Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Penny Black enhanced her prospects in the rich events for mares later this year when she proved too strong for her rivals in the $50,000 Group 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Penny Black, trained by Michael Young and driven by Emily Suvaljko, was a $4.40 chance behind the polemarker Wonderful To Fly ($3.30) and last year’s winner Aardiebytheseaside, a $3.90 chance from the No. 5 barrier.
Penny Black began smartly from barrier two and settled in the breeze, with Wonderful To Fly setting the pace after a lead time of 37.2sec.
Suvaljko made a winning move when she sent Penny Black to the front 700m after the start, and the mare went on to win by a half-length from $5 chance Little Darling, who fought on grimly after working in the breeze over the final 1400m. The final 400m sections whizzed by in 27.4sec. and 27.6sec., with penny Black rating a smart 1.55.1.
“I was very surprised that Shane (Young) handed up with Wonderful To Fly,” said Suvaljko. “I was just happy to sit in the breeze, and then, once we got to the front, I thought it was race over.
“Penny Black was a bit erratic, running up the track in the back straight in the final lap. I was worried that Wonderful To Fly would get through on the inside, but we were able to get back down to the pegs.”
Penny Black was challenged strongly by Little Darling in the closing stages, but the leader refused to give in.
“Penny Black hangs down a bit on the corner, but when she gets into the straight, she gets going,” said Suvaljko. “I knew that she never gives in, and she loves a horse there (on her outside) keeping her honest.”
Nullarbor Navajo ($13) enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position, ran home solidly to finish third, with Aardiebytheseaside (who followed Nullarbor Navajo all the way) in fourth place, ahead of Wonderful To Fly.
Young said after the race that he relinquished the lead because Wonderful To Fly was not travelling strongly, and he now intends sending the six-year-old out for a spell.
Penny Black, who is by boom sire Sweet Lou, has raced 26 times for twelve wins, seven placings and $204,959. Her 20 WA starts for Young have produced eleven wins and five placings and she is sure to be a leading contender for the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic late this year.