Wasa Heat Seeker scorches in impressive win

Much travelled six year old gelding Wasa Heat Seeker (Sweet Lou) gave his harness racing supporters plenty of anxious moments before putting it all together for a narrow but determined all the way win in the Bestinbeds Pace at Menangle Park last night.

Solidly supported into a touch short of odds on favourite Wasa Heat Seeker was fractious in the warm up giving his young driver Jett Turnbull a few headaches as he tried to settle him down. Wasa Heat Seeker broke in the score up but as he had caused interference a false start was declared.

Fortunately for punters, Wasa Heat Seeker was on his best behaviour the second time around and from the dispatch he quickly found the lead from barrier 5.

The Jason Grimson trained Compete was left racing outside the leader while his stablemate Dom Toretto was alongside with the trail behind the leader. Pandaia had the one out and one back trail with promising pacer Bainbridge one out and two back.

Young Turnbull let Wasa Heat Seeker go on leaving the back straight and he quickly had his rivals off the bit. However Dom Toretto stuck to his task and when he pulled out in the home straight looked likely to score. But Wasa Heat Seeker refused to give in and he fought on doggedly to hold off Dom Toretto by half a neck with Major Major three metres away third.

WASA HEAT SEEKER 8 FEB REPLAY

The overall mile rate was 1.50.1 and with running his last two quarters in 27.7 seconds made it almost impossible for those behind to catch him.

Wasa Heat Seeker started his career in New Zealand just under three years ago before transferring to Kim Prentice’s West Australian stables where he had his first Australian start at Pinjarra in March 2023.

A stint in Queensland followed before he joined David Aiken’s stables only last November. To date he’s had five starts for Aiken for two wins and two placings.

Given his fast time, Wasa Heat Seeker has a turn of speed that should see him win more races as he has been relatively lightly raced.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink