Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri has no grandiose plans for Arma Harris, but has pencilled in the $40,000 Easter Cup on April 1 as a likely target for the smart six-year-old.

Arma Harris, driven by Chris Lewis, graduated to M3 class after giving a fine frontrunning display to win the Jools Diamonds Pace from Winter Retreat and Hussy Hoffa at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The New South Wales-bred Arma Harris is a foolproof standing-start performer and a stout-hearted stayer and Olivieri is convinced that he would be an ideal candidate for the 2902m Easter Cup.

Arma Harris revealed his staying potential with a Gloucester Park victory over 2902m late last year and a fighting third behind Cassie Rox in the 2970m Northam Cup last month.

Olivieri is also setting seven-year-old Nickelmeldon for the Easter Cup. Nickelmeldon had to be scratched from the Jools Diamond Pace after being stung by an insect or bitten by a spider or a snake earlier in the day. "He broke out in welts all over his body," Olivieri said. "But he should recover quickly."

Arma Harris, favourite at 6/4 on, was untroubled to set a solid pace before sprinting the final 800m in 57sec. Winter Retreat maintained his wonderful consistent form when he sustained a spirited three-wide burst to be second, while Hussy Hoffa was most impressive in charging home from tenth position at the 300m mark to be third.

"He's a tough little fella and finding the front made my job a lost easier," Lewis said. "He's a bit on and off the bit. He can grab hold and roll along and then he'll drop the bit completely and then you've got to be at him to keep up."

Arma Harris, who arrived in WA late last year with a losing sequence of 13, now has had nine starts for Olivieri for five wins and three placings. His only unplaced run was in his only start in a mobile in WA.

His win revived memories of a former Olivieri standing-start specialist in giant gelding Shellstar, who was retired after 103 starts produced 13 wins, 28 placings and earnings of $106,690. Shellstar was driven by Lewis when he won at each of his final two starts, at Gloucester Park in January 2008.

Pilularis, the dam of Arma Harris, is a full-sister to Pintara Carramar, who produced Shellstar.

Olivieri completed a training double when Lewis drove Slick Lavra to an impressive victory over Sheer Dreams and Archean Hanover in the 2130m Criminal Minds Pace.

Slick Lavra, a winner of three races in New Zealand and five in Victoria, now has had four starts in WA for three wins and a second placing. Slick Lavra, favourite at 5/1 on, started from the outside barrier and settled at the rear before moving forward, three wide, with 1200m to travel.

Slick Lavra sustained her strong burst, took the lead 300m from home and was unextended in winning by just over a length.

Courtesy of Ken Casellas.