Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Veteran pacer Acuto does his best work when he sets the pace, and outstanding young reinsman Kyle Symington made every post a winner from barrier one when he drove a canny race in front to win the 1730m Follow @Skyracingau On X Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Symington was acutely aware that the $2.30 favourite Tommy Waterhouse was trailing Acuto, the $3.90 second fancy, after beginning from the inside of the back line. Therefore, he did not ask Acuto to race at maximum speed with opening quarters of 29.7sec. and 30sec. with Tommy Waterhouse hemmed in on the pegs.
Gary Hall Jnr managed to ease Tommy Waterhouse off the inside at the bell, but he then was still hampered for room, with Navy Street, out three wide, keeping him in a pocket all the way down the back straight and until he began to wilt, allowing Tommy Waterhouse to get into the clear with 120m to travel.
Tommy Waterhouse battled on doggedly, but made no serious impression on Acuto, who covered the final 400m in 28.8sec. and won by a length from $13 chance Regal Cheval, with Tommy Waterhouse finishing fourth.
“Acuto does well out in front,” said Symington. “He could have gone a lot quicker, but it wouldn’t have been beneficial if I had let Tommy Waterhouse out. So, I just had to stack them up down the back and keep Tommy Waterhouse in a pocket.”
Acuto, owned and trained by Chris Phatouros, ended a losing sequence of 16 and took his record to 128 starts for 15 wins, 29 placings and $189,394 in stakes.