Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Collie reinsman Trent Wheeler had the choice of four drives in the Breed To Ultimate Sniper Westbred Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he proved to be a smart judge when he selected seven-year-old Longreach Bay, who had failed to be placed at his eight previous starts.
Longreach Bay, trained in Coolup by Peter King, was third favourite at $4.80, and he gave a good frontrunning performance to win by almost a half-length from the $3.70 favourite Rock Me Over, with Amazing American ($19) a half-head away in third place and just in front of $9 chance Follow Rocknroll, one of the three pacers that Wheeler had the opportunity to handle.
Wheeler said the deciding factor in his choice was that Longreach Bay had drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier, and he also took into account that he had driven the gelding at his most recent win, when he led from barrier four over 2130m at Gloucester Park three months earlier.
Longreach Bay was smartest into stride and the gelding was able to stroll through the lead time in 38.5sec. before he increased the tempo when Aiden De Campo dashed nine-year-old Rock Me Over from ninth with a fast move to the breeze 650m after the start and put pressure on the leader.
The opening 400m section whizzed by in 28.9sec. and then Longreach Bay had a breather with a second quarter of 31sec. before he covered the final sections in 28.9sec. and 29.9sec. and was able to defy Rock Me Over, who fought on valiantly.
“Longreach Bay went well, and life is a lot easier when you’re in front,” said Wheeler. “Most horses excel when they’re on the rail.”
Longreach Bay is by Renaissance Man and is out of Ambro Operative mare Back In The Black, who raced 43 times for seven wins, 18 placings and $58,780. Longreach Bay has earned $136,947 from 11 wins, seven placings from 59 starts.
His elder half-sister Cott Beach was retired after racing 41 times for 15 wins, 14 placings and $275,902. As a two-year-old Cott Beach won the Group 1 Westbred Classic for fillies, the Group 2 Champagne Classic and the Group 3 Westsired Pace. He also finished second to Jack Mac in the Golden Slipper, and the following season she finished 3rd behind King Of Swing in the WA Derby.