Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Outstanding driver Emily Suvaljko gave yet another exhibition of her wonderful ability when she brought $4.40 chance Know When To Run with a perfectly-timed run to get up and win the 1730m Happy Birthday Anne Gartrell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This gave the 22-year-old Suvaljko her 500TH winner, a milestone which left her with a tear in her eye.
“It was a really good feeling, and I was shaking a bit after the line,” she said. “It was just the adrenalin kicking in.”
She didn’t salute or wave the whip in triumph, explaining: “The last time I did I was beaten and suspended (when Miracle Moose finished a half-head second to Wildwest in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup in February 2022).
“It was really good to get the milestone with one of Justin’s horses. I haven’t been there (working at Justin Prentice’s Boyanup stables) for long, about two months, and we’ve already succeeded a bit together. I’m enjoying it and am getting to sit behind some nice horses as well.”
Know When To Run was the solitary runner on the back line, and Suvaljko decided to stick to the inside instead of taking the safer option of racing in the one-wide line.
With James Butt, the $1.75 favourite, dashing straight past the polemarker Disco Under Fire and into the lead, Know When To Run settled down three back on the pegs in fifth position. With $41 chance Walsh beginning to wilt on the outside of Know When To Run, Suvaljko was able to ease the gelding into the one-wide line 500 metres from home.
“I knew that I could wait as long as I wanted to,” said Suvaljko. “I moved into the moving line and sat there for a bit before coming wide on the home corner. Know When To Run has got a fast 200m.”
Mirragon ($8), who raced in the breeze, overhauled the pacemaker James Butt with about 250m to travel before Whatabro ($8.50) took a narrow lead 40m from the post. Know When To Run was in full flight and he charged to the front in the final stages to beat Whatabro by a neck, rating 1.54.2, with final quarters of 27.2sec. and 28.9sec.
The WA-bred Know When To Run has earned $151,758 from 12 wins and 14 placings from 38 starts.