Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Outstanding young driver Emily Suvaljko had a plan to beat Dominus Factum in the 2130m Magnificent Storm Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — and it succeeded.
She was driving the polemarker and $1.60 favourite Angel In White, and her aggression paid dividends when she applied considerable pressure to the frontrunning Dominus Factum.
Dominus Factum, the $2.30 second fancy, began fast from barrier four in the field of five and burst straight past Angel In White as he forged to the front.
Instead of enjoying the trail behind Dominus Factum Suvaljko immediately eased Angel In White off the pegs to race in the breeze on the outside of the pacemaker. Suvaljko kept the pressure on the leader, and after middle quarters of the final mile in 29sec. and 27.9sec., Dominus Factum began to wilt, and Angel In White shot to the front 300m from home and the mare dashed over the final 400m in 28.6sec. to win by four lengths from $21 chance Whatabro, rating 1.56.7. Dominus Factum faded to finish fourth.
Angel In White’s owner-trainer Shane Tognolini discussed tactics with Suvaljko, who said: “In Shane’s words, he’s sick and tired of people going 32sec. quarters. And he said that if Angel In White was crossed at the start, he wanted me to just go outside that horse and pull the whip.
“I didn’t quite do that. But I knew that there was no point in just sitting there (behind the leader), so I decided to come off and into the breeze because Angel In White is a better roller who will run all day.
“I considered that she had been recording better times than Dominus Factum. Angel In White went 1.55.9 two starts ago when she raced in the breeze and finished second to Eighteen Carat. She is a quality mare, and I didn’t want the leader to go too slow. I knew that I had the fittest horse in the race. She backs up week after week, and does it tough, and still brings her best the following week.”
Angel In White, an eight-year-old New Zealand-bred mare by American sire Santanna Blue Chip, is enjoying her best season, with her 30 starts this year producing seven wins, eight seconds and three thirds.
Suvaljko continued her winning ways, scoring with Batavia Streamline ($9) at Narrogin on Saturday night and Mary Joe ($2.15) at Kellerberrin on Sunday.