Pacing: Maiden Navajo contender for derby

Three-year-old filly Navajo Windtalker ($3.60) has emerged as a Great Southern Derby contender after recording her maiden success in the Peter Watson MLA three-yearold pace (1828m) at Albany last Friday night.

Picture by David Polette: Face Your Fears and Sacre Coeur get away well in the Whippy Van Man Pace on Friday night.

Navajo Windtalker, driven by Lowlands reinswoman Cheyenne King- Davies, raced midfield in the moving line before strongly running on in the late stages to defeat Trustytrev ($2.60) and Roguenrich ($5.90).

The Hayden Reeves-trained youngster, who had been placed only twice from her previous eight starts, indicated she was on the improve after being runner-up at her previous outing.

Navajo Windtalker will now tackle next Thursday week’s Great Southern Derby, to be held at Wagin. Katanning pacer Trustytrev would have lost no admirers after his fighting effort.

He sustained a three-wide move in the middle stages.

Trainer Giles Inwood notched a treble at the meeting with Bobby Teal ($2), Kinsfolk ($6.60) and The Burnside Flyer ($2.50).

He took the reins with Bobby Teal and The Burnside Flyer, while Courtney Burch steered Kinsfolk to victory.

Burch was also successful as a trainer when honest mare Miss Shanley ($3.60) took out the GWN 7 Fillies and Mares Pace.

Miss Shanley, driven by Michael Young, set the pace before pulling out to hold off Lowlands pair Safe Tour ($5.80) and Miss Kerr ($8.90).

Burch also went close to taking out the feature event when runner-up with Rigatoni ($5.90) behind Boofshalfbrother ($5.30) in the Albany Horse World Pace.

Collie pacer Northern Regiment ($12.90), runner-up at his previous start at Albany, caused an upset when successful in the Graham Manley Automotive Repairs Pace.