Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Soho Firestone relished his role as the pacemaker when he scored a very easy win last Friday week, and he revealed his versatility at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he began from the outside of the back line and raced in the midfield before unwinding a strong finish to snatch victory in the $30,000 TABtouch Restricted Spring Feature Pace.
The Kim Prentice-trained four-year-old was excellent value at $10.20 and was driven confidently by Mitch Miller, who was happy to race three back on the pegs while Soho Bollinger ($3.30) was setting the pace from the $2.20 favourite Louie Dior in the breeze.
“I was able to pull out with about 400m to go, and he ran home strongly and thankfully he stuck his nose out at the right time,” said Miller.
Soho Firestone, bred and owned by Rob Watson, got up to win by a half-neck from Soho Bollinger, also bred and owned by Watson. The final three quarters were run in 29.5sec., 28.6sec. and 29.1sec., with the winner rating 1.56.7 over the 2130m journey.
Galaxy Warrior, a $91 outsider from barrier four, was eighth at the bell before running home smartly along the inside to finish a nose away in third place.
Vegas Strip ($8) surged home, out wide, to be an eye-catching fourth, while Louie Dior faded to last after a hard run.
Soho Firestone is by American Ideal and is the third foal out of the unraced Art Major mare Soho Margaux. He has earned $128,520 from 11 wins and 15 placings from 46 starts.