Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Victorian-bred five-year-old Awaitinginstructions overcame two checks in running before finishing with a strong burst to win the 2503m Steelos Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Courage Under Fire gelding, prepared by Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, gave reinsman Mitch Miller the second leg of a double, following his win with Soho Firestone earlier in the night.
Awaitinginstructions, unplaced at his nine previous starts, including his previous five races in mobiles, lived up to his reputation as a standing-start specialist, with 12 of his 14 wins in a 36-start career being in stands.
“His recent runs in mobiles have been because there has been only one standing-start race at Gloucester Park every fortnight,” said Scott. “And he hasn’t had a lot of luck in mobile races in which he hasn’t had a lot of luck and still has been running good sectionals.
“Tonight, he was checked twice, when Sippinonjack went roughly on the first bend, and then when Troopingofthecolor broke in front of him about 1550m from home.
“The win will be a good fillip for owner Tim Blee, whose brother Ian is not too well. Another of Tim’s horses Miss Taken was ready to trial but broke down again a week ago and had to be retired.”
Miss Taken, whose ten WA starts produced four wins and three places, including wins at her final two starts, at Wagin and Northam in June and July of last year, fractured a pedal bone 15 months ago. She damaged the pedal bone again last week.
Awaitinginstructions, a $10.40 chance, was seventh with two laps to go, and after being checked and losing a length when Troopingofthecolor, the $6 favourite, broke in front of him, then slotted in the ideal one-out, one-back position before finishing strongly to win by a half-length from the fast-finishing $13 chance Deeorse.
Awaitinginstructions is the twelfth foal out of the Armbro Operative mare Indigenous, who earned $112,245 from 14 wins and three placings from 21 starts.