Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred five-year-old Soho Dow Jones went into the $31,000 APGold.com.au Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night as a $7.30 chance who had been successful only once from his 18 previous starts.
He had also been placed at seven of those 18 starts and rarely performed below par, with Mitch Miller saying after he had driven him to an all-the-way win in the 2130m event: “He has been racing very well and it’s good to see him get rewarded for effort.”
Hampton Banner, one of the State’s fastest beginners, was resuming after a spell and had good support, starting at $5 from the No. 5 barrier.
Hampton Banner, driven by Chris Lewis, was smartest into stride and led by a half-length early but was unable to cross Soho Dow Jones, who led from the No. 2 barrier in a lead time of 37.1sec. followed by an ambling opening 400m section of 31.6sec. before the final quarters were run in 28.9sec., 28sec. and 28.2sec.
“I was not at all confident of winning the start and being able to hold out Hampton Banner,” said Miller. “But I was happy he was able to do so.
“Soho Dow Jones used to race in blocks, but recently we have taken them off because he had started to overrace in his races. And since we have removed the blocks, he hasn’t been getting out of the gates as good.
“Thankfully, he didn’t have the blocks on tonight because if he pulled any harder, he would’ve choked down. He was sharp and I was happy with his gate speed. He travelled strongly and I was a bit worried down the back (the last time) that I might have choked him a bit. If I hadn’t let him roll in the last lap he probably would have choked and run last.”
Soho Dow Jones is prepared by Blythewood trainer Kim Prentice, and he has earned $185,909 from 14 wins and 16 placings from 53 starts.