Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Veteran pacer Classic Choice ended an eight-month drought when he was a $5 chance from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m My Kitchen Rules Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gary Hall Jnr rated the seven-year-old perfectly when he set a solid pace and won by a length from the $3.70 second fancy Lamandier, who trailed the pacemaker all the way and did not get into the clear until the final 70m.
Four-year-old OK Boomer, a recent arrival from Queensland, was the $3.10 favourite from out wide at barrier eight at his WA debut. He raced in sixth position in the one-wide line before starting a three-wide move 550m from home. But he lacked sparkle and finished seventh.
Classic Choice was having his 18TH start for Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg. He was unplaced at the first 16 runs for Mrs Padberg before enjoying a soft run behind the pacemaker and finishing third behind Fleur Du Marquis ten nights before Friday’s race.
“I had trouble sorting him out,” said Mrs Padberg. “He is a funny horse, very temperamental, and I was changing his work before I decided to go back to my normal routine, and that’s tracking him harder. And tonight’s barrier helped, and now he is in a good place.”
The New Zealand-bred Classic Choice has raced 93 times for 16 wins, 24 placings and stakes of $185,962.