Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
It pays for drivers to have the ability to make split-second decisions in races. And it was this skill that helped champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr to win the Christmas Parties At Gloucester Park Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the $1.40 favourite Atlas The Titan.
“I thought we’d go forward off the gate (from barrier seven) and drive him tough and probably bully his way to the front, or at least to the breeze,” said Hall.
“But I changed my mind quickly (when several runners drawn inside of Atlas The Titan began speedily) and restrained.”
Atlas The Titan settled down in tenth position after Brewery Lane, Here Comes Sharkie, Our Major Jack and Gold Horseshoe had all made bids for the early lead, with $11 chance Gold Horseshoe finally getting to the front after about 700m.
“I was then a long way out of my ground, trusting that they would come back to me at some stage,” said Hall. After a 28.9sec. opening quarter the pace slackened with a 30.7sec. second section which prompted Hall to send Atlas The Titan forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell.
Henwood Bay ($15) had charged to the front 1400m from home, and he held a two-length lead with 400m to travel. However, Atlas The Titan proved too strong, and he raced to the front 100m from the post and won by just over a length from Henwood Bay, with $8 chance Cloud Nine, ninth at the bell, finishing fast into third place.
Atlas The Titan, trained by Gary Hall Snr, is an inexperienced three-year-old who went into Friday night’s event with a record of three wins and two placings from 12 starts — and being opposed by eleven much older and more experienced rivals with a combined tally of 1169 races, 127 wins and 285 placings.
Atlas The Titan is by former star pacer Lazarus and is the fourth foal out of unraced Art Major mare Code Cracker.
“The race wasn’t run how I expected but they ran it to suit him, and it was easy in the end,” said Hall Jnr.