Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A snap decision by star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko paved the way for veteran pacer Yankee Lincoln’s victory in the $21,000 Trotsynd Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday.
Yankee Lincoln was an $11.10 chance from the outside barrier in the field of seven, with the polemarker Our Thunder the $1.50 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier.
“I was aiming for three back on the pegs from the start because I saw a lot of the others were hard on the gate, so I grabbed hold really quick and got three back (on the pegs),” said Suvaljko.
“I considered he was the fastest horse in the race, and I just had to drive him that way. When I got off (the inside) between the two corners he zipped home nicely.”
Our Thunder set a moderate pace before he began to wilt over the final stages. Yankee Lincoln got to the front in the final 30m and beat Our Thunder by just under a length, rating 1.57.8 over the sprint journey.
Yankee Lincoln, a New Zealand-bred ten-year-old by American Ideal, broke a 14-month drought and ended a losing sequence of 27 which took his record to 110 starts for 13 wins, 21 placings and $130,957.
“He dropped in grade a fair bit and this was a suitable race for him, though the barrier draw was a bit of a worry,” said Byford trainer Peter Tilbrook, who races the gelding in partnership with Amy Baxter.
“We bought him a couple of years ago and he won first-up for us (at Pinjarra in May 2023) before winning two minor events at Gloucester Park.”