Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
It was a case of fourth time lucky for smart six-year-old Middlepage, who celebrated his fourth appearance in a standing-start event with a runaway victory in the 2503m Insure With PSC Bloodstock Services Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He had galloped at the start and been unplaced at his only three appearances in stands before Friday night’s event.
Middlepage contested Friday night’s stand only because the other two races (both mobiles) in which he had been entered fell over because of insufficient acceptors.
“He had had three goes in stands and missed away badly each time,” said trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper. “In the 3309m Marathon two years ago he galloped and gave Magnificent Storm 50 metres — and he finished two and a half lengths behind him in sixth place. I’m not suggesting Middlepage is anywhere near the same class as Magnificent Storm, but that effort was pretty good.
“I knew that if Middlepage stepped away tonight, even slowly, that he would win.”
Middlepage, who started off the 20m mark, settled down in last position and was eighth after a lap. “I nearly took off at the mile, but the horse in the breeze (Lamandier) began to fire up. So, I waited until coming into the bell when I knew he would out-tough his rivals.”
Middlepage, a narrow winner in a mobile event the previous Friday night, surged into fourth place, three wide, at the bell before he surged past the pacemaker Call To Arms 450m from home and went on to win by three and a half lengths from American Bullitt.
He represented excellent value at $7.70 (and $9 on the fixed market) and his win took his record to 71 starts for 15 wins, 19 placings and stakes of $133,929.