Lightly-raced New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Boom Time, placed at his three previous starts when he covered extra ground and worked hard in the breeze, broke through for an overdue success when he was driven patiently by star reinsman Chris Voak and scored an impressive victory in the 2130m Westside Auto Wholesale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Second favourite at $4.40 from the No. 6 barrier, Boom Time was given plenty of time to settle at the rear in the field of 11 while Vespa ($4.80) set the pace from stablemate Plutonium ($3.80).
Boom Time was ninth with 900m to travel when Voak sent him forward with a three-wide burst which he sustained until he got to the front 90m from the post and won by more than a length from Vespa, rating 1.57.4 after final quarters of 27.9sec. and 28.6sec.
“He just waited until it was convenient and away he went,” said trainer Ross Olivieri. “He has been racing super but has been plagued by bad barriers. He is doing a good job and we’ll be looking for him to go through the classes.”
Boom Time, raced by Merv Butterworth’s Butterworth Racing Syndicate, has had 34 starts for ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $80,471.
by Ken Casellas