Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Chris Voak was only too happy to help trainer Brad Lynn by driving his smart trotter Elegant Peak in the Better Homes And Gardens Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night after Lynn’s son Toby was struck down with a debilitating sinus infection.
“Toby has been sick all day and the doctor advised him not to drive,” said Brad Lynn.
Elegant Peak, a $7.80 chance, began safely off the front line in the 2503m standing-start event and the seven-year-old mare simply ran her eight rivals ragged as she coasted to victory, beating Nickys Son ($3.80) by 17 metres, with the $3.60 favourite Hold That Gold a well beaten fourth.
Angelo Russo purchased Elegant Peak as a cheap buy in New Zealand (where she raced 15 times for two wins), and the mare then raced 21 times in Victoria for a win at Shepparton in May 2022. After that she travelled to WA and has now had 16 starts for the Lynn stable for four wins and three placings.
Elegant Peak gave a sample of her class as a $71 outsider two starts before Friday night’s event when Toby Lynn drove her off a 50m handicap and she finished strongly to win from Sunnys Little Rose and set a track record (rating 2.1.2) for a 2631m stand for square gaiters.
She is the first foal out of the unraced New Zealand mare Arf’a Guinness, and she now has raced 52 times for seven wins, 13 placings and $70,170.
“She always begins safely in stands and we will be setting her for the Trotters Cup in the summer,” said the trainer.