Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Veteran WA-bred pacer Joe With The Flow bounced back to his best form at his second outing after a spell when Shannon Suvaljko took full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier by setting the pace and winning the 1730m The West Live Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The eight-year-old gelding is certainly a frontrunning specialist, and his victory over the $1.90 favourite Master Yossi improved his record of leading and succeeding ten times from his 13 career victories.
Joe With The Flow was the $4.70 second favourite and Suvaljko had to drive desperately in the early stages to maintain the lead after Lindsay Harper had challenged hard after getting $34 chance Heza Head Honcho away fast from the No. 5 barrier to lead by a length, but was unable to cross to the front.
Suvaljko then rated Joe With The Flow with comfortable opening quarters of 29.8sec. and 31.3sec. before increasing the tempo with 400m sections of 28.7sec. and 28.6sec.
The race was marred with an accident involving five runners about 280m from home. Acoltnamedsue was trailing the pacemaking Joe With The Flow when he stumbled and fell. His driver Kyle Harper injured his right shoulder, and Maddison Brown, who was driving Star Armbro, was concussed when the ten-year-old fell.
Joe With The Flow is part-owned and trained by Tony Hynam, who was in Adelaide on business. Joe With The Flow, who is by American sire Roll With Joe, is the eleventh foal out of the unraced Albert Albert mare Miss Jeffries. He has raced 87 times for 13 wins, 21 placings and $109,367.
Suvaljko maintained his excellent form in the sulky when he travelled to Albany on Saturday night and landed a treble with Major Dalton, Rockinthebox and Pink Parade.