Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Star mare Eighteen Carat was not extended in coasting to victory in the $26,000 Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and trainer Michael Young is looking forward to her running in the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes on Friday week.
“She will not run in the Race For Roses next Friday night because she has not qualified to contest a standing-start event,” said Young. “I was planning to go to the Byford trials on Sunday to qualify her for stands, but then I discovered that there were no Byford trials this weekend. So, she will have her next run in the Breeders Stakes.”
Eighteen Carat, making her second appearance after a four-month absence, was third favourite at $3.80 from barrier No. 7, with Wonderful To Fly and Three Rumours the equal $2.65 favourites.
Miss Boudica, a $20 chance from the No. 4 barrier, began speedily and burst past the polemarker Three Rumours to take up the early running before surrendering the lead after 150 metres to Eighteen Carat.
The lead time was a slow 38.1sec. followed by opening quarters of 30.3sec. and 29.7sec. before Eighteen Carat sped over the final 400m sections in 27.4sec. and 28.5sec. to win by 4m from Miss Boudica, with Wonderful To Fly wilting slightly to finish third after racing wide early and then in the breeze.
“Eighteen Carat was never going to lose, once she found the front,” said Young. “She and Wonderful To Fly are set to have some wonderful battles this year. Whoever draws better probably will win. I don’t think that Eighteen Carat has been beaten in WA when she has led.”
Eighteen Carat, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old by Mach Three, has earned $295,566 from 14 wins and nine placings from 53 starts.