Reinsman Kyle Harper has high hopes for Apollo Rock and Our Star Watch after they both landed the No.1 barrier in their respective races at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Apollo Rock will race in the opening event on the card, the 1730m Minstrel Pace, and will be having his second outing since returning from a spell.
Apollo Rock
The six-year-old finished sixth behind Run For Mercy at Bunbury in his first start back and Harper is expecting his charge to improve on that after landing a favourable draw.
Harper admits that The Code Breaker could be the one to watch out for but he has every faith in Apollo Rock.
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“I think that the mile (1730m) will suit him,” Harper told reporters. “He has strings to his bow. He can lead and sit and sprint.
“This looks like a race in which he can lead and go very close. He is a very good each-way chance. The Code Breaker will be one to watch, and so, too, will be Middlepage, who is going very well.”
Our Star Watch
Our Star Watch will race in the 2130m Money Magnet Pace and is in for a tough battle as he comes up against a strong field that includes some in-form pacers.
Even so, he impressed at Bunbury last last and Harper thinks he will go well in his latest assignment.
“He went off the boil a bit, and Bob has worked on him, and he has come back pretty good,” Harper added. “He gave him a bit of a let-up and then ran him in a standing-start event in Bunbury when his run was very good.
“He gave them a good head start, and he felt like a different horse and back to his best. And if he is close to his best he could be leading and winning on Friday night.”
