3 minute read

Smart former Kiwi Christopher Dance will have to overcome the outside barrier if he is to maintain his perfect record in Perth and win Friday night’s Group 1 WA Derby at Gloucester Park.

Christopher Dance was runner-up in the G1 Northern Derby before crossing from New Zealand and has impressively won his two outings in Perth since joining Team Bond.

The barrier presents a challenge but he has been setting the three-year-old benchmark since arriving in Perth, spanking his rivals first-up before racing parked but toughing it out in the Group 3 Western Gateway last time.

He'll be hitting peak fitness third-up and has the gate speed to get across the barrier.

Christopher Dance is one of five runners for Team Bond in the Derby and last season's Golden Slipper winner Vegas Strip has fared the best of them with the inside draw.

Vegas Strip has been out of the winners' circle for a while but has been ticking along well in recent starts and got within a head of Christopher Dance when runner-up in the Western Gateway.

The ace draw gives him the chance to turn the tables.

Tualou is another of the Bond stablemates with claims after a decent draw in barrier four.

He won from a similar barrier at Pinjarra two back then was held up from the back line when only 4.3m behind Christopher Dance last start.

Alta Tribute looks the best of the non-Bond runners with the aid of barrier two.

He broke last start but had recorded four wins and a close second from his other five starts, all of them at Gloucester Park.

Victorian Captain Ravishing will launch his bid for next week's WA Pacing Cup when he makes his first Gloucester Park appearance in Friday's G3 Navy Cup.

He has taken on the cream in his last two starts – copping a tough draw in the Victoria Cup last start after finishing less than 9m behind Leap To Fame in the Smoken Up Sprint - but before that had returned from injury with back to back Victorian wins.

He is big on talent and is two from two at this distance so can measure right up in the west.

Hardest to beat looks to be popular local Lavra Joe who gets the coveted inside barrier.

He had a tough draw when resuming but there was plenty to like about the latest performance when he raced parked and stuck on for second.

Lavra Joe has recorded two wins and a placing from three third-up attempts so will be close to his peak.

Swingband also looks a player as he did a good job to finish midfield from the back row when resuming in the Stratton Cup. He'll be fitter and is better served by this draw.