Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Inexperienced six-year-old Alta Allure is still learning, according to trainer Annie Belton, who races the mare in partnership with her husband Colin.
Alta Allure was the $4.20 second fancy when she caused a minor upset by winning easily from the $1.60 favourite Champagne Everyone in the $25,000 APG Industry Owned Sales Company Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Champagne Everyone was untroubled to set the pace, and she looked extremely hard to beat after ambling through the lead time in 39.3sec. and the opening quarter in 31.7sec.
The tempo increased, with final quarters of 29.1sec., 28.4sec. and 29sec., with Chris Lewis urging Alta Allure to the front with 120m to travel on the way to beating the favourite by just under four lengths, rating a modest 1.59 over 2130m.
“Looking at the early sectionals you would think that Alta Allure would be hard pressed to win,” said Lewis. “She relaxed well early, so that was in her favour. Obviously, it was a bit of help with the breeze horse (Rock Rosie Rock) overracing. In this class she is very competitive.”
Alta Allure is by Alta Christiano and is out of Miss Allure, who raced 81 times for three wins at Gloucester Park, 19 placings and stakes of $32,483. Alta Allure has earned $50,660 from five wins and ten placings from 27 starts.
“Alta Allure is still learning and is getting better with every start,” said Mrs Belton. “She has had injuries. She put her back leg through a fence as a two-year-old. There was no serious damage, but it took a while to get her right again.”