Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A scorching early pace played into the hands of Thenu Came Along, who relaxed at the rear before surging home from last to win the first heat of the Nights Of Thunder at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I knew we were going to win about 300 metres after the start,” said driver Deni Roberts after guiding $6.80 chance Thenu Came Along to a convincing two-length victory over $41 outsider Bellezza Nera.
The polemarker Spyglass ($3.40) was hotly challenged for the early lead by the $2.15 favourite Ventura, who began brilliantly from the outside barrier in the field of eight. Lindsay Harper was in no mood to surrender the lead with Spyglass and the opening 400m section was run in a blistering 26.4sec.
After about 450m Gary Hall Jnr was able to angle Ventura across to take the trail behind Spyglass, and the middle quarters were run in 30.3sec. and 29.3sec. with Bellezza Nera enjoying the one-out, one-back position, with Dalvey Robyn ($12) on his back.
Maddison Brown sent Dalvey Robyn forward, out three wide, about 520m from home and the gelding hit the front with 350m to travel but broke into a bad gallop soon afterwards and dropped back to finish last.
Thenu Came Along was unwinding a strong finishing burst and Roberts sent the four-year-old to the front approaching the home turn.
“We just needed a hot tempo, and I was definitely not running that early speed,” said Roberts. “Thenu Came Along got a bit lost when Dalvey Robyn galloped, and he got a bit wary going around that horse. But once he got past him, he realised that there was a race to win.”
Spyglass wilted to finish fifth, and he failed to qualify for the final next Friday night. However, Ventura scraped into the final field in the ninth and last spot after finishing fourth.
Four-year-old Thenu Came Along, a Bettors Delight gelding prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has earned $116,234 from eight wins and 12 placings.
He was the only one of the Bond stable’s star three -year-olds of last season to be nominated for the Nights of Thunder. “And that’s because he is a little sit-kick horse who can stay up a lot longer than the other ones who have to do more work in their races,” said Roberts.
“He has just run 1.53.3 and his heart rate is 84.”