Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Prominent trainer Michael Young was captivated by the looks of Soho Tribeca colt Cease To React as a yearling and he has no regrets that he outlaid $17,000 to buy the youngster for $17,000 at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale.
It was a wise decision, with Cease To React winning in good style at his first two starts, the second coming at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Gary Hall Jnr drove him to victory in the $30,000 Western Crown for two-year-old colts and geldings.
This followed Cease To React’s debut victory over Nite Sniper at Pinjarra late last month. The colt, raced by Young, Dave Boyd, Eddie Burchill and Barry Stokes, is proving a bargain, with prizemoney of $22,381 from his first two appearances.
“He just caught my eye,” said Young. “He was the best-looking horse at the parade of yearlings last year before the sales. He looked really athletic.”
Cease To React was the $2.20 favourite from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night when he raced without cover early and then in the one-out, one-back position before starting a three-wide move 550m from home and taking the lead 100m from the post and winning by 2m from the pacemaker Southerner ($11).
Butter Up, a stablemate of the winner, was the sole runner on the back line and a $5.50 chance. He trailed Southerner all the way and was hampered for room in the closing stages when an unlucky third.
“Cease To React is a little professional,” said Hall. “On the line he seemed to have a bit in reserve. He got off the gate well and then put in a few rough ones before he settled well and was like a four or five-year-old the way he travelled.”
Cease To React is the second foal out of Orphan Reactor, who earned $25,896 from three wins (at Bunbury, Albany and Pinjarra) and eleven placings from 37 starts.