Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Byford horseman Peter Anderson has been happy to act as the caretaker trainer of Elwaddell in the past few weeks while the six-year-old’s trainer Lindsay Harper has been recovering from fractured ribs he received when a horse kicked him.
And Anderson was repaid for his assistance when Elwaddell, a $5.20 chance, gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Quay Transport Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Elwaddell, driven by Harper’s daughter-in-law Lauren Harper, gave his rivals little hope by sprinting over the final quarters in 28.3sec. and 27.7sec. and he rated 1.56.2 when he beat the $3.60 favourite Sweet Coco by just under a length after she had finished determinedly from seventh at the bell.
Anderson has a long association with Elwaddell, having purchased him as a weanling and owning a share in him with Lindsay Harper and Lindsay’s sister Christine Nash.
He was interested in the weanling because he was by outstanding American sire American Ideal and was the third foal out of Hilmore Disco, a mare he raced with limited success and was retired to the breeding barn with a modest record of 80 starts for three wins, 22 placings and $38,216 in prizemoney.
“I liked Hilmore Disco because she went fast for me at Pinjarra, and I was able to buy the weanling when Ross Waddell offered him and other pacers at an online sale a few years ago when Ross decided to quit breeding,” explained Anderson.
“I paid $12,000 for the weanling, which was good considering that the service fee for American Ideal was much more than that. Now Elwaddell has earned $129,201 from eleven wins and 18 placings from 79 starts. And he has earned another $25 to $30,000 in bonus payments.”
Anderson prepared Elwaddell for his eight starts as a two-year-old in 2022 when he won once, recording a slick 1.56.2 over 1684m at Pinjarra. Since then, Harper has trained Elwaddell until his recent injury, and Anderson has given the horse three starts in July for an eighth, a third and Friday night’s win.
“He came to me fit and in really good condition,” said Anderson. “And he will go back to Lindsay when he recovers from his injuries.”
While Hilmore Disco won only three races, her mother Dalmore Disco was successful on the racetrack, having had 61 starts for 12 wins, 19 placings and $101,782. Dalmore Disco’s younger half-brother Johnny Disco was a smart performer who earned $281,844 from 17 wins and 16 placings from 60 starts.
In July 2015 Johnny Disco won the Group 1 Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings, and his wins the following season included the Group 2 Caduceus Club Classic, beating Questionable Gesture, and the Group 3 Country Derby at Pinjarra.