Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
If seven-year-old Longreach Bay had been sound during his career he would have been as good as his exciting elder full-sister Cott Beach, according to his breeder, part-owner and trainer Peter King.
During his five-and-a-half-year career Longreach Bay has been on the sidelines for breaks of 16 months, nine months and six months, and he has managed 65 starts for twelve wins, seven placings and stakes of $143,138.
Longreach Bay was produced in fine fettle by King for his assignment in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Trent Wheeler guided the $4.20 favourite to a convincing all-the-way win.
“I thought he was going to be as good as Cott Beach but an injury to his flexor tendon in his nearside front leg kept him out of action for a lengthy period,” said King who retired Cott Beach to the breeding barn four years ago.
Cott Beach excelled as a young pacer when she won a Group 1 and a Group 2 classic and finished second to Jack Mac in the Golden Slipper as a two-year-old before maintaining her splendid form as a three-year-old when she finished third behind King Of Swing in the WA Derby and was third behind Our Major Mama in the WA Oaks.
Cott Beach, the fifth foal out of Back In The Black (who raced 43 times for seven wins, 18 placings and $275,902), had 41 starts for 15 wins, 14 placings and $275,902.
Wheeler has formed an excellent association with Longreach Bay, having driven the gelding for his past five wins. Longreach Bay began from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night and Wheeler sent him straight to the front, and after a dawdling lead time of 38sec. and a modest opening quarter of 31sec. he sprinted over the following 400m sections in 28.1sec. and 28.6sec. before coasting over the final quarter in 29.sec.
“He dropped down in class tonight and got his opportunity to win another race,” said Wheeler. “He is just a leader, and I think that it is the case here of if you lead, you win.