Hoist Torque Australia 2YO Pearl Classic - The Last Word

2011 Pearl Classic winner Major Catastrophe. Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows.

The world is their oyster, and this Friday night at Gloucester Park, two-year-old colts and geldings are set to shine with the running of the 2024 Gr2 $100,000 Torque Australia 2YO Pearl Classic (2130m).

The TABTouch fixed odds have opened ahead of tomorrow nights feature, and current favourite Im Massimo for Justin Prentice and Gary Hall Jnr opened at $3.20 and currently sits as the $2.80 favourite. Im Massimo has drawn barrier 10.

Drawn in barrier one, the Kat Warwick trained Sebastian James opened up at $2.50 and has slightly drifted to $3.50 on the fixed odds market.

Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, Sebastian James led all the way in last weeks heat, beating Im Massimo by 1.2m in a mile rate of 1:55:8, making him the fastest qualifier for the classic, with Suvaljko planning to lead from the inside draw.

The Last Word:

1. Sebastion James (Shannon Suvaljko): “Great draw, terrific heat win, gets his chance"

2. Belly Up (Skye Bond): “Nice draw, with a bit of luck should be there abouts.”

3. Captains Creek NZ (Skye Bond): “Exciting horse, if he settles he will be a big player.”

4. Lake Pichola (Ron Huston): “Very happy with him, happy with his heat run, should go well.”

5. Fillmypocket (Justin Prentice): “He has a tricky draw but is racing well enough to figure with the right run.”

6. Como El Viento NZ (Aiden De Campo): “Draw makes it hard, but happy with how he’s working going into the race.”

7. Captain Said So (Aiden De Campo): “Racing, really, really well, I’m really happy with him, just draw seems hard to get into it.

8. ”Xpress Party (Michael Brennan): “Horse has come on great from heat, but it is an awkward draw. Could win if the race is run to suit.”

9. Captain Stirling (Dylan Egerton-Green): “Racing well, but tricky draw. Could be a blow out chance.”

10. Im Massimo (Justin Prentice): “Massimo has come through the heat well, will need some luck from the draw but should be a good chance if he gets some.

11. ”The Bettor Side (Aiden De Campo): “From the barrier draw, he’s probably going to get the right run, not too far from the speed.”

12. Hold The Ammo (Chris Lewis): “Awkwardly draw, will be relying on a good solid pace with plenty of luck.”It Is Crunch Time (Em1)Noble Thorondor (Em2)

Make sure you listen to tonight’s Talking Trots podcast, where Michael Radley and Glen Mortimer dissect tomorrow’s race, as well as speak to Gary Hall Jnr who drives Im Massimo in the final.

Ashleigh Paikos