Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star young reinsman Kyle Symington did not panic when the pacemaker Wicked Lover was passed by Fly She Can 50m from the post in the 2130m Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Kenwick Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He retained his composure and gave Wicked Lover a cut with the whip to regain the lead and go on and win by a half-neck from Fly She Can.
This completed a double for Symington and trainer Ryan Bell, who had combined to win earlier in the night with Swingband.
And Symington continued in grand style in the sulky by landing a treble at Gloucester Park on Saturday night when he scored with Under The Alta ($9), Ideal Interest ($5.50) and American Major ($1.10).
These wins are sure to boost his confidence when he represents Western Australia in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship series in New South Wales this week, with two heats at Menangle, Bathurst, Penrith and Newcastle before the final at Menangle next Saturday night.
“Tonight, Wicked Lover kicked away from the main pack (on the home turn) and then went to pull up,” said Symington. “But when Fly She Can came, she switched back on and fought back. She is still learning and does a couple of things wrong.”
Wicked Lover, a $6 chance, beat Fly She Can ($7.50) who sustained a spirited run from eighth at the bell. Ciganda ($61) was a well-beaten third, with the $3.60 favourite Ruia in fourth place after settling at the rear and then dashing forward to the breeze with 1200m to travel.
Wicked Lover is by former star American pacer McWicked and is the fourth foal out of unraced Bettors Delight mare Another Cover Lover. Wicked Lover, purchased for $52,000 at the 2023 Perth APG yearling sale, has earned $27,637 from three wins and one placing from 14 starts.
Another Cover Lover’s elder full-sister Bettor Cover Lover was a champion pacer who amassed $1,026,427 from 19 wins and 14 placings from 39 starts, which included five Group 1 successes. Bettor Cover Lover raced three times at Gloucester Park in November 2013 when she finished third behind Leda McNally in the Norms Daughter Classic and fourth behind the same pacer in the Mares Classic.
“Wicked Lover has been a bit of hard work,” said Bell. “She always had the ability, but she has a bit of an attitude. She has a bit of grit about her and will stay all day. She is quite tough, and I like her for the future.”