13 July 2021 | Ken Casellas
A surprise victory by experienced campaigner Jesse Allwood at odds of $114.30 (and at $126 on the fixed market) in the 2536m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Sunday night revived memories of Byford trainer Peter Anderson’s longest-priced winner when he also combined with noted breeder and owner Bob Fowler.
This was achieved at Pinjarra on May 8, 2017 when Donald Harper drove The Mighty Rock to victory in an R0 2185m event, with the Rocknroll Hanover three-year-old, in his third race start, starting at $193.20.
Harper brought The Mighty Rock home with a powerful burst from eleventh at the bell to win by 2m from King of Cougars, rating 2.1. This was The Mighty Rock’s only win in a 13-start career.
Five-year-old Jesse Allwood started from the No. 5 barrier on Sunday night and was driven by Shannon Suvaljko, whose previous drive behind the Grinfromeartoear gelding was 43 starts earlier when he finished seventh behind Macz Brother on June 2 last year.
Jesse Allwood, having his 93RD start, was restrained at the start and raced in seventh position, four back on the pegs, while $2.60 second fancy Bettor Be Oscar was setting the pace with the $1.90 favourite Howard Hughes in the breeze.
Suvaljko eased Jesse Allwood off the pegs 250m from home and took the gelding four wide on the home bend before he finished boldly to get to the front in the final 25m to win by almost a length from $7 chance Pocket The Cash. The final quarters were run in 28.6sec. and 28.9sec. and the winner rated 1.58.5. The win ended Jesse Allwood’s losing sequence of 27.
Jesse Allwood was having only his second start for Anderson in his current campaign. Anderson had previously prepared Jesse Allwood between December 2018 and May 2020 for one win (in Albany) and 11 placings. Trainer Phil Duggan won five races in a row and six from seven starts with the gelding last October and November, and the seasoned performer now has raced 93 times for nine wins, 26 placings and stakes of $84,303.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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