Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Byford owner-trainer Katja Warwick enjoyed considerable success with Straittothehilton, whose first foal Rascal is proving a wonderful moneyspinner.
“Rascal loves to lead,” said Warwick after Shannon Suvaljko had driven the six-year-old to a convincing all-the-way victory in the 2130m Up Late Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rascal, having his second start after resuming from a spell, was the $1.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and he gave his supporters little cause for concern as he began smartly and was able to amble through the lead time in 39.1sec. and the opening quarters of 31sec. and 29.9sec.
It was an Indian file affair in the six-horse field until $31 chance Acuto was eased off the pegs with 1000m to travel. Acuto moved to the breeze, but wilted late and finished fourth, with Middlepage ($19) running home solidly to be a half-length second, and Showpony ($4.80) finishing third after trailing the pacemaker all the way.
“Rascal’s manners are improving,” said Warwick. “Shannon said he didn’t hang as badly as he can do, and he is on the way to bigger things. He is feeling good and is nice and happy.”
Straittothehilton earned $157,415 from ten wins and 22 placings from 68 starts. Rascal boosted his earnings to $127,894 from 13 wins and ten placings from 40 starts.