Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding six-year-old Minstrel underlined his prospects in several $50,000 Group 3 Cup events in the New Year when he was not extended in overcoming the back mark of 30 metres to score a convincing win in the WA Foton Diesel @ Catalano Trucks Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is in beast mode at the moment and in a rich vein of form,” said Deni Roberts after driving Minstrel to an easy victory, beating the $2.15 favourite Ardens Horizon by a length, following final quarters of 27.9sec. and 28.6sec.
Ardens Horizon galloped out from the outside of the front line before Shannon Suvaljko sent him past Yankee Lincoln and into the lead after 400m.
Minstrel settled down in last position in the field of eight before Roberts sent him forward after 550m to lead the one-wide line. She then was happy to rate Minstrel in the breeze, a couple of lengths behind Ardens Horizon. Roberts bided her time and Minstrel coasted to the front with about 100m to travel.
“I had no worries,” said Roberts. “Minstrel stepped beautifully. We have some tapes at home, and he stepped really good when I tested him behind the tapes. The start was no concern tonight.
“He has done that with the plugs in, and I didn’t even turn the stick on him. He did it in his comfort zone.”
Minstrel, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has now raced five times in standing-start events in WA for five wins. His two stands in New Zealand produced a win and a second placing.
A winner of four races in New Zealand and at 15 of his 43 WA starts, Minstrel, a son of Rocknroll Hanover, has earned $716,207 from 54 starts. He has a distinguished record, including wins in the Golden Nugget in February 2021 when Colin Brown drove him to victory over Magnificent Storm, and in the Fremantle Cup in January 2022 when Ryan Warwick drove him to a nose victory over Patronus Star.
Minstrel also finished a head second to Mighty Ronaldo in the Fremantle Cup in January 2023 and was third behind Magnificent Storm and Jumpingjackmac in the WA Pacing Cup last month.