Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond held a powerful hand in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with three of the five runners, Thelittle Master (the $1.50 favourite), Thenu Came Along ($3.60) and Prince Of Pain ($9).
And Thenu Came Along caused an upset when he won by 2m from Thelittle Master, with Prince Of Pain finishing in third place.
Stuart McDonald, who had driven Thelittle Master at his previous outing a fortnight earlier, made a winning move when he dashed Thenu Came Along past Prince Of Pain and into the lead 250m after the start, with Thelittle Master (Deni Roberts) settling down in last place in an Indian file affair after that gelding had begun from the outside barrier.
Roberts eased Thelittle Master off the pegs 1000m from home and McDonald increased the tempo with a 28.2sec. third quarter of the final mile, followed by a final 400m of 27.8sec. Thenu Came Along, who held Thelittle Master at bay in the final stages, rated a smart 1.56.6.
“The plan tonight was to go forward early and assess the situation,” said McDonald. “It then looked like the lead was there, so I went for it and was able to get to the front. We got a nice lead time (37.8sec.) and with an opening quarter of 31.1sec. Thenu Came Along was able to run home fast and win quite comfortably.”
Thenu Came Along was purchased for $85,000 at the 2022 Perth APG yearling sale, and he now has earned $46,415 from four wins and six placings from 17 starts. He is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the fifth foal out of Art Major mare Arconite, the dam of WA pacer Adda Spoilt Major, who has had 84 starts for nine wins, 26 placings and $99,638 in prizemoney.