Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding mare Penny Black overcame the back mark of 30 metres and an early setback to score a splendid victory in the $35,000 Race For Roses over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“That probably will be her only start in a stand, and she will now be set for the $75,000 Empress Stakes, a mobile over 2536m next Friday week,” said trainer Michael Young, who has unhappy memories of the 2023 Empress Stakes when his well-fancied runner and $2.40 favourite Nevermindthechaos endured a torrid run.
Nevermindthechaos began from the outside of the front line, was trapped four wide early and then was restrained to last before dashing forward to the breeze in the second lap and was still second when she was checked 80m from home and dislodged her driver Gary Hall Jnr.
Penny Black was the $1.50 favourite in Friday night’s event when she began safely before breaking into a gallop soon afterwards and losing about two lengths.
Water Lou, the 30m co-backmarker and the $3.20 second favourite, put in a couple of rough strides early and settled down in last position, with the $8 third fancy Sweet Vivienne being checked and breaking into a gallop.
“Penny Black got a really good start, and when the two dangers got into a bit of trouble my eyes lit up,” said Hall. “And I drove Penny Black like she’d had a hundred starts in stands.
“But things probably worked out to her benefit. Water Lou then got in front of Penny Black and obviously had to try to stay in front of us. The wind was pretty crazy, and they were going way too fast early, and we ended up getting the best run of the race.
“Once I saw Water Lou down the back (in the final lap) I was confident. Shannon (Suvaljko) was fully at work on her and she wasn’t getting away, and I knew penny Black wouldn’t stop.
“Turning for home I heard Chilli Punter coming and I gave Penny Black a little tap on the rump, and she took off like she had just joined in. She did what we expected of her to do under the circumstances. It’s always nice to see her bounce back after her last-start defeat (when fourth behind Nullarbor Navajo in the Golden Girls Mile at Pinjarra).”
Water Lou surged forward 600m after the start and took the lead after a lap. Penny Black was sixth, one-out and two-back at the bell before Hall sent her forward, three wide, with about 650m to travel. She gained the upper hand 250m from home and won by 4m from the fast-finishing $20 chance Chilli Punter, who had raced in third place on the pegs. Water Lou was a half-length farther back in third place.
Penny Black has earned $171,052 from eleven wins and six placings from 23 starts. She won once from six starts in New Zealand, and her 17 WA starts have produced ten wins and four placings.