Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Victorian-bred square gaiter Scootin Around won for the third time from five WA starts when he set the pace for Deni Roberts and fought on grimly to score a narrow victory in the 2130m Chris Lewis 6000 Wins Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“His gate speed is his biggest asset,” said trainer Bob Mellsop. “It’s priceless here at Gloucester Park. But you’ve got to cuddle him and can’t hit him with the whip. However, he definitely tries.
“He has won two stands for me, and he should be suited in the Trotters Cup (a $50,000 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on February 2), even though he did things wrong when he galloped two starts ago, just to remind me that he’s a trotter.”
On Friday night Scootin Around was third favourite at $4.50, with Tricky Ric, at his second appearance after a seven-month absence, the $2.30 favourite from out wide at barrier seven. Tricky Ric went forward in the early stages and raced in the breeze before he took a narrow lead with 70m to travel. But Scootin Around fought back and won by a half-head at a 2.0.7 rate.
“Tricky Ric’s fitness just gave out,” said Gary Hall Jnr. “His run was good.”
Scootin Around completed a memorable night for Roberts, who had been successful earlier in the program with Tenzing Bromac in the Past President’s Cup and Vegas Strip in the Golden Slipper.
Scootin Around is by American sire Bacardi Lindy and is the first foal out of Redneck, who raced three times in South Australia as a two-year-old in 2013 for one third placing. Scootin Around has earned $85,501 from ten wins and 19 placings from 64 starts.