Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Byford trainer Callan Suvaljko had three runners in the DTS Kelvin Road Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he made a wise choice in engaging Gary Hall Jnr to handle ten-year-old gelding Tuas Delight who had managed one placing from his previous 13 starts.
Suvaljko had driven Tuas Delight at 29 of his previous 30 starts for two wins but he opted to handle stablemate Street Appeal, who had been unplaced at his six starts for Suvaljko after arriving from Queensland. He engaged Kyle Harper to drive Our Star Watch, who went into the race having been unplaced at his previous 22 starts.
“I thought Tuas Delight was the best chance of my three runners after he had led and finished second to Middlepage two starts ago,” said Suvaljko.
“I drove Street Appeal because he is the hardest one of the three to handle. He is a nut case and he likes to charge the gate, and when he does he lifts his head over the top of the barrier arm.”
Hall delivered the goods with Tuas Delight, a $6.90 chance, keeping the gelding at the rear before sending him forward, out three wide, with 950m to travel. Tuas Delight sustained his finishing burst, coming from fourth on the home turn to get up and snatch a last-stride victory in a three-way photo finish.
He gained the verdict by a head from the pacemaker and $3.50 second favourite Disco Under Fire, with Gran Chico ($3.80) a head away in third place.
Gran Chico raced in the breeze for much of the way before getting to the front 300m from home. Ten-year-old Disco Under Fire regained the lead in the home straight but just failed to hold out Tuas Delight.
Tuas Delight, who damaged a tendon in August 2021 and was off the scene for eleven months, has had 164 starts for 16 wins, 31 placings and $196,601 in prizemoney.