David Hercules, one of Western Australaia's best two-year-olds last season, is poised to make a winning return to harness racing, according to ace reinsman Colin Brown. "He's not a big, robust horse, but he's fit and he's ready," said Brown when assessing the gelding's prospects in the Criminal Minds Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

"I was surprised when David told me how fast he went when I drove him in a trial at Byford on Sunday. He ran the final 800m in 57.6sec. on the bit.

"The early pace in the trial was so slow that I hooked him out three deep and got going two laps from home and he went straight past his rivals to take up the running with one and a half laps to go." David Hercules won the 2150m trial at a 1.59.8 rate, beating Large Aslife Lombo by four lengths.

David Hercules will start from barrier six on Friday night and Brown said he would discus tactics with Thompson before the race. "At this stage, I'll probably play it by ear," he said.

This will be David Hercules' first appearance as a three-year-old and his first outing since he finished 11th behind Smiling Shard in the Australasian Breeders Crown for two-year-old colts and gelding's at TABCorp Park in Melton on August 23.

As a two-year-old David Hercules earned $109,415 after his four wins and five placings from 13 starts. He revealed a touch of class in winning the Sales Classic and Champagne Classic at successive starts at Gloucester Park in May.

David Hercules will not have things all his own way in a quality field of eight in which every runner has winning prospects. He is likely to meet with stiff opposition from the Mike Reed-trained colts Mystic Art and Danny Fisher, who warmed up for this event in fine style at Gloucester Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Mystic Art, driven by Stephen Reed, settled down in 12th position before dashing forward, three wide, to be fourth at the bell. He sustained his spirited burst, hit the front 250m from home and won the 2130m event at a 1.59.4 rate from Mundella Arnie and Danny Fisher (who finished strongly from seventh at the bell).

Mundella Arnie, a stablemate of David Hercules, caught the eye when he rattled home from 11th at the bell. He will start from barrier four in Friday night's race. Danny Fisher (Mark Reed) is perfectly drawn at No. 1, with Mystic Art at barrier three.

Trainer Grant Williams has two smart New Zealand-bred pacers engaged in Cromac Johnny and Franco Jazzman.

Cromac Johnny was most impressive when he rated 1.58.1 (last 800m in 57.8sec.) when he won easily over 2130m at Gloucester Park two starts ago and Franco Jazzman notched his fourth win from seven starts when he resumed after a spell at Northam three Saturdays ago, dashed to an early lead and went on to win by just over two lengths.

The Andrew de Campo-trained Lombo Navigator will start from the outside barrier on Friday night, but will have admirers after he took off, three wide, after a lap, moved into the breeze and then surged to the front 220m from home and won by 8m from The Governator over 2242m at Narrogin on Tuesday of last week. That was his sixth win from 11 starts.

Electrification, trained by Greg Schofield, has yet to win, but cannot be left out of calculations from barrier two. He has impressed with five seconds and a third from his nine starts.

Courtesy of Ken Casellas.