Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Cloud Nine has never been known as a pacer with good gate speed, and it came as a surprise when he began from the No. 1 barrier and dashed straight to the front, set a brisk pace and won easily when he rated 1.57.8 in the 2130m TABtouch Have You Got the Touch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was a significant first for the Bettors Delight gelding, the first time in 41 starts in Western Australia that he had set the pace.
After driving Cloud Nine, the heavily-supported $2.10 equal favourite with Soho Moonraker to an effortless victory by four and a half lengths over Soho Moonraker, Byford trainer Donald Harper said: “Cloud Nine is not generally known for his gate speed but tonight he began well enough to hold them out at the start.
“I thought that if he could hold up it would give us the best winning chance.”
Cloud Nine was purchased by Harper for $11,000 in June this year, and the gelding is raced by his wife Tara. Cloud Nine has had 13 starts for the Harper stable for Friday night’s win, four placings and stakes of $13,470.
A winner at two of his 16 New Zealand starts, Cloud Nine has earned $143,349 from 11 wins, 19 seconds and six thirds from 88 starts.
“He has been unlucky a fair few times,” said Harper, who is hopeful of further successes with the seven-year-old who he describes as a very easy horse to deal with. Our son Logan (11) comes down every day after school and puts him on the treadmill for an afternoon walk.”