Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Collie reinsman Trent Wheeler maintained his splendid form in the sulky when he drove $2.30 favourite Solesseo Matuca to a decisive victory in the 2130m Vale Sylvia Boylan Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Solesseo Matuca was the $2.30 favourite from his awkward draw on the outside of the back line, and Wheeler was hoping for a fast early pace. And his prayers were answered when Rubins Plight ($2.30), Awaitinginstructions ($81) and Whos The Dad ($10) were involved in a hectic early speed battle which resulted in a scorching lead time of 35.3sec.
“We were hoping that there would be a bit of pace early and it turned out that there was a quick lead time and a quick first quarter, so we were then able to get around before they slowed up,” explained Wheeler.
After 700m Wheeler set Solesseo Matuca alight with a lightning three-wide burst from ninth to surge into the breeze 200m later, on the outside the frontrunning Rubins Plight. Solesseo Matuca raced without cover until Wheeler dashed him to the front 500m from home, and the Victorian-bred five-year-old won by more than a length from $34 chance Tartan Robyn, rating a slick 1.55.9.
Solesseo Matuca, trained by Gary Hall Jnr for owner Frank Ranaldi, won ten races in Victoria and his 18 starts in WA have resulted in four wins and eight placings, taking his earnings to $303,819 from 14 wins and 26 placings from 63 starts.
“Solesseo Matuca is better off racing every week, when he gets into the zone,” said Ranaldi. “There’s a lot of talk about sending him to the States, but I’m happy to keep him racing here.
“Junior thinks he will be competitive in Free-For-Alls. Soleseo Matuca can sprint, and I think he will be better suited up in class when they run along.
“There are a few guys who want to know why I haven’t sold him to America yet because I sell all my horses. But I’m having fun, and we’ll see what happens over Christmas, and possibly he will go to the States in January or February.”
Solesseo Matuca’s elder half-brother Top The Ace is still racing with plenty of enthusiasm. He notched his 17TH win from 226 starts when he was successful in a 1720m event at Penrith last Thursday week.