Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Ten-year-old pacer Carrera Mach was seen in a most unusual role at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he lined up in a standing-start event in the 2503m Hoist Torque Handicap, after contesting mobile events at his 109 previous appearances.
He was generously handicapped off the 20m mark, and a flying start paved the way for his easy victory when Chris Voak dashed him forward along the inside to take up the prime position behind the pacemaker Gee Smith.
Carrera Mach was a $10.40 chance, and his prospects were enhanced when Mister Montblanc, the $3.50 favourite, and the heavily supported Machlani ($6) galloped and lost considerable ground at the start.
Carrera Mach, trained by Jemma Hayman, travelled comfortably behind Gee Smith until Voak eased him into the clear 300m from home. He quickly dashed to the front and raced away to beat $5 chance My Ultimate Chevron by three and a half lengths, with Mr Fantastic ($16) running home strongly from last at the bell to be third, just ahead of Gee Smith.
Carrera Mach’s previous start in a stand was at Gloucester Park on November 8, 2019, when he was successful, beating Oneonthewood.
He is by Mach Three and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare Maheer Mystic, a winner of two races from ten starts in New Zealand. He now has raced 159 times for 19 wins, 44 placings and $237,794.
Maheer Mystic’s dam Fern Glen raced 58 times for ten wins, 19 placings and $125,235 before going to the breeding barn where she produced Maheer Lord, who was trained and driven by Grant Williams when he won the $250,000 WA Pacing Cup in January 2006, beating Ohoka Ace by a nose, with No Blue Manna in third place.
Maheer Lord won eleven races in New Zealand and three in WA before being sent to America where he won another 20 races and finished with a record of 197 starts for 34 wins, 46 placings and $515,470.
“Carrera Mach got into the race really cheaply under the new national handicapping system,” said Voak. “He is a good little stayer who relishes the 2500m. Everything worked out perfectly tonight and he found another gear when we straightened. He pulled away in the final 50m and won comfortably.
“When you implement anything new like the national ratings system you are going to have teething problems, and I would say that this race tonight was one of those teething problems. I think, moving forward, that the problems will be rectified.
“You can’t knock something without trying it, and I hope the necessary changes are made to make the system work.”
Voak said he was mystified that Carrera Mach, a winner of 18 races and $225,736 in stakes, was handicapped off the 20m mark, while Caliente, a gelding he trains, was handicapped off the back mark of 40m after going into the race with a record of eight wins and $73,823.
“Under the previous system I reckon that Caliente would have been handicapped off 10m, with Carrera Mach off 30m,” he said.