Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star pacer Bet On The House is the best three-year-old in the State, was the bold statement from Byford trainer Ron Huston after the gelding caused a minor upset by beating the brilliant Waverider, the $1.30 favourite, in the $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Waverider went into the Group 2 event with seven wins from 13 starts but had to lower his colours to $5.40 chance Bet The House, who was driven aggressively by Chris Voak.
Kyle Symington sent Waverider straight to the front from the No. 2 barrier, while Voak sent Bet The House (barrier four) forward, three wide, after 200m to zoom into the breeze. Soon after that Atlas Of Titan ($71) moved to the breeze, giving Bet The House an ideal trail, one-out and one-back.
After opening quarters of 28.4sec. and 30.9sec. Voak urged Bet The House forward, three wide, with 900m to travel, and the gelding got to the breeze and moved on terms with Waverider at the 100m before taking a narrow lead 50m later and winning by a neck from Waverider, rating 1.56.9.
Rox The World, a $31 chance who raced three back on the pegs in fifth position, got off the pegs on the home turn and charged home, out five wide, to finish a close third, just in front of Ideal Muscle ($17), who was eighth at the bell and flew home, out six wide.
“Bet The House is tough, and he is brave,” said Voak, while Huston said: “He is the best three-year-old in WA. Bet The House is a superstar and I’m bullish about that claim, filly or colt. I haven’t seen any other do what he did tonight.
“I thought he would have to do a fair bit of work in the run. His recent work has been amazing, after recovering from a bit of a cold.
“Bet The House will now be set for the Western Gateway, the Battle Of Bunbury and the WA Derby.”
Bet The House, a gelding by American sire Betting Line, has earned $178,983 from even wins and five placings from 13 starts.
Ryan Bell, trainer of Waverider, said: “He was disappointing after looking he had the race shot to pieces. And then within a stride he just didn’t go. His heart rate was a bit higher than what it should have been.”