Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A change in environment has paid immediate dividends with Eldaytona winning at his first start for Byford trainer-reinsman Donald Harper when he finished strongly to win the $31,000 Running Camel Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA-bred seven-year-old entered Harper’s stables a fortnight earlier when he was transferred from Harper’s father Lindsay’s Martin property.
He had been unplaced at his ten previous starts, and Lindsay Harper decided that the gelding could benefit from a change.
“Dad thought that this could suit him, and I just put Eldaytona into my system,” said Donald Harper. “I work a bit different to Dad and we just jog him on the Byford track. He has had just one hoppled run in the two weeks I’ve had him.
“Tonight, I would have preferred to lead (from the No. 1 barrier) but we were crossed easily (by Hoppys Way ($9) and the $6.50 chance Rascal). But we got a nice cosy run (behind the pacemaker Hoppys Way), and it all worked out really well. He went to the line strongly which was what we were looking for.”
Eldaytona, a $10.20 chance, was under lock and key behind Hoppys Way until the breeze horse Hillview Bondi, the $3.50 favourite, began to fade just before the home turn, allowing Harper to get Eldaytona into the clear. Eldaytona burst to the front 40m from the post and won by 2m from Hoppys Way, rating 1.56.1.
This was only the second time that Harper had driven Eldaytona in a race. His only previous drive behind the gelding was when he finished fourth behind The Swiss Maestro at Pinjarra on August 10, 2020.
Eldaytona is by Somebeachsomewhere and is the seventh foal out of Hearty Franco, who produced Lady Luca, who won the Group 1 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in June 2016, and was retired with earnings of $134,568 from nine wins and eight placings from 65 starts.
Eldaytona has raced 86 times for 18 wins, 25 placings and $253,345.