WA pacing cups king Vultan Tin, Texas Tiger to clash for first time at unique Gloucester Park meeting

WA pacing cups king Vultan Tin and emerging star Texas Tiger will clash for the first time at a unique Gloucester Park meeting on Friday afternoon. The city track is scheduled to break new ground by hosting its debut Good Friday fixture, run in tandem with an Ascot thoroughbred program. Vultan Tin and Texas Tiger’s connections are aiming at a 2150m free-for-all, and sparks are expected to fly. A feature event treble has been achieved by Vultan Tin in WA Pacing Cup, Pinjarra Cup and Narrogin Cup wins over the past three months. Texas Tiger is unbeaten in seven WA starts since arriving from New Zealand. “Vultan Tin pulled up well from his Narrogin Cup win last Saturday night,” trainer Phil Costello said yesterday. “I decided to give him nearly a fortnight to his next start and he’ll be in good form on Friday.” The gelding, a winner of 29 races, has earned $920,000 and Costello is optimistic he will reach $1 million. “I’ll program his races carefully and I reckon he can get to the milestone,” Costello said. Texas Tiger, a recent 4 and 5YO Championship winner, is highly rated by trainer Gary Hall. “He’s ready to race again and Friday’s free-for-all will suit him,” Hall said yesterday. “I’ll set him for the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup later this year.” Gloucester Park CEO Michael Radley, who has scheduled the first race to be run at 12.30pm on Friday, said he was confident the new Easter pacing format would be successful. The course’s Easter meeting has been run long-term on Good Friday eves. “Ascot’s Good Friday fixtures have attracted a lot of interest since being introduced a few years ago,” Radley said yesterday. “We’re anticipating a similar response at Gloucester Park, with free entry and a family theme.” Meanwhile, brilliant three-year-old Lavra Joe will race at Bunbury in lead-ups to the $200,000 WA Derby on April 30. Trainer Ray Jones said the colt was thriving yesterday after a Friday night win. “His next starts will be in the Battle Of Bunbury on April 10 and the Country Derby at Bunbury a fortnight later,” Jones said. + Griffin Lodge on Friday night became one of the few two-year-olds to have won twice within four days of his debut. “He was jumping out of skin after a soft run to win first-up at Pinjarra last Monday,” trainer Ross Olivieri said yesterday. “It was decided to start him again and he showed signs of a bright future. He races keenly when leading and is better with a sit.” + Trainer Kim Prentice will follow a successful program formula with Extradite, who on Friday night scored the third win from his past four starts. “It’ll be a fortnight before his next race,” Prentice said yesterday. “He’s best with starts spaced.” + Reinsman Ryan Warwick boosted his career wins tally to 1708 with four victories on Friday night.