Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
When Blazing Reactor arrived from New Zealand to Bob Mellsop’s Bunbury stables in June last year he proved to be a handful, with Mellsop describing him as having “a bit of crazy in him.”
But the gelding has settled down and, at his third appearance at Gloucester Park he gave a sample of his ability with a smart all-the-way win in the $23,000 Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace on Friday night.
“He has come a long way since I got him,” said Mellsop. “Initially, I wasn’t able to jog him because he pulled too hard in the cart. Now he is settling down and we can jog him with a loose bridle. He is versatile, and tonight he travelled beautifully.”
Blazing Reactor was a $4.90 chance who was first out from barrier four and went on to set a solid pace and won by a length from $3.90 chance Gilty By The Beach, with the $2.35 favourite Mikis Beach fighting on from seventh at the bell to finish third.
Blazing Reactor, driven confidently by Deni Roberts, rated a smart 1.55.6 over the 2130m trip after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 27.7sec.
“He is a smart horse, and his gate speed will be a great asset,” said Roberts. “He is most comfortable in front where I can let him run what he wants to run. He came back to me nicely early, and that was good.
“After a fast lead time of 36.7sec. we got a bit of a breather (with an opening quarter of 31sec.) and were able to rate it out of them after that.”
Blazing Reactor is by Auckland Reactor and is the second foal out of unraced Elsu mare Elsom Rocs. He won at two of his 13 New Zealand starts and his 16 WA starts for Mellsop have produced eight wins (five at Pinjarra, two at Gloucester Park and one at Bunbury), taking his record to 29 starts for ten wins, for placings and $70,381.