Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak is setting five-year-old mare Sweet Vivienne for the $35,000 Race For Roses next Friday week after driving her to a smart victory in the $23,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sweet Vivienne’s 52 starts have been in mobile events, and Voak is looking forward to testing the mare in a standing-start event. He plans to qualify her to race in stands when she lines up in a standing-start trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday.
Voak knows what it takes to win the Race For Roses after having driven the Jemma Hayman-trained Taking the Miki to a convincing victory in this event two years ago.
Sweet Vivienne was having her first start since entering Voak’s stables five weeks ago when she was a $5 chance from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night. Though beaten for early speed by Madame Publisher ($2.40 favourite) and Remarkable Rock ($61), she was able to kick through on the inside and set the pace.
Quarters of 29.2sec., 29.1sec., 28.5sec. and 29.1sec. gave her rivals little chance and she won by a length from $5 chance Princess Katie, who settled at the rear from barrier eight and then went forward to the breeze in the first lap. Sweet Vivienne rated a smart 1.54.9.
Sweet Vivienne was bred and is owned by Paula Petricevich, who asked Voak to take the mare after she had faded badly to finish last in a race at Northam on February 15. She is by Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of unraced mare Quite A Sensation and now has had 52 starts for nine wins, eleven placings and $117,098.