Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising four-year-old mare Turn The Page ran an excellent trial for the $75,000 Empress Stakes next Friday week when she finished strongly from sixth at the bell to win the 2503m Race For Roses at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Turn the Page, trained by Greg and Sky Bond, was the $3.80 second favourite from the inside of the 10m line in the 2503m standing-start event, and Deni Roberts was happy to keep her in the one-wide line.
“She wasn’t very interested for two laps before she got going,” said Roberts.
Roberts switched Turn The Page three wide 650m from home and the mare ran on solidly to take the lead with about 260m to travel and then held on to beat $10 chance Fly To Fame by a head, rating 1.59.7.
Cyclone Charlotte, the $2.75 favourite, finished fourth after working hard in the breeze while Koolbardi Navajo ($7) was setting the pace. Koolbardi Navajo wilted to finish seventh.
Turn The Page makes up for her lack of brilliance with her strength and toughness. She has earned $133,209 from nine wins and four placings from 15 starts. Turn The Page excelled as a three-year-old last year when she won the Group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic and finished second to August Moon in the WA Oaks.