Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Arma Einstein, a speedy five-year-old prepared by Banjup trainer Colin Brown, has always been regarded as a short-course specialist and susceptible over middle distances.
However, punters were quite happy to support him, and he went out as the $2.10 favourite from the outside barrier in a field of five in the $30,000 Perth’s Kate Mac For Breakfast Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Arma Einstein had contested 2536m events seven times without winning — and he made a significant breakthrough when Maddison Brown brought him home with a spirited burst to win by a head from $19 chance Babyface Adda, with the pacemaker Blitzembye ($4.60) a neck away in third place.
Blitzembye ambled through the opening quarter of the final mile in 32.1sec. before the next 400m sections were covered in 29.4sec., 27.9sec. and 28.3sec.
The race quickly developed into an Indian file affair, with Arma Einstein racing in fourth spot. Whatabro raced fiercely in the middle stages, and when Chris Voak eased him off the pegs and took him from last approaching the bell Brown followed that pacer before switching Arma Einstein three wide 300m from home — and he got up in the final couple of strides to gain the verdict in a photo finish.
“Indian file races are difficult,” said Maddison Brown. “Arma Einstein got a bit fierce early when Whatabro was going back in the one-wide line. And then he settled quite well before he fired up again when Voaky made his move. When there are horses around him Arma Einstein wants to go.”
Arma Einstein, who has won twelve times over 2130m and twice over 1730m, has been a great moneyspinner. He has raced 85 times for 18 wins, 37 placings and $285,851 in prizemoney.