Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
It was a classic case of a long time between drinks when eight-year-old pacer Street Appeal led from barrier three and won easily by two lengths from The Dark Night over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening.
The victory for Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko 877 days (or two years and five months) after his previous success, over 1660m at Brisbane’s Albion Park on October 30, 2021.
And now Suvaljko is bubbling with confidence that Street Appeal will notch his second win in the space of four days when he starts from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the first event, the 2130m Garrard’s At Gloucester Park Pace on Friday night.
And this confidence is not just an idle boast regarding the New Zealand-bred gelding who had managed just two placings from 31 starts for Suvaljko after he had purchased him for $30,000 in a package deal with Skippys Delight late in 2021 after Street Appeal had won 14 times at Albion Park.
After unplaced efforts at his first two starts for Suvaljko Street Appeal damaged a tendon and was off the scene for 14 months.
“I expected him to win tonight (Tuesday), and I’m expecting him to lead and be very hard to beat again on Friday night,” said Suvaljko. “I nominated him for both races and after this win he went up in class, but he has been able to beat the handicapper.
“He is a quick beginner and should be able to handle the opposition on Friday night when the field is much of a muchness as it was tonight. His recent runs have been quite handy. He has dropped down in grades since he arrived here.”
Street Appeal’s main opposition is quite likely to come from the Lang Inwood-trained Beyond Bling, who will be driven by Suvaljko elder brother Shannon from barrier three.
Shannon Suvaljko gave punters a good lead when he chose to drive Beyond Bling ahead of that pacer’s stablemate Eye Better and the Debbie Padberg-trained Shoot Through. Shannon Suvaljko’s daughter Emily will handle Eye Better from barrier five, and Chris Voak has been engaged to drive the speedy Shoot Through, who will begin from the No. 7 barrier and is capable of a flying start.