Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
High hopes of Ezana contesting the $200,000 Golden Nugget next Friday night were in the melting pot late last month when he injured his nearside front knee in a float mishap and had to be scratched from an important lead-up event.
But all is now well and the talented four-year-old clinched a spot in the Golden Nugget with a decisive victory in the 2130m Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales One Stop Shop Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His knee was still a little swollen, but astute trainer Ray Williams made sure that he did not hit his knee during the race by adding go straight spreaders to his gear.
“There was a bit of residual swelling in the knee, but he paced beautifully the whole way,” said Aldo Cortopassi after driving Ezana, the $1.70 favourite, to an all-the-way victory over Ragazzo Mach ($2.70) and Withoutthetuh ($34).
Cortopassi was more than pleased the way Ezana coped with the gear change and was able to pace faultlessly when challenged seriously for the early lead by Withoutthetuh, who began speedily from barrier six and got a half-length in front of Ezana but was unable to cross to the front.
“We had to hum into the first corner when Trent (Wheeler) challenged with Withoutthetuh,” said Cortopassi. “I put the stick on Ezana and chased him out, and he didn’t miss a beat. And coming home in 27.5sec. he again didn’t miss a beat. He was cruising nice and easy on the line.”
Ezana, a winner at one of his nine New Zealand starts, has had 20 starts in Western Australia for eleven wins and four placings. He has already earned $99,814.