Lincoln Lou is the least successful pacer in the field of twelve runners who will do battle in the $50,000 The Binshaw Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night --- and the New Zealand-bred three-year-old who has won at four of his 22 starts looks set to buck the odds and beat his older rivals.

He made an excellent Australian debut with an effortless victory in three-year-old company on Tuesday of last week, and his trainer Michael Young is bubbling with confidence that not only will he win this week but will develop into a leading contender for the $200,000 WA Derby on October 31.

"We picked this race out for him a long time ago and made sure on points that he would draw barrier one," said Young. "I rate him as good as any horse I've got, and he should be hard to beat.

"I've been saying how much I like him because he works better than Hugotastic, so lining them up, I thought we've got a good one here." Hugotastic, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old, has been most impressive, winning in fine style at his four starts in WA for Young after three wins from 14 New Zealand starts.

Lincoln Lou will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, who has won the Binshaw Pace with Classic American in 2015, Alta Intrigue (2021) and Youre So Fine (2023). Young part-owned and trained six-year-old Plutonium, a $6.80 chance driven by Emily Suvaljko when he began from barrier seven and raced in the breeze before beating the pacemaker Talks Up A Storm by a head in the 2022 Binshaw Pace.

In his win at Gloucester Park last week Lincoln Lou began from the outside barrier in the field of seven, was restrained to last and then raced in the one-out, two-back position before being eased three wide 300m from home and then switching four wide to hit the front 130m from the post and win by a metres from Rumble Strip, rating 1.57.6 after final 400m sections of 28sec. and 28.1sec.

Four-year-old Gaitcrasher, trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, will begin from the inside of the back line and should enjoy a perfect trip behind Lincoln Lou, who looks set to lead.

"Gaitcrasher is racing relay well, and ten is not a bad draw for him," said De Campo. Gaitcrasher has resumed after a spell in fine style, with placings at his two runs in this preparation.

Gaitcrasher resumed last Friday week when he began from barrier nine and was restrained to last in a field of twelve before dashing forward, three wide, approaching the bell, moving to the breeze with 600m to travel and finishing a close third behind Heez Good As Gold and Tantabiddi.

Then, last Friday night Gaitcrasher raced wide early and then without cover before finishing second behind the pacemaker Dark Eyes, who rated 1.57.4 over 2130m with final quarters of 28.2sec. and 28.4sec.

Dark Eyes, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mik Reed, will begin from the No. 4 barrier on Friday night and is capable of a strong showing.

Saifa, to be handled by Deni Roberts for Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop, is awkwardly drawn at barrier seven for his second appearance in WA. He began from the back line and raced in seventh position before sustaining a strong burst to finish a half-length second to Cams Boulder over 2130m last Friday night. 

"Saifa overraced at some stages, and hopefully we can rectify that," said Roberts. "He pulled up like he needed the run, and I expect him to improve."

Petes Honour (barrier three) and No Noney (two) are performing in fine style and cannot be underestimated from their favourable draws.