Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising reinsman Joey Suvaljko drove a patient race and kept his cool to guide Watts Up Sunshine to a thrilling victory in the $21,000 Westral Handicap, a 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This gave the 20-year-old Suvaljko his first metropolitan-class success and his 26TH win in his emerging career. His 25TH win came on the previous Friday night when he set the pace and won with the $21 chance Lil Delight at Wagin.
Watts Up Sunshine, the lone backmarker off 20 metres and a $4.90 chance, raced in seventh place in the field of eight, and Suvaljko bided his time, with Watts Up Sunshine buried on the pegs in sixth place 350m from home.
Suvaljko eased Watts Up Sunshine into the clear with 250m to travel and the five-year-old was fifth 120m from the post before flying home to beat his stablemate Cooper ($3.80) by a half-length, with the pacemaker Brewery Lane ($23) in third place.
“I’ve probably had between 15 to 20 city drives, and it was great to get my first metro win,” said Suvaljko.
Michael Young, who trains Watts Up Sunshine, said Suvaljko deserved his success. “He does a lot of work for us at home, and he rides Watts Up Sunshine every day,” he said. “He is a big part of our stable’s success.”
The New South Wales-bred Watts Up Sunshine was making his first appearance in a stand in Western Australia, and Suvaljko was having only his second drive behind the gelding, following his third placing behind Ima Fivestar General at Gloucester Park early in June.
Watts Up Sunshine has had 15 starts in WA for four wins and three placings. He now has earned $221,615 from 20 wins and 20 placings from 74 starts.