Co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi’s prospects of winning the Listed Tabtouch Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday improved significantly after talented three-year-old Repossession drew perfectly in barrier one.
The Gangemi brothers breathed a huge sigh of relief when news came through that Repossession would start from the exact same starting position as last fortnight’s Placid Ark Prelude (1000m) when he won leading.
Relishing Repossession’s inside draw in the Prelude, jockey Brad Parnham found the front and comfortably held that position throughout, hugging the fence and kicking clear of his opposition in the home straight to score by a length.
Michael Gangemi can’t wait for the Placid Ark on the weekend, his anticipation of Repossession grabbing a slice of the $500,000 prizemoney on offer soaring after the Sessions gelding drew a favourable inside starting gate.
“We’re actually really, really, really, really happy,” Gangemi said to Racing WA.
“This little horse goes good and the other day (Prelude) he ran the fastest 200m of the entire meeting.
“It was very fast, 10.3 seconds between the 800m to the 600m to lead.
“He burnt a bit of petrol, but still gave a really good kick off the back of that.
“He can really zoom early and be strong at the end.
“So, from a good gate he has options now which is really good.
“He’s learning all the time and it’s just his fourth start on the weekend.
“If he bounces clean, he’ll lead and that’s the plan.
“This has been his grand final all along and he’s a serious horse.
“The horse has come on, has pulled up great, is holding condition and we’re super excited.”
Following impressive trial form, Repossession underlined his promise with victory on debut in a Belmont juvenile last June.
He then resumed in the Max Simmonds Stakes over 1000m when he worked home strongly for fourth after a slow getaway.
Gangemi, who holds a big opinion of Repossession, said he should have a blemish-free record and is unlucky not to be undefeated.
“He’s been beaten once in his life and he shouldn’t have been,” Gangemi said.
“He overaced, copped a check, found interference and that was in a big race against the best horses.
“You don’t over race and do that much wrong and still get with a half-length of West Star and good horses.
“It’s not a bad record and he has the scalp of September Born in a trial.
You need luck in these big races and hopefully if he gets it, we’re there.”
Repossession and first emergency Magna’s Choice share the second line of betting at $4.40 with betting sites.
Wind And The Lion for Sean and Jake Casey and a last-start fourth in the Classic Prelude, 2.8 lengths from Repossession, the $2.40 favourite.