Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Former Victorian pacer Withoutthetuh ended a losing sequence of 12 when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Taste Of WA In The Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $7.90 chance from the No. 1 barrier, and Michael Grantham took full advantage of the prized draw by getting the five-year-old away fast to hold Rupert Of Lincoln ($14) and Doc Holliday ($2 favourite) at bay in the early stages.
Doc Holliday raced three wide for the first 700m and then raced in the breeze before finishing determinedly to be second, a half-neck behind the winner who covered the final 800m in 57sec. and rated 1.56.5.
“He’s honest and has done a good job, winning three in town (in metropolitan-class events) in the past 12 months,” said trainer Michael Brennan.
“He won two stands in his previous preparation, but his first two runs in this preparation were disappointing (finishing ninth and sixth). He then had a little issue that we had to deal with, and we changed his training routine and started riding him more.”
Withoutthetuh showed early promise, and at his second start he finished second to Mirragon in the Group 2 Vicbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Melton in May 2019.
He won twice from six starts in Victoria and his 44 starts in WA have produced 11 wins and 15 placings to take his career record to 50 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $124,223.
Withoutthetuh is by Courage Under Fire and is the fourth foal out of Always Lacking, who won four times from 49 starts before being retired to stud, with her first foal being the recently retired Space Junk, who earned $144,273 from 17 wins and 12 placings from 67 starts.