Comeback pacer boosts Voak’s training career

West Australian harness racing couple Chris and Asha Voak are being rewarded in more ways than one for their patience and persistence with talented but injury-troubled pacer Sangue Reale (Art Major).

The once-retired eight-year-old gelding was one of the first horses to land on the doorstep when the Voaks took a leap of faith into training two years ago.

“We took him on a deal, and he’s just been a lovely horse for us. He’s earned more than $100,000 since then, but he’s also been the reason we’ve been able to build relationships with some terrific owners who just love the sport,” Voak said.

“I think the best is yet to come for Sangue Reale and for us,” he said.

Sangue Reale looked effortless in leading from start to finish to capture the Howard Porter Memorial Free for All at Gloucester Park on Friday night (Sept 13), adding a second listed classic race to Voak’s training resume.

SANGUE REPLAY

As a four-year-old, Sangue Reale was driven by Voak to defeat Shockwave in the Gr 1 WA Four-Year-Old Classic, and a third in the 2019 WA Gold Nugget (Gr 1).

“But he had a nearside hind fetlock joint that they just couldn’t get sound anymore so he ended up being retired after that season (2019),” Voak said.

“In the end he was leased out to give him another go and he eventually came across our doorstep when we started with training and thought he was worth a chance,” he said.

“I think most of the problem with his fetlock joint was in his foot, and we spent a fair bit of time mucking around with shoeing to get him balanced properly to take the pressure off the nearside hind.”

Sangue Reale’s first campaign for the Voaks in 2023 was remarkable, with three straight free-for-all victories, a fifth (beaten eight metres) in the WA Pacing Cup and a runner-up performance in the Gr 3 Governors Cup.

But the campaign was derailed in June after a racing incident when another runner shifted out sharply underneath Sangue Reale and hit a tendon. After six months on the sidelines, he now looks ready to go, recording a third in the Gr 3 August Cup and a fast-finishing third at Gloucester Park before his Porter Memorial win.

“Because the tendon was a trauma injury, rather than a weakness in the tendon, I’m fairly hopefully we won’t get any more flare ups,” Voak said.

“He’s just a beautiful horse who just wants to work and race.  He’s the one at the gate pawing every day and when we load up to go to the races, he just wants to be part of the team.  It would be a dream would come true if we could win a pacing cup with him.”

Voak, who has 1866 wins to his name as a driver, including seven Gr 1s, said he and Asha’s team had now grown to 20. Sangue Reale’s win on Friday was their 96^th training victory.

“All I’ve ever known was driving but driving for (eight times WA premiership trainer) Ross Olivieri for so long, I did a 12-year training apprenticeship with one of the best without even really realizing,” Voak said.

“Asha always wanted to train and she’d supported me when it was all about my driving, and now I’m supporting her.  The horses are in my name, but Asha’s the one who’s hands-on.

“We’re lucky Sangue Reale came along when he did because he started the networks and relationships that are now giving us better stock and some really exciting young horses.

“It hasn’t been without a lot of bumps and bruises along the way and a lot of hard work, but we both knew what we were in for when we started training.  I’m pretty excited about the next two to five years and what we can do.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink