Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Coolup owner-trainer Peter King breathed a sigh of relief when his evergreen pacer Longreach Bay began with his customary brilliance and set the pace to score an impressive victory in the 2536m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has proven that he can run the distance,” said King. “A lot of people were saying that he had raced seven times without winning over 2500m.
“And now he has proven that he can run the distance, and we will still head towards the 2662m Narrogin Cup next Saturday week. He is flying at the moment, and of those seven runs over 2500m four were in stands when he galloped, one was in the 2021 Golden Nugget when he was badly checked, and another was when he broke down and had to have 14 months off.”
Joey Suvaljko got Longreach Bay, the $3.70 second favourite, away to a dazzling start from the outside barrier in the field of eight when he proved far too speedy for the $2.30 favourite Lion Queen from the favourable No. 2 barrier.
After opening quarters of 30.7sec. and 29.8sec. Longreach Bay sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28sec. to win, unextended, by a half-length from $8.50 chance Gaitcrasher, who fought on strongly from fifth at the bell. Lion Queen was a close-up third.
“He had more to give, and the plugs were still in,” said a jubilant Suvaljko.
Longreach Bay has now raced 80 times for 19 wins, eight placings and $204,486 in prizemoney.