Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Petes Honour, described by eight-time leading West Australian trainer Ross Olivieri as a slow developer, is gaining confidence and he impressed with a smart all-the-way win in the $21,000 SEFS, The Asset Finance Specialists Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Olivieri’s wife Jemma Hayman and driven by champion reinsman Chris Lewis, Petes Honour was a solidly supported $4.20 second fancy who burst straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier and was not seriously challenged before winning by just under two lengths from $8 chance Kurios Boy, with the $3 favourite Thenu Came Along a length farther back in third place.
Petes Honour rated 1.56.5, with final quarters of 28.3sec. and 28.4sec. He led when he won from My Silver Spoon at his previous outing, thus ending a losing sequence of 14.
“He was a bit unlucky in some of those races, and we gave him a little let-up and brought him back again,” said Olivieri who was standing in for his wife, the gelding’s trainer who was at the meeting at Wagin where her one starter Diamond World set the pace and finished third behind Sheza Sassy Lassy.
“We have worked on his manners, and they have got better and better,” said Olivieri. “He was over racing and being a bit hot-headed and silly. During his losing sequence he ran a couple of seconds in town against some good three-year-olds, including Tualou.
Petes Honour is by Sweet Lou and is the fifth foal out of Western Terror mare Arousing, who earned $119,663 from 11 wins and 32 placings from110 starts.
Hayman, who bred Petes Honour, also bred and raced Arousing’s first foal, Run For Mercy, who was retired after a good career of 91 starts for 12 wins, 26 placings and $132,581. Petes Honour looks set to exceed that record. He now has raced 27 times for five wins, eight placings and $52,771.