Jaspervellabeach, owned by Kristy Elson and trained in Pinjarra by her father Gary, is a smart frontrunner with excellent prospects of winning his 19th race (and his 15th at Gloucester Park).
He showed he was far from a spent force when he set the pace for Trent Wheeler to easily win against Miki Windermere over 2100 meters at Bunbury three starts ago on December 9.
Roberts has been unplaced the last five times with Jaspervellabeach. She has ridden the gelding after her first two rides with him, in October 2021, resulted in second places behind Mandy Joan and Al Guerrero.
Jaspervellabeach performed well for the Elsons, with $320,638 in prize money from 18 wins and 18 placings from 118 starts. He made a wonderful start to his career when he won on his first three starts as a two-year-old in April 2019, all at Gloucester Park. These included the Group 2 Champagne Classic, and then he won the Group 1 Golden Slipper on his fifth start in July 2019.
His toughest rival on Friday night looms as four-year-old Pinny Noir, the youngest and least experienced runner in the field of eleven, with a record of sixteen starts for three wins and four placings.
Pinny Noir, trained by Michael Young, is pulled awkwardly at barrier six and will be piloted by Emily Suvaljko. He was a winner at Northam and Bunbury in November before going unplaced at Gloucester Park on his next two appearances.
He enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position in a 1730m event last Friday evening before dropping back to finish sixth behind Lincoln River.
“He got a flat tire at the 600 meters, was four meters wide in the last corner and was only seven meters ahead,” said Young. “The tube was around the edge, and if it hadn’t been, he probably would have won or at least run second.
“He’s been unlucky in the last two starts. This week he’s going to the front and he seems to have a good chance. If he doesn’t get to the front I’d be very happy to see him race outside Jaspervellabeach.”
For full race entries, click here.
Through Ken Casellasfor Gloucester Park
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