Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant colt Waverider enhanced his reputation and showed that he should develop into a star when he scored an effortless victory in the $50,000 Group 3 Team Bond Pearl Classic for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He will now have a brief let-up before being set for the $100,000 Westbred Classic on September 6 and the $200,000 WA Derby on November 1.
Friday night’s classic was a triumph for trainer Ryan Bell, who landed the quinella with Waverider, the $1.50 favourite, and the $2.70 second fancy Franco Encore. This gave Bell his second success in the Pearl, following his victory with Swingband in 2022.
Reinsman Kyle Symington was full of praise for Waverider, saying: “I was super confident in the run; he travelled beautifully.”
Franco Encore, driven by Mitch Miller, set the pace from the No. 1 barrier, with Waverider racing in the breeze after starting from barrier two.
“It was the plan to race in the breeze,” said 22-year-old Symington. “I would have loved to have led, but I didn’t ask Waverider (to attempt to take an early lead) because I don’t think I would’ve got a full length in front of Franco Encore. So, I would’ve been wasting my time.”
After a slow lead time of 38.1sec. Franco Encore was able to run the opening quarters comfortably in 30.4sec. and 30.3sec. After a 28.2sec. third quarter Waverider eventually got to the front 120m from home and went on to win by 2m from Franco Encore, with the final 400m being covered in 27.8sec. and the winner rating 1.57 over the 2130m.
Quinton ($71) ran home strongly from seventh on the pegs at the bell to finish third.
Bell said that everything worked out perfectly. “We were able to control the race with both horses,” he said. “Class took Waverider a long way. He had finished second at his three previous starts when he was a bit above himself. We screwed him down and worked him hard leading into this race.
“Now we’re going to give Waverider and Franco Encore three weeks off before getting Wavewrider ready for the Westbred Classic, and I’m hoping that Franco Encore will develop into a WA Derby runner.”
Waverider, a colt by American sire Downbytheseaside, is the fourth foal out of Premium Copper, who was retired after being placed once from five starts. Waverider was purchased for $60,000 at the 2022 Perth APG yearling sale, and he now has earned $140,161 from six wins and three seconds from eleven starts.