Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred five-year-old Beyond The Sea revealed splendid fighting qualities to fight back after being headed in the final lap to win the 2130m TAB Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Beyond The Sea, trained by Murray Lindau and driven by Kyle Harper, was the $2.20 second fancy from the prized No. 1 barrier, with Three Rumours the $2.10 favourite from barrier six.
Beyond The Sea was smartest into stride, while Three Rumours settled down in seventh position before Gary Hall Jnr sent her forward 1100m from home to quickly move outside the pacemaker.
Three Rumours got on terms with Beyond The Sea in the back straight in the final circuit and then got her nose in front. But Beyond The Sea survived the challenge and regained the lead in the home straight to beat Three Rumours by a half-length. The winner rated 1.54.7, with the final 800m taking 56.1sec.
“Beyond The Sea was sensational,” said Harper. “I thought she could win, but I couldn’t believe she would run 1.54.7.”
Harper said he was not particularly concerned when Three Rumours took a narrow lead in the last lap. “She had done a bit of work, and she is a strong staying type. So, I thought we were not going to outstay her. However, I was confident that Beyond the Sea had the pace to outsprint her.”
Beyond The Sea, bred and owned by Trevor Lindsay’s Karnup Racing Pty Ltd, is by American stallion Sunshine Beach, and is the second foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Robyns C C, who raced 56 times for 13 wins, 22 placings and $122,578.
Robyns C C won at three of her 12 New Zealand starts before winning ten races in WA between 2013 and 2016.