Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Hayden Charles has fond memories of his first winner, Rattlesnake, for Wanneroo trainer Charlie Luca at Gloucester Park on October 22, 2001, and he was delighted to drive Chief Copy to victory for owner-trainer Luca in the $21,000 Westside Auto Tailored Financing Available Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Chief Copy was the $2 favourite, who finished solidly from the out-out, one-back position at the bell to get up in the final couple of strides to win by a metre from Luca’s other runner Starlight Song ($17).
Starlight Song, driven by Vance Stampalia, trailed the pacemaker Ciganda ($2.40) before getting to the front on the home turn. It was an interesting situation, with Charles beating Stampalia, recalling the situation when Rattlesnake won back in 2001 when he beat Via Las Vegas by a head. Via Las Vegas was driven by Stampalia’s sister Tonia.
“I’ve had a good association with Charlie,” said Charles, who has driven the Charles-trained Galvinston John to two wins in recent times.
“Charlie called me during the week and asked me which horse I wanted to drive, and he said he wouldn’t be surprised if Starlight Song was successful.
“With such a slow lead time of 39.5sec. and a very slow first quarter of 32.9sec. tonight I thought it would be difficult to get over the leader. But we managed to get the job done.”
The seven-horse field settled down in Indian file before Kyle Harper got off the pegs with $19 chance Internal Waves with 1350m to travel. Charles was quick to follow the run of that pacer, and Chief Copy was able to sprint home in final quarters of 29.8sec. and 28.9sec.
Chief Copy has now earned $55,486 from two wins, ten seconds and four thirds from 29 starts. He is by former star pacer My hard Copy and is the first foal out of Kamendable Lass, who raced 98 times for seven wins, 21 placings and $67,816.
“This was my first quinella in 45 years of training,” said the 77-year-old Luca. “I liked the breeding of Chief Copy, but he was so small that he was not entered for the 2022 yearling sale. However, I was able to buy him cheaply from his breeder Bill Hayes.
Charles continued in winning form at Northam on Saturday night when he drove $15.30 chance Carmela Domenico to victory in race one for trainer John Guagliardo.