Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Smart mare Our Lady Jen made amends for her most unlucky ninth behind Secret Reaction last Friday week when she overcame difficulties to win the $21,000 ADC Winner Gary Hall Junior Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was the $1.90 favourite from barrier five and was driven for the first time by Gary Hall jnr, taking over from trainer Dylan Egerton-Green, who was in Bunbury attending the wedding of trainer-reinsman Kaiden Hayter.
Malakie, a $41 outsider from the No. 2 barrier, won the start, while Our Lady Jen pressed forward early to race three wide for the first 400m before moving to the breeze. Relatively Arma ($3.40), who had galloped in the score-up, then assumed the breeze position 200m later, enabling Our Lady Jen to enjoy the one-out, one-back passage.
However, Our Lady Jen was hopelessly hemmed in and was tightened and paced roughly in the back straight in the final lap before getting clear 250m from home and then sprinting strongly to get to the front 120m later on the way to a two-length victory over $23 chance Jackie Daniels, who surged home from last at the bell.
Relatively Arma, who had taken the lead with 600m to travel, fought on doggedly to finish third. This was an outstanding effort, and she will pay to follow.
Our Lady Jen, a five-year-old by Captaintreacherous, has earned $102,027 from ten wins and 16 placings.