Le Patron Primed For Return

Posted on July 6, 2016 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Chris Gangemi says there is further improvement to come from recent stable acquisition, Bangalore, in the Westspeed Nominations Closing July 15 Handicap (1000m) at Belmont on Wednesday.

The former Hong Kong galloper made an auspicious Western Australian debut, rewarding favourite punters who were not afraid to target the Canny Lad gelding first up.

The four-year-old, who firmed from $4.10 into $2.50 favouritism, controlled the race throughout, despite Pop Hero and Royalic fighting on over the concluding stages.

Pop Hero franked the form after winning at Belmont last week while Royalic faded to fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, behind My Greek Boy on Saturday.

“He has improved off that run and his work on Saturday was the best piece of work he has done since has got here,” Gangemi said on TABradio.

“He missed a bit of work going into that first run so I think there is a couple of lengths of improvement left in him.

“There are a couple of good ones against him tomorrow (Wednesday), but I think he will be hard to beat.”

A threat to Bangalore is the return of Le Patron, a Street Boss filly who has not been beaten in two first up attempts.

Le Patron bookended her last campaign defeating Brisanto in January and ran a half-length second to the same galloper last-start in March.

Brisanto has been a consistent performer during the Belmont winter season and claimed the rare scalp of rising star, Vega Magic, earlier in her preparation.

Le Patron marked her return to racing against older horses with a solid warm up trial, getting home nicely for third behind Laurensen under her own steam.

The Ben Pearce-trained three-year-old has drawn barrier one in a field of 10 runners, and will race without blinkers for, jockey, Joe Azzopardi.

Pearce has a strong opinion of Le Parton and he expects her to step up and underline her potential this campaign.

“She has put the writing on the wall that she is a nice filly,” Pearce said on TABradio.

“Hopefully this is the prep where she can put it all together.”

Le Patron carries 55.5kg, a drop of 2kg on her last-start second to Brisanto.

Bangalore rises from 54kg to 55 ½ kg. Peter Knuckey retains the ride from barrier seven.

Clobberetta, prepared by Alana Williams, will look to end a run of near finishes, five placings from her previous six starts.

With the claim of Bonny Palise the Exceed And Excel mare carries 54kg, 3 ½ kg less than her short-neck second to Mr Mowtown two weeks ago.