Wabi Sabi is set to lead and win

Six-year-old Wabi Sabi, closely related to a couple of harness racing equine millionaires, has won once from 34 starts in Western Australia but the New South Wales-bred gelding looks set to improve on his record by leading all the way in the $20,000 Princi Butchers Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Thursday night.

He has drawn the prized No. 1 barrier and trainer-reinsman Clint Hall will be aiming to set the pace. The previous occasion that Wabi Sabi started from the inside barrier was at Narrogin five starts ago on January 13 when he set the pace and won convincingly from Disco Under Fire, rating 1.57.3 over 2242m.  

Wabi Sabi was a 66/1 outsider last Friday night when he started from barrier seven and was seventh on the pegs at the bell before finishing strongly into fourth place behind Responder. That followed encouraging thirds at Albany and Gloucester Park at his two previous outings.

Wabi Sabi is by American stallion Sportswriter and is out of American mare Sabilize, who raced in Australia in the 1990s and was retired after having 54 starts for 31 wins and 14 placings for earnings of $355,056.

At the peak of her career, Sabilize won the Ladyship Mile at Harold Park in November 1993 before finishing second to Chokin in the Miracle Mile a week later.

Wabi Sabi is a half-brother to former outstanding juvenile pacer Sushi Sushi, who amassed $1,103,327 in prizemoney from 27 wins and 13 placings from only 47 starts. From December 2010 to January 2012 Sushi Sushi chalked up 14 wins in a row, with the highlight of that sequence being his victory in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Melton in February 2011.

Wabi Sabi, whose 80 starts have produced eight wins and 23 placings for stakes of $59,181, is also closely related to American performer Dragon’s Lair, who earned $1,085,317 from 30 wins and 16 placings from 66 starts.

His main rival on Thursday night looms as the Matt Saw-trained Mister Ardee, who will be driven by Madeleine Young from barrier two on the back line.

Mister Ardee is a seasoned performer who has raced 105 times for 21 wins and 39 placings. He raced three wide early and then in the breeze before fighting on doggedly into third place behind Frostyflyer and Trison over 2130m last Friday night.

Ken Casellas