Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
With Hopeland trainer Giles Inwood on the sidelines, Chris Voak took over the preparation of Sangue Reale, and the New South Wales-bred pacer gave him his eleventh training success from 77 starters this season when he proved too fast for his rivals and scored a comfortable victory in the 1730m Retravision NYE Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sangue Reale, the $2.30 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, raced wide early before getting to the front after about 35 metres and then setting the pace and sprinting over the final 400m in 27sec. to win by a length from the $2.80 second favourite Valentines Brook, who ran home solidly after trailing Sangue Reale all the way.
“I was keen to get to the front at the start over the sprint trip,” said Voak. “I put the hood on him tonight, trying to make him a bit sharper. But over the first 20 metres I don’t think he knew what I wanted him to do. However, once I gave him a couple with the persuader, he was able to get to the front on the first turn.
“He was then not put under any pressure, and I couldn’t hold him slow enough to keep Valentines Brook locked up. In the four starts I’ve given him he has breezed, raced three deep and now he has led. And that’s not really his go; he is a sit and sprint horse, a pace follower.
“He showed that when he won the Four-Year-Old Classic (when he raced four back on the pegs and rated 1.53.6 in finishing a nose second to Shockwave and then being elevated to first after a successful protest in November 2019).
“He has been nominated for the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups, but it’s doubtful he will get a start. He will return to Giles at the end of February when he is likely to be set for the Pinjarra Cup on March 6.”
Sangue Reale has been an excellent moneyspinner, with his 63 starts producing 11 wins and 22 placings for earnings of $238,786.