Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star driver Deni Roberts heaped praise on Gee Heza Sport after guiding the New Zealand-bred six-year-old to a runaway victory in the Nova 93.7 Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gee Heza Sport, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was the $1.20 favourite who began smoothly from the 20m mark and settled down in eighth position before gaining the one-out, one-back position while $41 chance The Wildcard was setting a solid pace.
Roberts sent Gee Heza Sport forward with a sparkling three-wide burst with 1450m to travel. The gelding charged straight to the front and after middle sections of 30.1sec. and 29.1sec. he sprinted over the final 400m in 27.5sec. to win by four and a half lengths from $19 chance Soho Santorini, with Bellissimo Acquisto ($15) a further three lengths farther back in third place.
“He’s getting used to going around our tracks more and more and I’m getting used to him and he’s getting used to me,” said Roberts. “He is exciting and has a serious engine.
“We thought he was going to have a Cups campaign this time, but we had a few problems with him behind the scenes. But next year I think you will be seeing him featuring in all of them (the major events).”
Gee Heza Sport has been extremely impressive with a close second to OK Boomer and three wins from four starts in Western Australia, taking his career record to 50 starts for ten wins, ten placings and $201,746. He is by Sportswriter and is out of New Zealand-bred mare Just Rose, who raced 34 times for six wins, two placings and $38,309.