Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Much water has flowed under the bridge since Aiden De Campo had his first drive in a race, finishing third with Christopher Vance in a 2100m mobile event at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on August 29, 2009. He was beaten home by Capelight, driven by his long-time mate Ryan Bell.
Christopher Vance then provided De Campo with his first success in the sulky, at his fifth drive in a race, beating Dilinger Magic and Full Moon Tonight in a 1609m event at Donaldson Park on September 22, 2009.
It was significant at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with the moon shining brightly, only two days before reaching Full Moon status, that the 30-year-old De Campo was shining on the track, landing a double.
The first leg winner was nine-year-old veteran Handsandwheels, who gave De Campo his one thousandth victory in a wonderful career by scoring a narrow victory in the 2536m Media Guild Leading Tipster Wayne Currall Pace.
“It’s a great thrill to reach this milestone with my favourite horse, who has given me lots of thrills and a lot of wins,” said De Campo. “I love the horse and he loves racing.”
Handsandwheels was the $3.30 second fancy from out wide at barrier seven, with the polemarker Cordero the $2.60 favourite. De Campo got Handsandwheels away brilliantly, and the old warrior burst straight to the front and was able to coast through the opening quarters in 31.1sec. and 29.6sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28sec. and 27.6sec. He held on to win by a head from the fast-finishing James Butt ($4.60).
“Handsandwheels has still got gate speed, and it helped tonight when nothing else went forward,” said de Campo. “I daresay this will be his last preparation. And it will be nice to get him ready for the Bunbury Cup (on March 23).”
The win by Handsandwheels was his first for almost three years — since he led and won the group 2 RWWA Cup at Gloucester Park on February 21, 2020.
“He was out of action for a long time after twice breaking down with a damaged hind suspensory ligament,” said de Campo. “His legs are now fine, but the old boy probably has lost a bit of his high speed.”
Handsandwheels, a WA-bred Mach Three gelding who is related to Lombo Pocket Watch (83 starts for 45 wins, 17 placings and $1,522,638), now has had 96 starts for 29 wins, 31 placings and stakes of $694,740.
He won on debut, as a two-year-old at Pinjarra, when he beat Sergeant Oats in February 2016. As a three-year-old he won the 2017 WA Derby as a $30.20 outsider (beating Rock Diamonds by a head) and the $100,000 Westbred Classic two months later.
Friday night’s win rekindled memories of de Campo’s first win at Gloucester Park (at his third city drive) when he set the pace with the Ryan Bell-trained four-year-old Barnetts Secret, who beat Jayares Lad by one and a half lengths.