Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising WA-bred three-year-old Soho Skyfall was a well-supported $6.50 chance from the No. 1 barrier in the 2536m Quayside Transport Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he avoided interference moments after the start when the two nearest pacers to him, the $2.30 favourite Rajah Rocks and $10 chance Quinton galloped badly.
Soho Skyfall, driven by Mitch Miller for trainer Kim Prentice, then was able to amble through the lead time in a slow 1min. 12.4sec. and the opening quarter in a dawdling 32sec. before reeling off three final quarters of 29.6sec., 28.8sec. and 28.1sec. to win at a modest rate of 2.1.1 from the fast-finishing $6 chance Petes Honour by 2m.
A few seconds after the start Rajah Rocks, with Aiden De Campo angling him across in a bid to gain the sit behind the frontrunner Soho Skyfall, hit the stay of Soho Skyfall’s sulky and broke into a gallop. Moments later, with Quinton, the lone backmarker, dashing through along the inside in a bid to gain a perfect run behind the leader, broke into a bad gallop for no obvious reason.
“Thankfully, the two gallopers were behind me and not in front of me,” said Miller. “I was nervous when Rajah Rocks hit my sulky. But I was quietly confident my horse would not break.
“The lead time was very soft, and the first quarter was slow, and if Soho Skyfall hadn’t won after what I got away with, we would be a long way off the mark with him.
“I have always had a good opinion of him, and he will have another start at Bunbury on Tuesday. After that we will see whether he is able to step up and run in some of the better races for three-year-olds.”
Soho Skyfall is by Sweet Lou and is the second foal out of the New South Wales mare Kristina Adele, who had ten starts for five placings as a two-year-old in 2016 before being retired.
Kristina Adele’s first foal, Quiggley, by Huntsville, has had 19 starts for one win, five placings and $9968. Quiggley competed as a pacer at his first 15 starts, winning at Kellerberrin on debut as a two-year-old in September 2022. Later, he was converted to race as a trotter, and his first four starts as a square gaiter included a head second to Grand Majestic Bells at Pinjarra in February this year.