Former New South Wales prolific winner Jack Farthing justified hot favouritism at $1.50 with an effortless victory in the 2130m Mondo Doro Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His win for Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice, Capel reinsman Aiden de Campo and owners Kevin Jeavons and his son Kyle came at his second appearance after a four-month absence and at his seventh start in Western Australia.
Jack Farthing had the luxury of a slow lead time (38.3sec.) and opening quarter (30.8sec.) before giving his rivals little chance with final 400m sections of 28.6sec., 27.5sec. and 28.2sec.
He scored by three lengths from $34 chance Extradite, who began speedily from the No. 7 barrier and hit the front from polemarker Jack Farthing after 120m before Corey Peterson was happy to relinquish the lead to Jack Farthing 200m later and give Extradite the perfect sit behind the favourite.
Six-year-old Culpeka, a winner at his previous six starts and resuming racing after an absence of just under 15 months, was second fancy at $3.80 from the outside barrier in the field of eight. He raced at the rear before Gary Hall jnr sent him forward, three wide, 650m rom home. But his run was short-lived and he finished a well-beaten seventh.
Jack Farthing improved considerably on his first-up eighth behind Galactic Star two weeks earlier when Prentice said that interference in the back straight in the final lap when Mighty Conqueror broke into a gallop cost him dearly.
“Aiden said that Jack Farthing was travelling well in the one-out, two-back position, and when he was checked he lost all his momentum and didn’t chase again,” Prentice explained.
“Maybe he lost his balance and was unable to regain his rhythm. His trial win at Pinjarra before that run was super, and his work since that hiccup has been very good. There is a mile race for him in a fortnight and another (Members Sprint) the following week.
“We are trying to teach him our style of racing, and he seems to have settled a lot better after a full preparation. Hopefully, he will learn and settle into our style of training and the different style of racing here.”
by Ken Casellas