Water Lou ready to shine

Speedy mare Water Lou has managed only four placings and is yet to win from eight starts this season, a far cry from her record of 21 victories as a two and three-year-old.

But her driver Shannon Suvaljko can see plenty of light at the end of the tunnel, and he is expecting a strong showing from the Mike Reed-trained four-year-old Water Lou when she contests the $27,000 Taste Of WA Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

She will begin from out wide at barrier No. 8 at her third appearance after resuming from a 12-week absence when her clash with her smart stablemate Lion Queen (barrier six), Aardiebytheseaside (nine), Little Darling (seven) and Nase Vira (inside of the back line) is expected to produce plenty of fireworks.

“Water Lou’s first run back was over 1730m, and we drove her soft,” said Suvaljko. She began from the back line and raced at the rear before running home fast, out five wide, to finish fourth behind Rockandrollartist.

Last Friday night Water Lou began from barrier seven in a 2536m event and dashed to the front after 100m, and following 400m sections of 28.4sec., 28.5sec. and 28sec. she faded to finish a well-beaten third behind Copy Cat Queen.

“Last week when a horse (Nase Vira) came around to the breeze she got on the chewy and overraced (which ruined her chances),” explained Suvaljko. “If she had been able to relax, she would have won. She ran out of her skin.

“The sprint distance this week will suit her, but the draw makes it tough. She will need a bit of luck but still should run a good race. And Lion Queen will be hard to beat if she is able to find the front.”

Aardiebytheseaside, trained by Greg and Skye Bond and a winner at 20 of her 40 starts, will be making her first appearance since finishing fifth behind Penny Black in a group 3 2130m event on June 20.

“She is a classy mare and is ready to go,” said her driver Deni Roberts. “From the outside barrier we should have plenty of options; we could go forward or go back.”

Roberts has given punters a good lead by opting to drive Goodtime Louis for trainer Bob Mellsop in preference to veteran pacer Cordero she has driven to fast-finishing victories on the past two Friday night.

Goodtime Louis is favourably drawn at barrier two, and Roberts is planning to use the four-year-old’s good gate speed in a bid for an all-the-way win. Cordero will start from barrier two on the back line and will be handled by Chris Voak.

Trainer Mike Reed has two four-year-old runners, with Shannon Suvaljko choosing to drive Bettors Pride (barrier six) ahead of Dark Eyes, who will be driven by Suvakljko’s daughter Emily from the No. 5 barrier.  

Dark Eyes led from barrier two and won over 2130m, beating Gaitcrasher by more than two lengths over 2130m two starts ago. Bettors Pride won at his two most recent starts (at Gloucester Park in May) and is being set for the Golden Nugget.

  

By Ken Casellas