Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Grace Inwood, an occasional part-time trainer, landed her first Gloucester Park winner for more than eight years when veteran pacer Acoltnamedsu scored a strong victory in the 2130m Vili’s Family Bakery Pace on Friday night.
This completed a wonderful night for the 37-year-old Inwood, whose brothers Giles (39) and Lang (44) also prepared winners, with Giles successful with Franco Western at Gloucester Park, and Lang preparing Firefly for his win in a 2648m stand at Albany.
Grace Inwood’s previous Gloucester Park winner was Soho Monza on November 20, 2015, and before that her previous city winner was Elsu Sheila on October 12, 2012.
“I don’t have many horses,” she explained. “Every now and again I have a play around with one, and Acoltnamedsu is pretty easy to train. He works on the sand and has a track run once a week.
“Robin Zec advertised Acoltnamedsu for sale, and I thought I’d like to give him a go. He was a cheapie at $4500.
“The plan tonight was to lead, and it all worked out perfectly.” Acoltnamedsu was a $6.80 chance from the No. 5 barrier, and Shannon Suvaljko dashed him to the front after 250m.
The $3.30 favourite Here Comes Sharkie was beaten for early speed from the No. 1 barrier by $71 outsider Impressive Signs from barrier two.
When Acoltnamedsu got to the front it left Here Comes Sharkie hemmed in three back on the pegs in fifth position. Finally, Kyle Harper was able to ease Here Comes Sharkie off the inside and into the clear 450m from home. Here Comes Sharkie mustered plenty of pace and he ran home strongly, out four wide on the home turn, to finish second, a half-length behind the winner who rated 1.58.2.
This was Inwood’s 37TH winner, with the eight-year-old Acoltnamedsu having had 36 starts for her for two wins, five placings and stakes of $23,281.
Acoltnamedsu was bred in New South Wales. He is by former star New Zealand pacer Elsu, and is out of Juke Box Sam, who raced 17 times for three wins and $7943.
Acoltnamedsu won at six of his 41 starts in NSW and at three of his eight starts in Queensland. He has won at three of his 43 WA starts and has a career record of 92 starts for 12 wins, 14 placings and $75,713.