Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Nine-year-old New Zealand-bred Acuto has been in Western Australia for four years and he notched his first win in a mobile event in the State when Kyle Symington drove the veteran pacer, a heavily supported $1.90 favourite, to an easy victory in the $19,000 Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His previous 51 WA starts produced four wins in stands, and he was unable to win from 17 starts in mobiles. But he relished an ideal barrier at No. 2 in Friday night’s 2130m mobile event when he set the pace after a fast lead time of 36.4sec.
Acuto, having his 101ST start, rated 1.56.4 and beat $7.50 chance State Of Heaven by two and a half lengths, with American Bullitt ($9.50) two lengths farther back in third place.
“He is good in stands, but he is also good in mobiles when he gets the right draw,” said owner-trainer Chris Phatouros.
Acuto’s win ended a losing sequence of 15 and a sequence of eleven unplaced efforts.
“He runs his best races in front; he showed that as a young horse in New Zealand,” said Phatouros. “I was planning to give him a break, but after tonight’s run, I can’t now.
“I bought him from Blake Fitzpatrick in Sydney, and after his first four (unplaced) starts for me in early 2020, he damaged a tendon and was out of action for twenty months. He has had no leg problems over the past couple of years.”
Acuto is by Canadian sire Art Official and is the eleventh foal out of the Holmes Hanover mare Oaxaca Lass, who won the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park in March 2003 before being retired with earnings of $426,585 from 19 wins and 13 placings from 48 starts. Acuto’s half-brother Condrieu spent much of his career in WA and was retired with a record of 94 starts for 22 wins, 27 placings and $269,520.
Acuto’s 101 starts have produced 13 wins, 24 placings and $146,881. He won at five of his 24 New Zealand starts and was successful at three of his 25 appearances in New South Wales. He has raced 52 times in WA for five wins and twelve placings.
Phatouros is also training Reddy To Fly and has bred three pacers, a two-year-old, a yearling and a foal on the ground.