Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star filly Captainshavtime coasted to victory in the $21,000 @gloucesterpark On Instagram Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night to remain unbeaten at her five starts in Western Australia, leaving outstanding driver Deni Roberts with quite a headache.
“It’s going to be a tough choice deciding between Captainshavtime and Belly Up as my drive in the Golden Slipper,” said Roberts after guiding the $1.10 favourite Captainshavtime to victory over the pacemaker Ruia ($14) and Ruby Lou ($9.50).
A week earlier Roberts drove the WA-bred gelding Belly Up to a dazzling last-to-first win in the Group 1 Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings to emerge as a leading hope for the $150,000 Golden Slipper next Friday week.
Both youngsters are prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond. The New Zealand-bred Captainshavtime raced three times in New Zealand for a win and a third placing, while she has won in impressive style at her five appearances at Gloucester Park.
“Captainshavtime is a nice filly, and the slow early pace didn’t bother her tonight,” said Roberts. “She has a lot of bottom to her, and even if they go slow, she can rip a good half. If they go fast, she can run home strongly, too.
“She was just too classy for them tonight. I went to the breeze with about 1200m to go because I wanted to cover up Ruby Lou (who was following the leader Ruia). She is not afraid to do some work. The few times I have led with her, she has been lazy, but if a horse had come to her outside, she would have been fine.”
Captainshavtime is on the doorstep of a wonderful career. She has earned $54,580 from six wins and a third from eight starts. She is by American stallion Captain Crunch, and is out of Betterthanbrie, who raced 44 times in New Zealand for five wins, 12 placings and $50,897.