Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Memories of champion pacer Im Victorious will be revived at Gloucester Park on Friday night when his full-sister Shes Victorious leads the field on to the track to contest the $21,000 Nathan, Nat and Shaun For Breakfast Pace for three-year-old fillies.
Shes Victorious is trained and part-owned by Michael Brennan, who prepared the brilliant Im Victorious, who was successful on debut when Gary Hall Jnr drove him to an eight-length victory over Our Dreamweaver at Bunbury on February 18, 2012.
Im Victorious won at ten of his first eleven starts, and injuries forced his retirement after his 34 starts produced 22 wins, three placings and $752,035. Highlights of his career included victories in the WA Derby in January 2012, the Golden Nugget in December that year and the Fremantle Cup in January 2014.
Shes Victorious, the tenth foal out of See Me Run, will begin from the No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2130m event in which she will be driven by Stuart McDonald.
Shes Victorious has raced twice in New Zealand for a first-up sixth over 2200m at Invercargill on June 7 this year and then a second placing behind Sallys Pearl over 1700m on the same track eight days later when she began from barrier three in a field of nine and led for the first 100m before taking a sit behind Sallys Pearl.
Sallys Pearl rated 2.0.7 after covering the final 800m in 58.3sc. and the last 400m in 28.2sec. Shes Victorious battled on gamely along the sprint lane and was beaten by one and a half lengths.
Shes Victorious faces a stern first-up test against more experienced and better-performed fillies who have had a combined total of 269 starts for 56 wins and 80 placings.
Heading the talent pitted against Shes Victorious is the outstanding Colin Brown-trained Xceptional Arma, who has had 38 starts for 13 wins, eight seconds, five thirds and $327,275.
Maddison Brown has formed a wonderful association with Xceptional Arma, having driven her to her past ten victories after her father was in the sulky for the filly’s first three wins.
Xceptional Arma will start from the outside of the front line (barrier nine) and has the ability to overcome that significant disadvantage.
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green will be looking for a strong showing from Nase Vira, a winner at four of her 17 starts who will begin from the No. 3 barrier.
Nase Vira was an unlucky second to Xceptional Arma over 2130m last Friday week when she began from the outside (barrier two) on the back line and raced three back on the pegs in seventh position and did not gain a clear passage until late.
“Nase Vira has been held up at her past couple of runs and didn’t get out until late,” said Egerton-Green. “She should run a nice solid race. We will try to make the most of the draw and I’ll try for the front.”
Hall has chosen to drive the Kim Prentice-trained Soho Vesper Lind from barrier five, and Mitch Miller will handle stablemate Soho Honey Rider from the No. 2 barrier on the back line.
“This is a good draw for Soho Honey Rider,” said Prentice. “There is a fair bit of speed on the front line, and that should benefit her.”
Capel trainer Aiden De Campo has two runners in the race — Miss Hepburn (barrier eight) and Copy Cat Queen (outside of the back line). He will handle Copy Cat Queen, who finished strongly from the rear to score a convincing victory over 1609m at Bunbury last Saturday night, and Trent Wheeler will drive Miss Hepburn, who trailed the pacemaker Menemsha and finished second to that gelding in the 2692m Country Derby at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.
“Miss Hepburn and Copy Cat Queen are more than capable and are racing very well,” said De Campo.
Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed is confident that Lion Queen, a winner at five of her ten starts, will figure prominently when she begins from barrier six for Emily Suvaljko. “It’s a good field, and I’m happy with Lion Queen,” said Reed. “With a bit of luck, she will be right in it.”