Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A healthy slice of good fortune proved to be a vital factor in Arma Xfactor’s win in the 2130m Vale Wilf Powell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Arma Xfactor, trained by Colin Brown and driven by his daughter Maddison, was a $7.40 chance who came in from barrier three to No. 2 after the scratching of Lets Get Rockin. But his prospects of leading appeared remote after Aiden De Campo declared before the race that he was hellbent on taking full advantage of the No. 1 barrier by setting the pace with $4.80 chance Hillview Bondi.
The complexion of the race changed dramatically when Hillview Bondi galloped at the start, leaving Arma Xfactor out in front without any pressure and able to stroll through the lead time in a slow 39.2sec. and the opening 400m section in a dawdling 31.4sec.
“I certainly wasn’t confident of getting to the front,” said Maddison Brown. “And an easy lead time and a slow first quarter helped us.”
Arma Xfactor sprinted fast over the final quarters in 27.4sec. and 27.9sec. to win by 5m from $126 outsider Navy Street, who had broken in the score-up and was eighth at the bell before finishing strongly with an inside passage.
However, Navy Street was relegated to fourth after having raced inside the marker pegs in the final stages. Firerockfireroll was promoted from third to second, and the $1.80 favourite Lusaka from fourth to third.
Maddison Brown has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the five-year-old Arma Xfactor, having driven him 25 times for ten wins, one second, three thirds and four fourths. Arma Xfactor now has raced 51 times for 14 wins, eight placings and $146,915.
Arma Xfactor is by American Ideal and is out of Arma Xpress, who earned $279,890 from 12 wins and one second from 18 starts. His full-sisters, six-year-old American Arma and three-year-old Xceptional Arma have also excelled on the track, with American Arma being retired with a record of 50 starts for 11 wins,17 placings and $191,613 in prizemoney, and Xceptional Arma having had 29 starts for 12 wins, 11 placings and $300,460. Maddison Brown has driven Xceptional Arma to nine of his victories.