Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Up-and-coming five-year-old Insta Gator returned to racing after a five-month absence in fine style when he raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning narrowly from the fast-finishing No Noney in the $23,000 Taste Of WA Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I wasn’t sure how he would perform first-up, but after looking at the field we thought that there wasn’t a breeze horse and we decided that if we rolled there he could second,” said Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young.
Insta Gator was the $3.20 second fancy, with Maximum Rock the $2.20 favourite from barrier five. Insta Gator raced three wide before Kyle Symington got him to the breeze after 550m, with Maximum Rock bowling along in front.
Insta Gator got on terms with the leader 250m from home before getting to the front 30m later and holding on to beat $8.50 chance No Noney by a half-head, rating 1.58.6 after final quarters of 29sec. and 28.8sec. No Noney was tenth and last at the bell and impressed when he flew home, out five wide.
“I was pretty confident at the 300m,” said Symington. “I hadn’t turned the whip, and he was still travelling really well. He is the type of horse who once he gets his head in front he can knock off a bit. So, I had to drive him (out) in the straight. He’s always had ability, but he has had some tractability issues.”
Insta Gator, who is by American sire Huntsville, has earned $120,236 from eleven wins and 15 placings from 38 starts.