Favourites get rolled in G1 Westbred 2YO Finals

Diminutive harness racing filly, Reinette (Vincent), stormed home in a driving finish to take out the $215,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for two year old fillies at Gloucester Park to give her trainer Frank Nafranec his biggest success to date.

A $15,000 purchase at the 2023 APG Yearling Sales, Reinette has proved to be a tidy investment with five wins from her 10 starts and just over $160,000 in stake money. Reinette from her second row draw settled three back on the rails and with a steady pace in front her driver pulled out three wide on the corner and just outstayed a very gallant Copper Head Lady.

Reinette recorded a mile rate of 1.56.8 for the 2130 metres.

“She was travelling well and there was a bit of speed in the race,” said winning driver, Trent Wheeler.

“We were able to get off and follow Aidan around the corner and she has a real good turn of foot when you kick the plugs out. I’m just grateful to all these people. It’s not every wee you get the opportunity to drive in a Group One and we got the job done,” he said.

When asked post race whether there was any temptation to come off the fence with 1000m to run, the young reinsman gave a cracking answer.

“Nah I was following Junior. I was always told that if you want to be a good driver then you can do worse than following him. He wasn’t too keen to get off the fence and down the back we were able to get off the fence and follow Aidan, he took us into where we needed to be, and the horse did the rest,” he said.

From her wide barrier Copper Head Lady was caught three wide mid way when making a run and then had to come three wide for another run at the leaders. She still looked the winner when she beat off the leaders on the home turn but could not hold off Reinette’s well timed sprint.

REINETTE REPLAY

Reinette’s success adds to her win in the Champagne Classic in May at Gloucester Park.

In the male division for the Westbred juvenile finals, it was consistent youngster Belly Up (Foreclosure) who came from last to first in a barnstorming finish to snatch victory in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Westbred classic for two year colts and geldings.

In a race characterised by interference at critical stages of the event Belly Up was eased back to the rear of the field by driver Deni Roberts.

In a fast run race, Noble Thorondor held the lead from his pole position with the heavily backed Paint the Palette forced to race outside the leader. Captain Stirling who had the run of the race behind the leader eased out three wide on the final bend and looked set to score.

But they could not withstand Belly Up’s withering burst in the home straight and he prevailed over Captain Stirling by a neck with a mile rate of 1.58.

“When Benditlikebeca went a miss we ran into a bit of trouble and again down the back and not one thing went my way,” said winning driver, Deni Roberts.

“Luckily we had a pretty solid tempo the whole way and he has a nice turn of foot and I said to greg the only way I’m going to win this is if we Patronus Star it,” she laughed.

BELLY UP REPLAY

Belly Up had raced only on six occasions before his big win and he had won a race at Bunbury in July. In his heat of the Westbred classic, Belly Up finished third behind Last Hard Copy despite racing outside the leader.  On the strength of his win Belly Up shows enough ability to be a serious contender in future classic races.

Paint The Palette battled on for third after having a torrid run and will be improved by the run.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink