Voak holds a strong hand

Pinjarra trainer Chris Voak holds a strong hand in race two, the $27,000 Joe Gaudet Member Since 2006 Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night in which he prepares three runners --- My Silver Spoon, Maximum Rock and Sweet Vivienne.

My Silver Spoon and Maximum Rock have had problems in recent weeks, but Voak is happy to declare that they have recovered well and have sound claims of fighting out the finish.

He will drive four-year-old Maximum Rock, who will begin from the No. 5 barrier, and he has engaged Gary Hall jnr to handle the polemarker My Silver Spoon, while Kyle Symington will drive Sweet Vivienne from an awkward draw at barrier seven.

Maximum Rock, who led and won the BOTRA Cup three starts ago, then disappointed with unplaced efforts behind Insta Gator and Gee Heza Sport. He was sore in a knee at his latest start but is better now.

“I’ll be driving Maximum Rock because he is a hard horse to handle and has a habit of pulling up in his races,” Voak explained. “He is on target for the Westbred Classic the following week, and I’m sure he will perform really well on Friday night.

“My Silver Spoon went terrible at his past two starts before we discovered he was suffering from a virus. He has been sick and that’s why he hasn’t raced for six weeks. He is hitting his straps again, and he galloped and worked on the track with Rock Artist the other day and went really well. He should be in the hunt and is capable of running in the money.

“Sweet Vivienne’s form has been super, but she will need to overcome her bad draw on Friday night.” Her past five starts have produced a win, thirds behind Copy Cat Queen and Vegas Strip and a good second behind Nase Vira last Friday night.

Looming as the main dangers to the Voak trio are impressive last-start winners Codename Marcus (barrier nine) and Sound Wave (barrier two on the back line).

Codename Marcus, trained by Ash Markham, raced in last position in the field of eleven last Friday week before Aiden De Campo brought him home with a powerful burst to easily beat Fly To The Finish.

“I intend to drive him in similar fashion this week, dropping back and then letting him come home with a strong run,” said De Campo.

Shannon Suvaljko is looking for a spirited effort from the Simon Lowings-trained Sound Wave, who surged home from seventh at the bell to snatch a half-head victory over Fly To The Finish last Friday night. “He might race three back on the rails, but I’m confident he will go good,” he said.

By Ken Casellas