Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The widely travelled October Reign relished his role as pacemaker when he set the pace and held on to win the 1730m The Lazy Camel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rated perfectly by Gary Hall Jnr, the Michael Young-trained October Reign, the $1.60 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier, coasted through the first 800m of the final mile in 61.8sec. and ran the final quarters in 28.9sec. and 28.1sec. to beat his fast-finishing stablemate and $5.50 second fancy Lamandier by a half-neck at a 1.57.7 rate.
“October Reign did what we expected,” said Young. “He stays in this grade, and when he draws (favourably) he will win again.”
October Reign has raced in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and WA, and he has earned $81,196 from eight wins and 12 placings from 47 starts.
He is by American sire Sportswriter and is the second foal out of Show Me Amber, who had 62 starts for 11 wins, 16 placings and $64,151. He is a half-brother to I Am Marquez (103 starts for 14 wins, 24 placings and $98,730) and Ambiguous (17 starts for three wins, four placings and $32,322). He is also related to Paris Affair, who won the 1999 Hunter Cup from Iraklis at Moonee Valley and retired with earnings of $384,793 from 17 wins and 17 placings from 43 starts.