Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Experienced mare My Prayer made the most of a favourable barrier at No. 2 to cause an upset and win the 2130m The Game Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
My Prayer, a $20.20 chance for Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, had won only once from her previous 36 starts, but had shown good recent form with placings behind Wonderful To Fly and Dontbesillychilli at two of her three previous outings.
She was driven patiently by Mitch Miller, who had her travelling comfortably in fifth position, three back on the pegs, while $12 chance Getn Wiggy Withit was setting a solid pace, with the $1.30 favourite Musztang racing in the breeze.
Miller received a most welcome bonus in the home straight, racing for the bell when Shannon Suvaljko eased Whos The Dad off the pegs from behind the pacemaker. This enabled Miller to urge My Prayer forward to get behind Getn Wiggy Withit.
Sahara Storm ($41) was enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, and Madeliene Young took her to a narrow lead 250m from home. This enabled My Prayer to get off the pegs and she burst to the front 70m from home to win by almost two lengths from $21 chance Thomson Bay, who was ninth at the bell before rattling home to finish an eye-catching second. The final 800m was in in 57.5sec. and My Prayer rated 1.57.1.
My Prayer is by Renaissance Man and is out of Mystery Oro, who managed one placing, a third at Kellerberrin, from eleven starts. However, My Prayer is related to several good pacers, including Bin Oro, who finished fourth behind champion Cardigan Bay in the final of the 1963 Interdominion Championship at Wayville.
My Prayer has proved an excellent performer for the Howlett family, having earned $207,401 from ten wins and 22 placings from 88 starts.