Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Pinjarra trainer Chris Voak’s decision to use hood type blinkers on Per Ardua Ad Astra had the desired effect when Chris Lewis got the six-year-old away speedily from the No. 3 barrier before setting a solid pace and winning easily from the fast-finishing Wall Street Girl in the 1730m Retravision, Click’N’Collect Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I needed to sharpen him up,” said Voak, who was pleased with the way the gelding responded to racing with a hood.
Per Ardua Ad Astra was a solidly supported $3.20 second favourite behind the polemarker and $2.60 fancy Wall Street Girl, who failed to take advantage of the No. 1 barrier by being badly beaten for early speed.
Wall Street Girl was seventh in the field of eight at the bell before being switched three wide at the 700m and then racing four wide at the 400m. After a 28.8sec. third quarter Wall Street Girl sprinted solidly when the final 400m was covered in 29.1sec.
Lewis was pleased with the result, saying: “Over a mile everything worked out perfectly. I was able to rate Per Ardua Ad Astra along, and I thought we had enough in reserve in the late stages to hold our lead. It might have been different over 2130m.”
Per Ardua Ad Astra’s win ended a losing sequence of 16 and took his record to 82 starts for ten wins and 22 placings for stakes of $91,693. He is by Follow The Stars and is the fourth foal out of the unraced Blissfull Hall mare World Peace.
Per Ardua Ad Astra is a full-brother to recent WA country winners Travelban and See The World.