Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“She has a big motor and is pretty special,” enthused Deni Roberts after driving Aardiebytheseaside to an effortless victory in the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She is just a machine, and we’re going to have some fun with her.”
Aardiebytheseaside, a lightly-raced New Zealand-bred four-year-old mare, has now scored very easily in Group events at her first two appearances in Western Australia for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
She has been so impressive that she already looms as a major player in the feature events for four-year-olds late in the year, including the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic and the $150,000 Mares Classic in November.
Aardiebytheseaside could also be set to take on the male pacers in the $200,000 Golden Nugget over 2536m on December 13.
Aardiebytheseaside, the $1.04 favourite, began well from the No. 5 barrier, strolled to the front after 300m, and then relaxed over the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.6sec. and 29.8sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27.8sec.
She was not extended in beating the $12 second fancy Acharne Girl by two lengths, with Nullarbor Navajo ($20) almost three lengths farther back in third place after working hard in the breeze for much of the way.
Aardiebytheseaside rated 1.56.1 over the 2130m and took her record to 23 starts for ten wins, eight placings and $292,451 in prizemoney.