away with victory.

JACKIE DANIELS (3) can be an improver from barrier three and with a run under the belt on Monday at Pinjarra, she should be a little fitter. There is gate speed drawn inside which does make it interesting because any early speed battle will help MISTER LINTON (5). GIRL OF BRIGHTNESS (2) could also improve with a softer run. SWEET DUNCAN (4) is a blowout hope.

Tips: 5-3-1-2

MISTER LINTON (5) to win

 

Summary

Best Bet: Race 6 – PETES HONOUR (2)

Next Best: Race 3 – WHOS THE DAD (1)

Best Value: Race 2 – SUGAR STREET NZ (2)

Best Roughie: Race 7 – ROCK ME OVER (9)

 

For complete Gloucester Park entries, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink