Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Victorian-bred five-year-old Kimble showed the benefit of a change of training methods when he revealed sparkling gate speed and scored a most impressive all-the-way win in the 2130m Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was having his first start for Coolup trainer Michael George, who took over the preparation of the gelding from Mundijong trainer Michel Young about six weeks ago.
Young, a part-owner of Kimble, recommended a stable change because he was concerned that his traditional training methods of working his pacers in heavy sand was not suitable for Kimble, and that George’s different training routines would revitalise the gelding.
“Kimble is a better horse than what he was performing for me,” said Young. “He didn’t handle the sand work very well. He was more of a speed horse over east, and he lost a lot of speed for me.”
“A change of routine has helped Kimble,” said George. “I do a lot of hoppled heat work with him on the Pinjarra track, and I was happy to see Kimble’s gate speed back tonight. I was impressed with the way he went. He has ticked every box and every challenge I have given him.”
Kimble, a $5.60 chance, was first out from barrier No. 8 and charged straight to the front from the polemarker and $1.55 favourite Mea Culpa. Gary Hall Jnr then rated Kimble perfectly with opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 30.4sec. followed by 400m sections of 29.3sec. and 28.2sec. He won easily from $14 chance Master Publisher, who raced wide early and then in the breeze.
Kimble showed considerable early promise, and he was an easy winner of the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for two-year-old colts and geldings at Melton in December 2020. He now boasts a record of 53 starts for 12 wins and 17 placings for earnings of $214,458.
He is by American sire Western Terror and is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Im Wrongly Accused, who raced 14 times for three wins, six placings and $36,917.