Willie on his way to the top

A most convincing winner at the Bendigo metropolitan meeting on Saturday night (October 2) was the Auckland Reactor gelding Willie Go West, who is expected to make cup class.

Only a four-year-old, he showed up last season as a three-year-old above average when he won the Listed $40,000 Harness 7000 at Addington and a heat of Breeders Crown at Bendigo.

From 16 starts, he has won seven and been four times placed for $80,650 in stakes.

In his latest assignment, the gelding led throughout from the pole covering the 2150 metres in a 1:55.5 rate with the last two sectionals in 27.7 and 26.7.

Another son of Auckland Reactor, Reactor Now, finished second. Watch the replay below:

At Ballarat one night earlier, the promising Auckland Reactor four-year-old Reactor Factor was a very impressive winner in intermediate grade.

After working to the front in the first lap, the gelding proceeded to run his rivals off their legs, carving out the final two quarters in 27.9 and 27.7.

Aha Reaction, a New Zealand-bred gelding, took full advantage of the passing lane to register his 11th success at Hobart, while He’s Gratis NZ earned a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4 winning at Dayton Raceway, Ohio.

As at October 4, Auckland Reactor has left 92 individual winners in Australia this season for progeny earnings of $1.42 million.

By Peter Wharton