Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented driver Maddison Brown admitted that she had learnt a valuable lesson the previous week when Arma Einstein, the $2.15 favourite, finished a well-beaten fourth behind James Butt.
“I drove him a bit ambitiously last week, so I decided to change my tactics this week,” she said after driving Arma Einstein ($4.50) to a stylish victory in the 2130m DTS Farmlock Fence Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
On the previous Friday night Brown drove Arma Einstein hard from the No. 1 barrier in an unsuccessful bid to hold the lead from the flying James Butt, and then 450m later she switched Arma Einstein off the pegs to go to the breeze before gaining the one-out, one-back sit. Arma Einstein then just battled on to finish five lengths behind James Butt.
Arma Einstein began from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night when Brown refused to get involved in any early speed battles. Arma Einstein settled down at the rear and was still eighth at the bell before Brown bided her time and switched the gelding three wide at the 300m when he sprinted fast and dashed to the front 280m later on his way to winning by a half-length from the $3 favourite Kimble, who trailed the pacemaker Dominus Factum before finishing with a strong burst.
“It was always my plan to go back (at the start) and rely on one run,” said Brown, whose father Colin prepares Arma Einstein at his Banjup property.
Five-year-old Arma Einstein has earned $214,701 from 15 wins and 35 placings from 79 starts.