Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Exciting four-year-old Justcallmemiki remains unbeaten in Australia when he was not extended in winning the $23,000 The Nullarbor @ GP Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory as the $1.10 favourite over the $5.50 second fancy Menemsha took his record at Gloucester Park to five starts for five wins and his career record to 17 starts for nine wins, two placings and $116,033.
Menemsha led easily from the No. 2 barrier and the lead time was covered in a smart 36.6sec., while Deni Roberts was content to let Justcallmemiki to coast forward out three wide before moving to the breeze 500m after the start. Justcallmemiki took a narrow lead on the home turn and won by just under a length, rating 1.55.1 over 2130m after final 400m sections of 28sec. and 28.5sec.
“Every time I ask him to go, he responds,” said Roberts. “He covers the ground so well and I feel like I’m doing one to their two. He has a good engine and does just what he has to do.
“He feels the same if he is in front, in the breeze or sitting. Doing work (in the breeze) doesn’t bother him at all. I wouldn’t say that he always had the leader (Menemsha) covered, but I knew that turning into the back straight he was travelling a lot better than the leader.
“I haven’t pulled the plugs with him yet. I thought that tonight maybe would be the night, but no. I can’t wait when I eventually pull the plugs because I think he will be really flying when I do so.”