Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
West Australian-bred four-year-old Alta Blues maintained his splendid form with an impressive victory in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he looks destined to race in the United States.
“He is a good horse and there’s American interest in him,” said champion trainer Gary Hall snr. “Other horse from the stable who are on offer to American buyers are My Carbon Copy, Ideal Liner and Alta Intrigue.
“Originally, I thought that Alta Blues might be able to win the WA Pacing Cup, but now I don’t think he’s got quite the class or the speed. However, he’s got the strength.”
Alta Blues, by former star pacer Alta Christiano, is out of the Canadian mare Child From The Sea, who won seven minor races from 36 starts in northern America. He has earned $137,457 from 13 wins and six seconds from 29 starts.
He was awkwardly drawn at barrier seven in Friday night’s event and was a $6.30 chance. After racing wide early and moving into the breeze outside the pacemaker and $3.10 favourite As Happy As Larry, he enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position after Aiden de Campo had dashed Alta Engen ($3.40) forward to the breeze in the first lap.
Alta Engen worked his way to the front 400m from home but was immediately under pressure. Gary Hall jnr started a three-wide move with 250m to travel and Alta Blues stormed to the front at the 150m mark and won by just over a length from $6 chance Golden State, who finished strongly, four wide, after trailing the pacemaker. Im Soxy ran on for third, with Alta Engen wilting to fifth. Alta Blues rated 1.56.9.