Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Valentines Brook maintained his run of outstanding efforts when he was not extended in crushing his eleven rivals in the 2130m Sunday Times Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred six-year-old has flourished under the care of Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young, who has given the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding 20 starts for three wins, ten seconds and two third placings to boost his career record to 64 starts for 13 wins, 24 placings and stakes of $138,697.
Valentines Brook, the $2 favourite, started from barrier four and was not bustled early by Kyle Symington and settled down in the favourable one-out, one-back position, with $31 chance Gran Chico setting the pace.
Symington sent Valentines Brook forward, three wide, approaching the bell, and the gelding took the lead 430m from home and coasted to victory by two lengths over Mirragon ($3.50), who had taken the lead at the 700m after racing in the breeze. The final quarters were run in 27.8sec. and 28.9sec. and Symington did not worry about releasing the ear plugs. The winner rated 1.55.5.
Twobob Cracker maintained his encouraging form when he finished solidly from eighth at the bell to be third.