Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Up-and-coming four-year-old OK Boomer warmed up for the $200,000 Golden Nugget next Friday night when he overcame a poor start and won the $23,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales And Service Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He made a mess of the start and did a good job to win,” said trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper.
And Harper made a dramatic admission after the Bettors Delight gelding, the $2.20 favourite, had finished full of running to win by a length and a half from $71 outsider My Ultimate Chevron, rating 2.0.7 after final quarters of 29.4sec. and 29.7sec.
“OK Boomer had a significant setback a couple of weeks ago,” said Harper. “It wasn’t good, and I was worried about the horse’s life at one point.
“He is going to need a (favourable) barrier in the Nugget, but he’s a player.”
Rock Artist, the $3.20 second fancy, galloped for a couple of strides at the start, thus foiling Chris Voak’s plans of setting the pace. Rock Artist then was forced to race without cover while the $31 chance Lamandier was leading after a flying start from the outside barrier (No. 6) on the front line.
Rock Artist took a narrow lead with about 300m to travel, but he wilted in the home straight and finished sixth after OK Boomer had taken the lead 130m from the post.
OK Boomer has had six starts in Western Australia for four wins and a third placing, and he now has earned $178,228 from 11 wins and 11 placings from 35 starts.