Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“She is a nice filly who has been plagued with bad barriers and bad luck, and it makes it a lot easier when you’re in front,” said trainer Aiden De Campo after driving El Raes Girl to an all-the-way win in the 2130m Pick Your Race Name Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
El Raes Girl, who went into the race with a losing sequence of 14, was a $4.60 chance from the coveted No. 1 barrier, and De Campo was able to give the filly a comfortable time with a slow lead of 38.2sec. and moderate opening quarters of 30.7sec. and 29.9sec.
De Campo then gave El Raes Girl’s rivals little chance by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 27.9sec. She finished a length clear of $3.20 chance Cinch, who fought on gamely after working in the breeze all the way.
El Raes Girl is by American sire Captain Ahab and is the fifth foal out of Washington VC mare Quick Sunrise, who raced 16 times in WA for two wins (at Bunbury and Pinjarra), four placings and stakes of $7975.
Her win on Friday night completed a double for De Campo, who was successful earlier in the program with the Matt Scott-trained six-year-old gelding Bet On The River in the 2130m Book Into Christmas In July Pace.
Bet On The River, a $12.10 chance, finished solidly from fifth at the bell to win by a metre from Sugar Street ($13) and end a 12-month drought and break a losing sequence of 27.
Deni Roberts also landed a double, driving the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Kinky and Rumble Strip to smart victories.
Kinky ($1.90) surged home from fourth (three wide) at the bell to beat Official Rock ($11) and Up And Alive ($8.50) in the 2130m Free Entry Pace for mares, and classy four-year-old Rumble Strip, the $1.30 favourite, was not extended to race without cover before strolling to an easy win over Rox The World ($11) and Sugar Shake ($6.50) in the 2130m Trotsynd Shares Available Pace.
Ultimate Miki, trained by Gary Hall Snr and driven by Stuart McDonald, was the $1.80 favourite when he outclassed his rivals in the 2130m Bridge Bar Open Pace to remain unbeaten at his three West Australian appearances.