Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Hardy five-year-old Solesseo Matuca revealed excellent fighting qualities to endure a tough run and emerge victorious in the $23,000 The Chase Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2 favourite, and trainer Gary Hall junior’s bid to dash to the front from barrier four and set the pace was foiled when the gelding was unable to cross $126 outsider Master Leighton (barrier one) and $23 chance State Of Heaven (barrier two), leaving him in the breeze.
State Of Heaven set a solid pace and he was checked and broke with about 600m to travel. Solesseo Matuca then went to the front and quickly opened up a break of two lengths on his closest rivals before going on to win by a neck from the $2.80 second fancy Carana, who finished powerfully from last in the field of eight at the bell.
“Nothing went his way at all,” said Hall. “He is a strange horse, but there is a bit of a motor in there somewhere. He has been most consistent, and I think in better company he will be a good sit and kick horse.”
Solesseo Matuca has raced 24 times in WA for five wins and seven placings, which have taken his career earnings to $324,441 from 15 wins and 27 placings from 69 starts.