Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The off-side tyre of the $2.80 favourite Robbie Easton’s sulky was punctured moments after the start of the 1730m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and this played a major role in the victory of the $3.40 second fancy Arma Xfactor.
Despite the serious handicap of a flat tyre, Chris Lewis made a bold effort to set the pace and win the race.
But in the end this mishap proved to be too big a handicap, and Robbie Easton wilted in the final stages to finish a close third behind Arma Xfactor and $126 outsider Blue Blazer, who trailed the pacemaking Robbie Easton throughout.
Maddison Brown was content to keep Arma Xfactor in the breeze where the horse kept Blue Blazer under lock and key and in a watertight pocket.
“I was happy to be in the breeze,” said Brown. “I heard someone getting a flat tyre just after the start, and when I got up alongside Robbie Easton, I saw it was him.”
Brown remained patient until she sent Arma Xfactor forward to take the lead 220m from home. The final quarters were covered in 28.1sec. and 28.9sec.
Lewis, who took a long despairing look at his punctured sulky tyre just after the start, lodged a protest against Blue Blazer, alleging that Blue Blazer’s near foreleg had struck Robbie Easton’s sulky and punctured the tyre. After a lengthy hearing, the stewards dismissed the protest.
Brown said that Arma Xfactor, trained by her father Colin, was tough and also was capable of running a fast quarter. “He was really switched on tonight and he likes being up on the pace,” she said.
Arma Xfactor is by American sire American Ideal and is the third foal out of Arma Xpress, who was an outstanding juvenile performer who raced 18 times for 12 wins, one placings and stakes of $279,890.