Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred mare Three Rumours bounced back to her best form with an effortless victory in the $23,000 Prindiville Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a striking performance which showed she will be a leading candidate in the $50,000 Kerry Clarke Pace next Friday week.
Three Rumours, the $1.70 favourite, began well from the No. 3 barrier but was beaten for early speed by $13 chance Blaze Coops, leaving her with the onerous task of racing in the breeze.
However, this was no impediment, and when Gary Hall Jnr asked her for an effort turning into the back straight for the final time, she responded in fine style and burst to the front 480m from home and went on to win by four lengths from $21 chance Brulee, who had trailed the frontrunning Blaze Coops all the way.
“It’s good to have Three Rumours back on track,” said trainer Nathan Turvey. “I think I had raced her a bit too much, so I have backed off her workload and spaced her runs. And she seems happy.
“She ran good time (rating 1.56.1). Normally when she hits the front, she star gazes a bit. But tonight, she was happy to keep going.”
Three Rumours is owned by Busselton trainer Barry Howlett in partnership with his wife Lynley and their son Jimmy. Barry Howlett also owns and trains Brulee.
Three Rumours, a Mach Three six-year-old, has raced 56 times for eleven wins, 19 seconds and three thirds for stakes of $221,037.