Nathan Street, a New South Wales-bred five-year-old by former champion pacer Lazaruswas not extended in setting the pace from the No. 3 barrier and coasting to a two-length victory over Chivalry in a qualifying heat last Friday evening, when he raced over the final 400-metre sections in 27.7 seconds. and 28 sec.
Hall junior was delighted with the ease with which Nathan Street won his heat and will have options when he is in the final on Friday night.
There is little doubt that the fastest novice in the field of nine is the Colin Brown-trained five-year-old Arma Believer, who will start wide at barrier No. 7, the same draw he had in his heat when Maddison Brown got the gelding clear for a flying start.
Arma Believer had to withstand a strong early challenge from Hugotastic and was under pressure from that pacesetter in the wind as the first three 400m sections flew by in 28.2 and 28.6 seconds. and 28.5 sec.
The last quarter was completed in a much slower 29.5 seconds. and Codename Marcus stormed home from eighth in the 600m to win by just under a length from Arma Believer, with a winner rating of 1.53.7.
In his heat, Nathan Street was crossed by The Wildcard (from barrier seven) before Hall took over with Nathan Street after 400 metres. In contrast to the heat won by Codename Marcus, the first quarters in the Nathan Street heat were run much more quietly (29.4 seconds and 30.5 seconds).
The other heat winner, Thelittle Master, was patiently ridden into seventh place in the field of eight, as Sebastian James (under pressure from Maximum Rock in the wind) sprinted across the opening quarter in 27.6 seconds. and 28.5 sec. before the final 400m sections were run in 29.2 seconds. and 29.3 sec.
Thelittle Master will start wide at barrier eight in the final, and Deni Roberts will be sure to contain the gelding at the start, sparing him from a late attack. He is trained by Greg and Skye Bond, who were successful with Ocean Ridge in the 2020 Nights Of Thunder. The Bond stable also won this event with Quick Draw McCaw (2008) and Ohokas Bondy (2012).
Tactics will play a very important role in the final, with the leader likely to find themselves in trouble in the latter stages if exposed to sustained pressure from the wind horse, leaving the gate open for the late divers.
Codename Marcus impressed with his fast-finishing heat win, and his trainer Ash Markham is confident the seven-year-old and oldest runner in the race will make a bold bid for victory.
“If he does the same as last week, he can win again,” Markham said. “I jumped him this morning (Tuesday) and he went well, just like last week, and if they run 56 seconds in the half in front and come home in 28.5 seconds, he will run over them.”
Markham has already tasted success in the Nights Of Thunder, having ridden Smokey The Bandit for trainer Mick Callegari in 2014 when the gray finished strongly to beat pacesetter and favorite Silent Prowl.
Codename Marcus will be handled by Markham’s 19-year-old son Ajay, who warmed up for Friday night’s assignment on Tuesday evening with three rides at Gloucester Park for wins with Striking A Deal and Miki Windermere, and a second place with Crunch The Numbers.
Top trainer leader Aiden de Campo is happy with Bettor Arcade’s barrier draw. The WA-bred gelding will start from the No. 1 barrier, provided there are no scratches that would allow emergency first Sebastian James to start from the inside barrier, with Bettor Arcade at No. 2.
Bettor Arcade raced wide early and then enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing fifth behind Codename Marcus last Friday evening.
“He wasn’t as good last week as he was in his previous two starts,” de Campo said. “He had a little problem, which cost him some work, and now I expect him to improve quite a bit. Barrier one always helps, and I think he will run a much better race.”
Trainer Jemma Hayman has Lincoln River racing in good style, and the gelding did well as he moved from eighth at the bell to finish fourth last week, four wide behind Codename Marcus.
Hall snr won the Nights Of Thunder with Tealsby Karita (2007), Hokonui Ben (2013), Soho Lennon (2015), Mohegan Sun (2016) and Benhope Rulz (2019), while Hall jnr was successful with Tealsby Karita, Hokonui Ben, Benhope Rulz, Jawsoflincoln (2024) and Spicey Major, who he trained and rode last year when he defeated his stablemate Ventura.
For full race entries, click here.
Through Ken Casellasfor Gloucester Park
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