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Top priced colt Ideal Beach (American Ideal) paid back a significant part of his purchase cost when he scored a telling win in the $125,000 APG Sales 2YO colts and geldings Classic Final at Gloucester Park last night.
Ideal Beach a $130,000 purchase at the 2024 Perth APG Sales was the sole runner on the second row but that didn’t stop punters from installing him favourite. Gary Hall Junior driving for trainer Justin Prentice, was able to get off the rails early and when the field settled down he already had four rivals behind him.
IDEAL BEACH FEB 28 REPLAY APG 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS FINAL
Nonetheless after having a trail one out Ideal Beach had to come three wide without cover at the bell. Butter Me Up had led with Cease to React having a hard run outside the leader. It seemed as if second favourite Fear the Storm who was tracking Ideal Beach would be a threat but Ideal Beach kept grinding away and he opened up in the home straight to win by just over 2 metres in a mile rate of 1:57.5 seconds.
There were a number of takeaways from the race. Runner up Cease to React had a torrid run outside the leader throughout and he refused to give in despite having such a hard run. He finished second just in front of leader Butter Me Up who was still battling away at the finish.
Fear the Storm seemed to lose ground on the final bend but he was doing his best work at the finish and will improve on that run. However on the night it was clearly a well deserved win by Ideal Beach.
The $125,000 fillies division was won by warm favourite Ma Petite Dame (Bettors Wish) who was given the perfect front running drive by Kyle Symington.
MA PETITE DAME FEB 28 REPLAY APG 2YO FILLIES FINAL
Wishing Belle who had narrowly defeated Ma Petite Dame in the heat ten days prior, was caught wide early but driver Aiden De Campo was able to secure a good trail one out and one back.
Livy Ann had to race outside the leader but was under pressure on leaving the back straight. Wishing Belle made her run three wide but by this stage Symington allowed Ma Petite Dame to stride out and in running her last quarter in 28.4 seconds she scored a comfortable win over a gallant Wishing Belle with Livy Ann a distant third.
Trained by Ryan Bell for the Walmsley Development Group Ma Petite Dame appears to have a promising feature as does Wishing Belle gave such a gallant display last night.
For complete race results, click here.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
