Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Onesmartfella, third favourite at $8.10, caused a minor upset when he sprouted wings to fly home and snatch a last-stride victory over the $1.30 favourite Master Yossi in the 1730m The Trots WA Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Master Yossi coasted through the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.2sec. and 30.9sec. and dashed over the final 800m in 56.4sec. He looked certain to win when he was two lengths in front of Onesmartfella 100m from the post. But he just failed to hold out the flying Onesmartfella, who was driven by Shannon Suvaljko and trailed the pacemaker throughout.
“It’s hard to run over horses in mile races,” said Onesmartfella’s trainer Jemma Hayman. “And I think Master Yossi had it fairly comfortable in the lead.
“For our horse this was a huge drop in class. He came out of the Nights Of Thunder series, and last week he went 1.53.5 when fourth behind Valentines Brook. The right run came tonight, which was what he needed, and he should go through his grades.”
Onesmartfella is by Tintin In America and is the first foal out of New Zealand mare Kentucky Girl, who managed one win, two placings and $5950 in stakes from 14 starts. He won at four of his 18 New Zealand starts, twice from four Victorian appearances and now has had 13 starts in WA for three wins and four placings.
Suvaljko followed his last race win at Gloucester Park with a brilliant performance at Northam on Saturday night when he drove five winners — Allamerican Teen ($6.10), Montana Glory ($2.40), Bonstar ($1.10), Miracle Mary ($11.50) and Fly To Fame ($1.10) — all for different trainers.
Suvaljko is setting a cracking pace and in the WA drivers’ premiership, with 30 wins. He is leading from Gary Hall Jnr (21wins) and Kyle Symington (19 wins).