Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Plutonium made a successful return to racing after a 13-month absence when Maddison Brown drove him to a convincing victory in the 2536m Direct Trades Supply We’ve Got Shedloads Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Plutonium was a $5.30 chance from barrier three, and Brown was happy to let him relax while $8 chance Jaspervellabeach began speedily from barrier five in a determined bid to take up the running from the polemarker and $2.70 favourite Euphoria.
Jaspervellabeach led by a length but was unable to cross Euphoria, who was driven hard by Stuart McDonald to hold the front before the consistent five-year-old was able to amble through the opening 400m section of the final mile in 33.1sec.
Fanci A Dance, the $3.60 second fancy, made a fast move to get to the breeze with 1200m to travel, giving Plutonium an ideal trail in the one-out, one-back position.
McDonald made a bold bid for victory, with Euphoria dashing over the final three quarters in 28.6sec., 28.3sec. and 28.3sec. But the energy Euphoria had expended in withstanding Jaspervellabeach’s early challenge took its toll and the gelding wilted late to finish third behind Plutonium, who burst to the front 50m from the post and won by 4m from Fanci A Dance, rating 2.0.2 over the 2536m journey.
“The early burn didn’t help Euphoria,” said McDonald. “I had to win a battle to win a war, and Euphoria had to wear a bit of pressure.”
Plutonium damaged his nearside front tendon during the running of his previous start when he finished strongly to win from Alta Engen at Gloucester Park in July last year.
“He came off the track sore after that win,” said trainer Michael Young. “We gave him plenty of time off and when Joseph Suvaljko drove him in a recent trial at Pinjarra it was the first time I had hopples on him since he was injured.
“Joseph has been riding him and galloping him at home, and before the trial I had to trust that he had done enough with him. Obviously, he had because the trial (second to Always Fast) was sensational, and now he has come out and won. So, all the credit has to go to Joseph.
“Plutonium is a bit of a plodder, but he has done a great job for us.” Plutonium, a gelding by former star pacer Auckland Reactor, has had 16 starts in WA for three wins and five placings to boost his career figures to 33 starts for nine wins, seven placings and $70,552.