Harley's back and ready to rev his engine in Casey Classic

Proven group-level performer Hurricane Harley is poised to immerse himself in the Hunter Cup melting pot after drawing the pole for Saturday night’s Allied Express Casey Classic.

The Emma Stewart-trained seven-year-old made a long-awaited return to Victorian racing when he finished a gallant runner-up behind Catch A Wave in the first heat of the Mercury80 at Melton last Friday night.

Hurricane Harley hadn’t been sighted on a racetrack in this state since finishing unplaced in the Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old entires and geldings more than two years ago.

A subsequent stint in Perth with Justin Prentice netted three metropolitan wins and a placing in the Fremantle Cup.

Hurricane Harley served notice of a pending win when he came from last and rounded up all bar Catch A Wave over the Mercury80 1200m dash.

“He went as good as he can go last week as the winner is a very nice horse,” driver Mark Pitt said.

“He settled on the bit and never gave up in the straight after sprinting from the 800. He felt strong on the line.”

Pitt said Hurricane Harley will derive significant benefit from his first outing since October last year.

“He went into the race without a trial and he will come ahead in leaps and bounds from that run,” he said.

Bookmakers have branded the Casey Classic a two-horse race, installing Hurricane Harley a $2 favorite ahead of Inter Dominion Grand Final runner-up and noted sit-sprinter Torrid Saint ($3.50), who will enjoy the run of the race on the back of the favourite.

“I should hold up from the pole and Torrid Saint showed in the Inter Dominion he can sprint quickly off a sit, so he’ll get his chance in the straight,” Pitt said.

Pitt agreed an impressive win in the Casey Classic should bring Hurricane Harley into calculations for a berth in next week’s Group 1 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup.

“There’s a lot of top horses around in good form and we’ll see how he pulls up, but if he wins well he may end up in the mix for the Hunter Cup,” he said.