Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented youngster Reinette, who disappointed as the hot odds-on favourite three weeks earlier when she led and faded to third behind Its Maa Time in the $100,000 Sales Classic, bounced back in fine style at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she gave a bold frontrunning display to win the $21,000 Catalano Trucks.com.au Pace over 2130m.
She was excellent value at $4.40 from the favourable No. 2 barrier when Trent Wheeler rated her perfectly in the lead to win by a length from the $3.70 favourite Fakenit, rating 1.56.9.
Fakenit raced without cover early and then enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, before being inconvenienced on the home turn and then finishing fast, out wide.
“You could tell in the preliminary tonight that Reinette was a lot sharper,” said Wheeler. “Once we got three-quarters of a length in front of Iseeubaby (the polemarker) out of the gate I was happy to find the front.
“We got a pretty easy lead time (37.7sec.) and then had to run some solid sectionals (29sec., 28.5sec. and 29.4sec.). The team took her home after her previous start defeat and got her right.”
Coolup trainer Frank Nafranac explained: “We took it too easy on her before her previous start, so we decided to put more work into her. The way she worked on Tuesday made us super confident. We plan to race her in upcoming feature events for fillies and the WA Oaks later in the year will be the major plan.”
Reinette, who is by former star New Zealand pacer Vincent, has earned $217,518 from seven wins and five placings from 15 starts.