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Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

Trainer Michael Young predicted that Beat City would progress to Free-For-All and Cup company after the former Victorian pacer had scored a convincing victory in the 2130m Fly Like An Eagle Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“I expect him to go through the grades and think he will be able to race in Free-For-Alls and progress to be able to run in the big Cup events in the summer,” said Young.

“He’s not the best horse around but he has really high speed, so he should be a soft-run horse in Free-For-Alls.

“Last week (when racing first-up and finishing a half-head second to Power And Grace) Junior (reinsman Gary Hall Jnr) learnt a bit about him, and that he is not a horse who likes to be hit with the whip. He turns his toes up a bit.

“Tonight, he gave the horse a crack with the whip at the 400m, and he almost went in reverse. Junior said that he then just growled at him, and he got the plugs out and he won pretty easily.”

Beat City, a five-year-old by Rocknroll Dance, was the $1.40 favourite from barrier five. Hotfoot It, an $81 outsider, dashed to an early lead before Hall sent Beat City to the front after 600m. After a smart 36.2sec. lead time the pace slackened with opening quarters of 30.7sec. and 30.8sec. before the final 800m sections was run in 56.2sec.

Beat City found plenty in reserve as he went on to defeat Fanci A Dance ($8.50) and Classic Choice ($7). The winner rated a smart 1.56.3.

Beat City’s six wins and nine placings from 18 WA starts have boosted his career record to 50 starts for 14 wins, 19 placings and $145,180 in stakes.