Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Classy four-year-old Sugar Street simply proved too speedy for his ten rivals when he gave a stylish exhibition of pacemaking to coast to victory in the 2536m Retravision Lowest price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was his second convincing win at his second start after a spell and it gave part-owner and trainer Barry Howlett and champion reinsman Chris Lewis the first leg of a double. They combined later in the night when Little Darling was an easy winner of the 1730m Retravision NYE Pace for three-year-old fillies.
Howlett has yet to determine the immediate program for Sugar Street. But the Bettors Delight stallion could be a strong candidate for feature events like next Friday night’s $50,000 Christmas Gift and the $48,500 Nights Of Thunder on January 20.
Sugar Street was the $1.40 favourite, and Lewis took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier by setting the horse the task of leading all the way. After opening quarters of 30.4sec. and 30.3sec., Sugar Street sped over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.9sec. and won by just over a length from $13 chance Dont Bother Me None, who enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing solidly.
Sugar Street has the potential to quickly graduate to fast-class events. He has had 31 starts for ten wins, 14 placings and stakes of $107,607.
Little Darling began from the outside of the back line and was a hot favourite at $1.70 over the sprint trip. The polemarker Cheese And Biccys ($13) set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and Lewis sent Little Darling forward with a three wide burst soon after the start to quickly move to the outside of the pacemaker.
Cheese And Biccys reeled off quarters of 28.4sec., 29.6sec. and 28.6sec. before Lewis dashed Little Darling to the front 250m from home. She then coasted home and won by two lengths from $26 chance Elsamay, who fought on after trailing the leader. Cyclone Charlotte ($4.20) was most impressive. She was tenth at the bell and charged home, out six wide, to finish third.
Little Darling, bred by the Howlett family, has earned $127,444 from seven wins and ten placings from 22 starts. “She has done a good job, and I might give her a break now,” said Howlett. “As a four-year-old next year she should be right up there with the best of the mares in the State.”