Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Reinsman Donald Harper wasn’t upset when temperamental mare Luvaflair bit him on the shoulder and lashed out and tried to kick her trainer Nigel Johns in the birdcage before going on to the track to contest the $21,000 WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Trot over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It boosted by confidence,” said Harper. “When she is in a mood like that, she gets aggressive in her races, and I expected her to prove hard to beat tonight.
“She was in a good mood and on her best behaviour during the race in which we enjoyed a perfect trip.”
Uptown Lad ($8) set the pace, with the $1.85 favourite Chumani working in the breeze, and the 40m backmarker Patched back in eighth and last place. Harper was content to keep Luvaflair, who began off the 20m mark, back in the field in sixth position. She was sixth at the bell before unwinding a spirited burst which took her to the front 60m from home.
Luvaflair, a $14.20 chance, beat Chumani by a length and a half, with Uptown Lad holding on to finish third, and Patched, who began a three-wide move from last at the bell, a well-beaten sixth.
Harper has formed a wonderful association with the Nigel Johns-trained Luvaflair, having driven her 56 times for eleven wins, six seconds, 13 thirds and nine fourths.
Luvaflair, a chestnut bred and owned by Victorians Kaye and Noel Boyd, has raced 125 times for 24 wins, 40 placings and $240,794. She is by champion French sire Love You and is out of All Flair, who was placed once from 21 Victorian starts before coming to WA where she raced 150 times for Johns for eleven win, 59 placings and $120,237.
Love You was a star performer, who amassed $2,411,372 from 22 wins and 13 placings from 59 starts.