Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Im The Black Flash, the least experienced runner and the only New Zealand-bred three-year-old in the field, gave champion trainer Gary Hall Snr and star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr yet another victory in the Group 3 $50,000 Caduceus Club Classic when he snatched a dramatic last-stride victory over the pacemaker Hotly Pursued at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Both trainer and driver have won the classic a record seven times.
Im The Black Flash started out wide at barrier six in the nine-horse field, and he was a hot $1.60 favourite, with the brilliant Skylord the second fancy at $3.
Hotly Pursued, a $9.50 chance, burst straight to the front from barrier No. 3, leaving Im The Black Flash in the breeze. Skylord began from the inside of the back line and settled in last place before Jocelyn Young dashed him forward, three wide, after 600m.
Skylord quickly moved into third place but was trapped three wide for the final 1300m. Hotly Pursued led by just over a length on the home turn before Im the Black Flash fought on tenaciously to get up and beat Hotly Pursued by a head in the final stride. Skylord fought on to finish third.
Im The Black Flash was having his first start for five and a half months, and only his fifth start in a race.
“I’m really happy with his effort,” said Hall Jnr. “Im The Black Flash should get a fair bit of benefit out of it. He was a bit underdone, and he did very well after being thrown in at the deep end. Skylord was massive, and Hotly Pursued also went very well.
“I was not confident turning for home that we were going to beat the leader. But Im The Black Flash dug deep. He showed good horse qualities, and on an empty tank he found enough to get his nose in front. He wanted to get there and get his head in front.”