Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Consistent New Zealand-bred five-year-old Dont Bother Me None had to be driven hard both at the start and at the finish to fend off strong challenges before scoring a narrow victory in the $23,750 Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Dont Bother Me None, the $2.80 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, was beaten for early speed by Firerockfireroll (barrier two) and Talks Up A Storm (barrier four). Firerockfireroll was smartest to begin and led by a half-length early but couldn’t cross to the pegs and Talks Up A Storm began speedily and raced three wide to lead by three-quarters of a length.
However, Roberts drove hard and Dont Bother Me None settled in front after a fast lead time of 35.5sec. before relaxing and running the opening quarter of the final mile in 31.7sec. and then dashing over the final three 400m sections in 29.9sec., 28.7sec. and 27.8sec.
When the breeze horse Galactic Star began to wilt Maddison Brown was able to angle the $4.60 chance Arma Einstein into the clear 220m from home. Roberts then drove Dont Bother Me None vigorously and the Bettors Delight horse responded grandly to hold on and beat the fast-finishing Arma Einstein by a half-head, rating 1.56 over the 2130m.
“Dont Bother Me None’s gate speed from barrier one is not great,” said Roberts. “But I was aided by the stagger effect early when Junior (Gary Hall Jnr on Firerockfireroll) could only get half a length on me, and then Kyle (Harper on Talks Up A Storm) could only get a half length on Firerockfireroll.
“The way things worked out helped me a lot, and by the time I got to the corner (turning into the home straight) I was able to boot through. Dont Bother Me None is a good roller, and being out in front definitely is good for him.
“A horse like Arma Einstein is one you don’t want to lob on your back, and he was always going to get the run.”
Dont Bother Me None, raced by Team Bond and trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has been an excellent moneyspinner who has had 45 starts for 17 wins and eleven placing for stakes of $166,302.
Roberts celebrated her double with Dont Bother Me None and Ten To The Dozen by travelling to Kellerberrin on Sunday where she had three drives — and landed a treble in the final three events on the program, scoring with Sweetest Thing ($18), Keegan Banner ($3.60) and Alta Ego ($2.50), all trained by her mother Sonia Zucchiatti.