Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Injury-plagued five-year-old mare Rumour Has It, a smart all-the-way winner the previous week when racing first-up after a ten-month absence, repeated the dose in fine style when she proved too speedy for her rivals in the 2130m Catalano Trucks One Stop Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting at the dream price of $15.60, Rumour Has It owed her victory to a flying beginning from the No. 4 barrier when Chris Lewis anticipated the start perfectly to burst straight to the front.
The $2.50 favourite Cyclone Charlotte began smartly from the outside barrier in the field of nine and raced three wide for the first 200m before Dylan Egerton-Green got her into the one-out, one-back position, and then took off three wide 100m later to move to the breeze.
Cyclone Charlotte fought on doggedly, but was unable to seriously challenge Rumour Has It, who dashed over the final 400m sections in 28sec. and 28.9sec. to win by 2m, rating 1.56.7.
Rumour Has It, bred, owned and trained by Debra Lewis, has earned $118,209 from ten wins and seven placings from 24 starts. Her victory emphasised her claims in the $50,000 Christmas Belles next Friday week.