Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Five-year-old Rattlin Lilly is WA’s best stayer, according to outstanding driver Deni Roberts, who was full of praise for the mare after guiding her to a narrow victory in the Vili’s Family Bakery Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’d like to find a stronger word than tough to describe her,” she said.
Rattlin Lilly was the $5.60 third favourite on Friday night when she began from the outside (No. 9) on the front line in the 2130m event in which Montana Glory from barrier eight was the $4 favourite.
Rattlin Lilly settled down in last place in the field of eleven before Roberts sent her forward, three wide, after 500m to move to the breeze outside the pacemaker Sly Terror ($8). Rattlin Lilly got to the front 650m from home and had to withstand spirited challenges from Soho Firestone ($9), Lombo Mitchinson ($5.50) and Montana Glory before winning by a head from Soho Firestone, with Lombo Mitchinson a half-head away in third place.
“I’m exhausted,” said Roberts after the race. “I looked over (in the closing stages) and saw Aiden (De Campo, driving Lombo Mitchinson) and Mitchell (Miller, driving Soho Firestone), and we were all working harder than the horses.
“Early on, I was a bit indecisive because I was so far off them, and I really needed them to back off, and luckily, they did. Rattlin Lilly knocked off when she got to the front but once they levelled and headed her in the straight, she got going again.”
Rattlin Lilly has won at four of her past five starts, taking her earnings to $82,533 from eight wins and eleven placings from 28 starts.