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Trainer Justin Prentice expects Hurricane Harley to bounce back in Fremantle Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park

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Jay RooneyThe West Australian
Hurricane Harley has an ideal draw for Friday’s Group 1 Fremantle Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.
Camera IconHurricane Harley has an ideal draw for Friday’s Group 1 Fremantle Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park. Credit: Hamilton Content Creators

Trainer Justin Prentice is optimistic an ideal draw will help Hurricane Harley turn his recent form around when he tackles Friday night’s Group 1 Fremantle Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.

The former Victorian pacer emerged as a Fremantle Cup (2536m) and WA Pacing Cup (2936m) contender with three wins from his first five starts in WA.

However, he has finished near the tail of the field at his past three starts in the lead-up to Friday night’s $300,000 feature.

Known for his early gate speed, Hurricane Harley was thwarted by consecutive wide draws before fading in the Pat Cranley Memorial (2130m) last start when he worked hard to sit in the breeze.

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Prentice said the stallion, a winner of 21 interstate races including features in Melbourne and Sydney, was capable of bouncing back when he starts from the inside of the second row.

“The draw should suit him sitting up on the speed on the inside,” Prentice said.

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“His bad form has been when he’s in the breeze.

“He’s nice and fresh and his work is good. I’m expecting him to run well.”

Ladbrokes rates Hurricane Harley a $13 chance and Maddison Brown will again drive him.

Minstrel, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, is the popular $2.60 favourite after drawing the prized No.1 barrier.

“There are some standouts in the race and Minstrel looks hard to beat from barrier one,” Prentice said.

Prominent Victorian breeders Bill and Anne Anderson, who run Lauriston Stud, sent Hurricane Harley to Prentice last year to target WA’s cups double.

“It was a pleasant surprise when they asked if I was interested in taking him,” Prentice said.

“It’s exciting to train for them, they’ve got some unbelievable horses and he’s a favourite of theirs.”

Prentice will also start Rocknroll Lincoln in Friday night’s Fremantle Cup Consolation (2536m) after he was named second emergency for the Fremantle Cup.

The 2019 WA Pacing Cup hero made his return to racing last month after two suspensory ligament injuries.

“He was held-up last start and didn’t get to show his best, so he didn’t quite get there (in the Fremantle Cup field),” Prentice said.

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