03 August 2021 | Ashleigh Paikos
It was a rough start for the trotters in the standing start, with the $2 favourite Goodtime Pe Rabbit galloping his way out of contention, but there was no substitute for good manners with second row starter Lucky Charm settling behind the leader after beginning faultlessly in the first on the card.
With an indiscretion with the leader, Lucky Charm found herself in the lead, going on to win with ease by 15.1m for trainer and driver Bruce Stanley in a mile rate of 2:04:0 over the 2116m standing start.
At just her second race start since entering WA two months ago, Stanley qualified the three-year-old for standing start events just two weeks ago, with the young trotter proving that she has a big future ahead of her.
It was another rough and tumble race in the 2YO pace, with Dardy Boy breaking at release point and having to be retired from the event due to broken gear. The Mercenary had worked his way to the front, but with around 950m to go, the gelding who was having just his second start in a race hung out and broke, leaving Chris Lewis and Wall Street Girl unscathed and able to find the front relatively easy just 900m from the finish. The two-year-old filly owned and trained by Lewis’ wife Debra made it two in a row, recording a mile rate of 1:56:0, claiming the second on the card untouched by 13.2m.
After a last start second, Silver Star Lombo broke through for her maiden win after leading all the way from barrier two in race three for driver Callan Suvaljko. The double westbred filly by Follow The Stars continued the successful weekend for trainer Shane Quadrio, with the $2 favourite rewarding punters with a comfortable win in 2:02:5 over the 2185m journey.
It was a great day out for reinsman Callan Suvaljko, who made it a race-to-race driving double with Bettor Times NZ leading all the way in race four for trainer Gary Hall Snr in a mile rate of 1:56:7. Crossing from barrier five, the five-year-old short-priced favourite broke through for his first win at just his second race start after bowing his tendon three times in the past three years.
“We kept bringing him back and he kept doing it, and because he showed so much ability, we gave him one more go and he stood up this time,”
“We will just try and win races while we can, while he’s sound.” Hall Snr said.
Callan Suvaljko on board Bettor Times NZ. Photo: Photography by Jodie Hallows.
Burghley Shard NZ made it two in a row for trainer Kristy Elson, with the three-year-old spacing the field by 18.2m in 1:57:4. Driven by Emily Suvaljko, the duo worked their way to the lead and that’s where they stayed, proving too good for their rivals in the fifth on the card.
Freyja scored herself barrier one again this week and made full use of the great draw by making it two in a row for Michael Brennan and Michael Grantham. Leading throughout, the three-year-old filly managed to stave off the race favourite by 3.3m in a mile rate of 1:58:5 over the 2185m trip, bringing up her fourth career win in just 14 starts; her third win in WA at start number 10.
The Kat Warwick trained Machnificent settled third from last after restraining at the start from barrier seven. Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, he pulled the handy youngster three-wide with 400m to go, going on for a gutsy win, running down the favourite in the final stages to win by 1.2m in 1:56:5 over the 2185m journey in race seven.
The money was right in the last at Pinjarra, with $1.85 favourite The Code Breaker continuing his good form, making it three in a row for the four-year-old and giving Brennan and Grantham a combined double on the card. Starting off the 20m handicap in the standing start, he stepped beautifully, with Grantham settling him four back on the pegs throughout. Over the 2631m staying trip, his run was timed perfectly with Grantham putting him in to the race with just over 500m to go, proving too good for his competition, winning by 3.4m in the last in 2:03:1.
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