Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
As expected, the 2536m The Trots WA Pace developed into an intense tactical battle at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with outstanding reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green emerging triumphant, guiding the $3.30 second fancy Tenzing Bromac to a stirring victory.
The polemarker Patronus Star was the $1.70 favourite who was driven hard by Deni Roberts to take the early lead when the lead time was a fast 66.8sec.
Patronus Star defied an early challenge for ascendancy from noted speedy beginner and $19 chance The Mustang. Patronus Star led for the first 450m before Roberts wisely conceded the lead to The Mustang, who went forward again in a bid for the lead.
Once in front, The Mustang slackened the pace, and Roberts quickly regained the lead with Patronus Star. This left Tenzing Bromac racing without cover in fifth place in the field of six, and Egerton-Green dashed the five-year-old forward to wrest the lead from Patronus Star.
After a slow opening quarter of the final mile in 32.7sec., followed by a 30.2sec. section, Tenzing Bromac dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27.4sec. to win comfortably by a length from Mighty Ronaldo, with The Mustang finishing gamely to be third, and Patronus Star fighting on doggedly into fourth place.
Tenzing Bromac is a talented gelding by champion sire Bettors Delight who won once from two New Zealand starts before winning at his first eight appearances in Western Australia for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
He gave further proof of his excellent potential by finishing third behind Himself and Jumpingjackmac in the Golden Nugget in December 2022 and then running second to Pinny Tiger in the 1730m Nights Of Thunder the following month. He looks certain to improve considerably on his record of 27 starts for 15 wins and eight placings for stakes of $180,297.
“This was a pretty tricky race early,” said Greg Bond. “We weren’t sure how it was going to play out. Obviously, Mighty Ronaldo, the reigning Fremantle Cup winner, is a high-quality horse, so it was always going to be interesting.
“There was a bit happening early, and Dylan was able to take advantage of the early burn and get to the front. We thought that Patronus Star could hold The Mustang, which he did early, but when The Mustang challenged again it would have been suicide to keep that horse out. Deni did the right thing to let him go (to the front) and then regain the lead.
“Patronus Star had done a lot when Tenzing Bromac came, and Patronus Star went on to find the line generously.
“Tenzing Bromac’s record says that he is a nice horse, and we feel that he is not going to be out of his depth in a Pacing Cup type race. So, that’s where we’re heading with him.”