Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo completed a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the $1.60 favourite Ideal Muscle set the pace and held on grimly to beat fast-finishing $61 outsider Maximum Rock by a head in the 2536m Western Gateway Consolation.
De Campo took full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier with the small American Ideal three-year-old who was untroubled to lead, with $20 chance Xceptional Arma applying no pressure in the breeze. Ideal Muscle increased the tempo with final 400m sections of 28.7sec. and 28.6sec. while Maximum Rock finished powerfully from eighth at the bell.
“He wanted to run the gate, and he was probably a bit too keen (early) which took a bit out of him late, said De Campo. “I hope this win will slip him up the rankings and get a start in the WA Derby (next Friday week).
“Ideal Muscle is a good frontrunner who can also sprint home strongly when he races back in the field.”
Ideal Muscle has raced 26 times for eight wins, ten placings and $99,211. He is out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Delightful Page, a daughter of quality mare Centrefold Angel, who had 47 starts for 14 wins, 15 placings and $237,348.
At her fourth start in a race Centrefold Angel, a $85.80 outsider driven by Ryan Bell, ran on from sixth at the bell to win the Diamond Classic by two lengths from the $1.80 favourite Batavia Touchngo in the Diamond Classic in June 2009.
Then, at her second-last appearance, she won the Group 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes by a neck from Alkira Jetstar in May 2013.