Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Six-year-old mare Stormyskyes has been a consistent performer for trainer-reinsman Shane Steele, and she broke through for a well-deserved victory in the 2130m Buy Now Pay Later At Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was an $8.90 chance from barrier No. 2 and Steele was content to take the trail behind the $2.60 second fancy Sovrana, who defied an early challenge from the $2.45 favourite Rumour Has It and set a solid pace.
With Rumour Has It in the breeze, Stormyskyes was blocked for a run until Steele was finally able to ease the mare off the pegs and into the clear. Rumour Has It took a narrow lead 250m from home before Three Rumours ($9), who had enjoyed a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position, got to the front 80m from the post.
But Stormyskyes finished fast to snatch victory by a neck from Three Rumours. The final quarters were run in 29.1sec. and 28.4sec., and the winner rated 1.57.4.
Stormyskyes now has earned $149,512 from 12 wins and 28 placings from 106 starts.