Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Star reinsman Ryan Warwick approached the Retravision Buy Now Pay Later Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night with plenty of optimism as well as a healthy respect for last-start winner Strauny.
Warwick was driving the $3.20 second fancy Aussie Scooter, who lined up alongside Strauny, the $2.70 favourite, on the 10m line, and when he saw Strauny breaking into a gallop at the start he seized the initiative by dashing Aussie Scooter forward.
Aussie Scooter sustained a three-wide burst — which was followed by Chris Voak in the sulky behind Strauny — before taking the lead 1450m from home, and leaving Strauny to work hard in the breeze.
Warwick made life extremely difficult for Strauny when Aussie Scooter revealed sparkling speed to sprint over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.7sec. Aussie Scooter careered away to win by more than four lengths from Strauny, with the early pacemaker Call To Arms ($9) finishing two lengths farther back in third place.
Aussie Scooter, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is proving to be a standing-start specialist, with his past ten appearances being in stands for three wins, four seconds, two thirds and one fifth placing. He now has raced 46 times for 12 wins, 14 placings and $121,773.
“He appreciates the stands, for some reason,” said Warwick. “That was definitely one of his easier ones, and probably one of his better wins, too. The way he did it was pretty good.
“I made up a fair bit of ground early, which was hard to do, and I wasn’t real keen on. But I needed to stay in front of Strauny. I wasn’t sure whether Call To Arms would hand up. But he did. Aussie Scooter hadn’t been in front for a long time, and when he got there tonight he really appreciated it.
“I expect Aussie Scooter and Strauny to have battles in the next month or two in similar scenarios. And it’s going to be who gets a better run and is the better horse on the night.”