Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Inexperienced three-year-old Belly Up produced an outstanding performance to score a runaway victory over the highly-rated New Zealand-bred six-year-old My Watchlist in the $21,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Pace over 21390m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a display which indicated he should develop into a strong contender in feature events for three-year-olds this year.
Having his third start after a spell and following seconds to Soho Shakedown and Captain Stirling, Belly Up, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $4.90 second fancy behind the $1.45 favourite My Watchlist, who was having his first start for six months.
Three-year-old Wicked Hustler ($16) set the pace from the No. 2 barrier while Belly Up settled down in fifth position, one-out and one-back, with a slow lead time of 38.5sec. and a casual opening quarter of 31.9sec.
Deni Roberts switched Belly Up three wide with 950m to travel, and his run was followed by My Watchlist. Belly Up dashed to the front with 300m to travel, and after sprinting the final quarters in 27.9sec. and 28.3sec. he defeated My Watchlist by just under six lengths, rating 1.58.
“I think Belly Up is a lot better being driven with a sit, on a helmet,” said Roberts. “Once he learns to race, I think I might be able to drive him without cover. He has matured a lot but is still a work in progress.
“I wasn’t overly concerned that we had to pop out earlier than I had planned, because we hadn’t gone that fast. He performed really well, and his heart rate was low. From what he does at home, he is really fast and is very talented. It didn’t shock me the way he put that field away like that.”
Belly Up, a gelding by Foreclosure, has earned $167,935 from three wins and five placings from eleven starts.