Star four-year-old pacer Never Ending will make his eagerly awaited return at Gloucester Park this Friday as he plots a course to the $2.1 million TAB Eureka in New South Wales on September 7.
Never Ending, who finished ninth in The Nullarbor on April 19 after being hampered on the home turn, will start his preparation in this Friday’s $50,000 Group 3 Nova 93.7 Winter Cup (2536m) from gate four.
Despite facing key rivals like last Friday’s Free-For-All winner The Miki Taker (gate one) and Jumpingjackmac (three), trainer Justin Prentice says Never Ending is on song.
“I’ve got him as forward as I can without racing him – he’s some had good hit-outs at home,” Prentice said.
“He’ll have two or three runs here before we go to Sydney.
“That number depends on when he flies over and also whether he trials at Menangle first.”
Never Ending, who Prentice says has developed mentally in recent months, will have one race start at the Menangle circuit before the TAB Eureka.
“He definitely seems like he’s matured a bit,” Prentice said.
“He seems that little bit more grown having had the harder racing.
“Previously he was either really switched off or on – there was no happy medium.
“He was quite a handful and arrogant, but now he seems a lot more willing to work with.
“He settled and steered really well in The Nullarbor, so I’ll keep his gear the same for Friday and then see what he’s like on the bigger track (Menangle).”
Prentice, a highly respected reinsman, has focused his attention on training in recent seasons and had only driven in only two races in the last eighteen months before steering Ruby Lovera last Friday.
Leading driver Gary Hall Jnr, who regularly handles Prentice’s runners, is under suspension and has forced a reluctant Prentice back into the cart.
“I felt horrible on Friday, to be honest,” Prentice said.
“I had a lot of thoughts and a lot of driving is on instinct, but I felt much better on Monday.”
Prentice drove a cool race to salute with Artful Miki at Pinjarra on Monday, giving him his first victory in the bike since Caribbean Lily won at Bunbury in May 2022.
Prentice has proven a worthy replacement for Hall Jnr and has guided home several Group 1 winners in recent seasons including Mighty Ronaldo’s WA Derby and Tricky Miki’s Golden Slipper in 2021, meaning handling Never Ending this Friday will be no foreign feeling.
“I know him and his quirks – I’ve driven him his whole life,” Prentice said.
“I know what run I want him to have this Friday.”
Rolling Fire, a Gloucester Park regular who at one stage was touted as a travelling companion for Never Ending to Sydney, has been sent for a spell but Prentice will also be represented by progressive two-year-old Im Massimo on Friday’s card.