Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Smart square gaiter Tricky Ric extended his winning sequence to seven when Gary Hall Jnr drove him to victory in the $20,250m Westral Quality Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred six-year-old, the $2.60 favourite, again revealed excellent manners with a smooth beginning from the 30m mark in the 2503m standing-start event, while the $3.10 second fancy Ace Commander ruined his chances by breaking into a gallop soon after the start when in front after beginning safely from the inside of the front line.
Ace Commander lost about ten lengths, and Hall was quite content to race Tricky Ric without cover, but several lengths from the pacemaker and $3.90 third fancy Midnight Assassin. Tricky Ric moved alongside the leader approaching the bell before taking a clear lead 400m from home. He went on to win by 2m from Chumani ($9), with Ace Commander finishing solidly from sixth at the 250m to be an eye-catching third.
Though it appeared to be a comfortable win, Hall said that he was far from confident approaching the home turn. “I thought he was gone turning for home,” said Hall. “He was sending out distress signals. But I got up him and he found another gear.”
Tricky Ric, trained by Gary Hall Snr, finished third in the Trotters Cup last January, and he will again be set for the $50,000 feature event on February 3.