Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Mundijong hobby trainer Terry Atkins broke through for his first metropolitan-class winner for almost 12 years when his promising young pacer I Cross My Heart scored an impressive victory in the $30,000 Beau Rivage Westsired listed classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His previous Friday night city winner was Blissful Snag on September 23, 2011.
“I have always had one or two pacers in work, and I haven’t had anything good enough to race in town since Blissful Snag,” said the 76-year-old Atkins.
I Cross My Heart, a filly by former brilliant pacer My Hard Copy, was the $2.10 favourite who was given a perfect trip by star reinsman Aldo Cortopassi, who was content to sit behind the well-supported $3.30 second fancy Dekla Diva, who was smartest into stride from the No. 1 barrier.
Dekla Dive was able to amble through the lead time in 38.1sec. and the opening quarters of 33.2sec. and 31.8sec. in an Indian file affair.
“I was happy to trail the pacemaker with my only concern being that something could come and cover us up,” said Cortopassi. “But everything worked out well.”
Cortopassi eased I Cross My Heart off the pegs 550m from home and the filly took the lead on the home turn and won by a half-length from Dekla Diva, with the final 400m sections being run in 29sec. and 28.4sec. The winner rated 2.1.3 over the 2130m.
I Cross My Heart, a half-head second to Rocknroll Train on debut at Pinjarra, is the sixth foal out of unraced mare Stars Aligned, will be set for the $100,000 Diamond Classic on August 18.
“I bid for her at the yearling sales last year, but stopped at my limit of $17,000,” said Atkins. “She was then passed in and I was able to lease her off her breeder Bill Hayes and I race her with my wife Jill.
“I also have I Cross My Heart’s half-brother Goldngalaxy (a winner at Bunbury in December and at Northam in February). He is just a plodder but I Cross My Heart has good point-to-point speed. I broke her in, and the first time I put the gear on her she did everything I asked her to do.”
Atkins also trains Copy Of Paris, a $9.50 chance in Friday night’s event who led by a neck in the early stages before breaking into a gallop 100m after the start when she shied at a shadow on the track.