The Greg and Skye Bond team will test stable newcomer Justcallmemiki against their WA Derby winner Christopher Dance in Friday’s Hoist Torque Australia-Chandon 4YO Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
Justcallmemiki won four of his 12 starts in New Zealand prior to joining the Bond stable after his last start in October.
Greg Bond said he felt now was the right time to unleash the son of Always B Miki.
“He goes pretty good,” Bond told Racing WA Harness.
“We bought him as a yearling at the New Zealand sales, but we left him over there for a bit because we thought he was still a bit immature and wouldn’t handle Gloucester Park.
“He won on four occasions over there and he ran in some nice races.
“He looks like a horse that’ll be a nice one moving forward.”
In a further boost to Justcallmemiki’s chances in Friday’s $50,000 event, Deni Roberts has elected to drive him from barrier one over Christopher Dance, who has drawn barrier five.
Stuart McDonald will drive Christopher Dance.
The Bond team also have Thenu Came Along drawn in barrier two, while Waverider and Manhattan Moon round out the small field in barrier three and four respectively.
Bond said he was pleased with the early indications from Christopher Dance, as he prepares for his first start since an upset defeat at the hands of stablemate Tualou on WA Pacing Cup night.
“He hasn’t had a long break, but he’s worked up nicely and we are getting to know him better,” he said.
“We’ve obviously got races like the Nugget later in the year, but in the meantime, he can target some nice races like this one.”
Meanwhile, Bond indicated star mare Aardiebytheseaside was getting closer to a return to racing, after she was nominated for the $50,000 Lord Mayors Cup on Friday.
Reigning WA Pacing Cup winner and Inter Dominion runner-up Minstrel is set to make his return to racing in Monday week’s Pinjarra Cup.
Meanwhile, Steno has been installed the $1.70 TABtouch favourite for the Lord Mayors Cup, with fellow mare Water Lou on the second line of betting at $3.
Tim Walker
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