Yearling Sale graduate upsets in Group 2 Classic

The Justin Prentice trained and driven 4yo Bettor Reward brought up his seventh win at just his eighth start when he led all the way to win the Group Two 4yo Championship at Gloucester Park last night.

Bettor Reward beat the $1.70 favourite Beaudiene Boaz with Kiwi Legend in third place, reeling off a last half in 55.2 seconds and rating 1:56.6 for the 2536 metres. The 2015 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year Menin Gate was back in fifth place.

Bettor Reward was purchased at the 2014 Gloucester Standardbreds WA Yearling Sale for $24,000 and last night’s win took the son of Bettor’s Delight  earnings to $119,520.

Bettor Reward commenced racing on 30th May 2015 and won each of his four starts last season culminating in a win in the Group One $100,000 Westbred Classic on 3rd July.

The blanket finish of that race earned for photographer Jodie Hallows the 2015 Joseph Coulter Award for Best Photograph.

Bettor Reward, the second foal and first colt from his dam Chemical Romance, was bred by well-known Western Australian breeder Steve Johnson who also bred the recently retired David Hercules 1:52.7 $1,259,019.

Chemical Romance had just three starts without winning but is a half-sister to WA Derby winner Trunkey Maseratti and her dam Ferrari Trunkey included a WA Oaks among her 22 wins.

Johnson has four yearlings entered for the 2016 Gloucester Standardbreds WA Yearling Sale which will be held at the Belmont Park Sales Complex on February 21st.

The 128 lot catalogue for the 2016 Sale will go to the printers on Monday and be available on-line next week.

Catalogues can be ordered by contacting Gloucester Standardbreds General Manager Dot Parker on 0416 280 392.

Alan Parker