Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Six-year-old Rich And Spoilt gelding Hengheng is proving a splendid bargain for trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper, who outlaid just $8500 to buy him at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale.
Hengheng, raced by Harper and seven stable clients, boosted his earnings to $82,007 from nine wins and nine placings from 48 starts when he led throughout the 2130m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a warm $1.80 favourite, who certainly appreciated a return to mobile racing after finishing at the rear at odds of $31 and $126 in standing-start events at his two previous starts in his current campaign.
Hengheng started from the prized No. 1 barrier but was beaten out by the $3.90 second fancy Unconditional from the No. 2 barrier. Unconditional led by a half-length for the first 220m but was unable to cross to the front and then faced the task of racing without cover in the breeze.
After a third quarter of 28.3sec. Hengheng began to tire and he shifted out in the home straight and just held on to beat $41 outsider Rebel With A Grin, who enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, before finishing strongly to lose by a head in a three-way photo finish, with Carerra Mach ($7) running home powerfully from eighth at the bell to be a nose away in third place.
Kyle Symington, the driver of Rebel With A Grin, lodged a protest against the winner, alleging interference in the home straight. The stewards dismissed the protest.
Hengheng has inherited much of his ability from his dam Cool Adda, who raced 80 times for 15 wins, 12 placings and $160,839.