Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Prominent breeders Kevin and Annette Charles have no regrets that a Betting Line colt they bred was passed in at the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale after he had failed to reach his reserve price of $25,000.
They decided to race the pacer themselves. He is named Whos The Dad and is trained at Hopeland by Kevin Charles.
And at Gloucester Park on Friday night Whos The Dad, the $1.30 favourite, was driven by Shannon Suvaljko and scored a runaway victory in the Taste Of WA Pace, improving his record to 58 starts for 11 wins, 18 placings and stakes of $141,507.
The Charles family sold many yearlings at the 2020 sale. One of their yearlings was a filly by Fly Like An Eagle, who was passed in at $10,000 after failing to reach her modest reserve price of $12,000. A few months later Shane Young paid $20,000 to purchase the filly on behalf of himself, his daughter Alison and several stable clients.
That filly was named Wonderful To Fly, who has already amassed $582,545 in prizemoney from 29 wins and 11 placings from 47 starts.
Whos The Dad was untroubled to set a solid pace from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night and won by six and a half lengths from $14 chance Hillview Bondi, who battled on gamely after racing without cover.
Rockaball, the $6.50 second favourite, was unlucky. He raced three back on the pegs in fifth position and was travelling strongly when he met with severe interference on the home turn, galloped and dropped out to finish last.