Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A little more than three hours after Mister Smartee, purchased earlier this year for $400,000, had won the Group 2 Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a two-year-old colt Hot Rod, who cost absolutely nothing, won the $30,000 Soaks Hit Busso Westsired Pace for colts and geldings.
Hot Rod, having his second start after his sound fourth on debut at Collie the previous Sunday, was a $91 rank outsider on the fixed market when he began from the coveted No. 1 barrier for owners Annette Ashcroft and Scott Glover.
He was driven perfectly by Lauren Harper for Collie trainer Errol Ashcroft, trailing the pacemaker and $4.40 second fancy Into The Future before dashing to the front on the home turn and winning by just under a length from $8.50 chance Tricky Trev, who rattled home from fifth at the bell.
Ashcroft was delighted at the victory, and he revealed that Hot Rod was a gift from his breeder Brad Lynn.
“Brad was having trouble getting him going a few months ago, and my daughter Bianca told him that she thought I could get him going,” said Ashcroft.
“He said that the colt was cross-firing, and that if I wanted him, I should come get him (three and a half months ago) for no cost. So, I went and picked him up and told Brad that if he was able to win a race, I would give him a thousand dollars.”
Ashcroft then registered the colt in the name of his wife Annette and Scott Glover, a faithful stable client who resides in New South Wales.
“Scott has raced pacers with me, including Euphoric Moment, whom he bred, and when I got Hot Rod for nothing, I put Scott in for a share,” said Ashcroft. “The colt was not named, and we named him Hot Rod because his stable name at Lynn’s stable was Rodney, and he’s like a hot rod to drive. He just wants to go.”
Euphoric Moment has been a good moneyspinner, having earned $161,536 from 17 wins and 36 placings from 127 starts. His most recent win was at Gloucester Park on December 30, 2022, when he was a $65.20 outsider.
While Lynn was pleased to rejoice in Hot Rod’s win, he was also enjoying an excellent week in harness racing, training a double with Elegant Peak ($7.20) and Ineeda Drink ($3.50) at Pinjarra on Monday and scoring with Callmewhatuwant ($6) at Bunbury on Saturday night. The three pacers were driven in fine style by Lynn’s son Toby.
Hot Rod is by little-known sire Capricorn Comander (correct spelling) and is the fourth foal out of unraced Live Or Die mare Janet James.
Capricorn Comander (by Christian Cullen) had a brief racing career of 18 starts for five wins, two placings and $24,515 in prizemoney. His claim to fame was finishing fifth behind Mr Yankee in the Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park in December 2006.
Janet James also produced Rodger James, who has had 120 starts for four wins (two at Pinjarra and one each at Wagin and Gloucester Park) and 26 placings for stakes of $56,368.