Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Five-year-old Former Victorian pacer Gee Smith is proving a wonderful bargain and a model of consistency for owners Tony Maguire and Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, and the Sportswriter gelding scored a thrilling victory in a dramatic four-way photo finish to the Cowdens Insurance Handicap, a 2503m standing-start event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gee Smith was purchased for $10,000 by Maguire after the gelding had won at four of his 23 Victorian starts. Gee Smith now has earned $90,734 from his eight wins and 17 placings from 38 starts in WA.
Ace reinsman Shannon Suvaljko has formed a great association with Gee Smith and he has been in the sulky for all his wins in WA.
Gee Smith was a $12.10 chance from the inside of the 10-metre line, and Suvaljko took full advantage of the situation when the $2.15 favourite Joey James galloped and lost about four lengths at the start.
With Joey James galloping from the inside of the front line, Aiden De Campo was able to send $9.50 chance Deeorse straight to the front from barrier two, with Suvalkjko avoiding the galloping Joey James and taking the sit behind Deeorse.
Joey James raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, before Deni Roberts was able to ease the gelding off the inside 250m from home. Joey James then flew home, out four wide, and Gee Smith finished strongly, three wide, to emerge triumphant, beating Joey James by a nose, with Deeorse a further nose back in third place, and $21 chance Rebel With A Grin running home along the inside a head away in fourth position.
The final 800m was covered in 57.4sec. and Gee Smith rated 2.0.9. Gee Smith is out of New Zealand-bred mare Our Burning Desire, who raced 50 times for 13 wins, 11 seconds and one third for stakes of $81,250.