Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak has WA-bred five-year-old Carabao racing in top form, and the gelding completed a hat-trick of wins in stands when he crushed his rivals in the 2503m Westside Auto Wholesale Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has hit a purple patch and now he will go for the Marathon (over 2902m) in a fortnight,” said Voak.
Carabao, the $1.50 favourite, began with his customary brilliance and was untroubled to set the pace and win by just under five lengths from $6.50 chance Ardens Horizon. The final quarters were covered in 28.8sec. and 27.8sec.
Carabao now has had 12 starts for Voak for four wins, five seconds and three fourths.
“He won second-up at Pinjarra (after a six-month absence) and then I went to town trying to pinch a metro race — and he ran three good fourths (which were followed by four seconds and three wins),” said Voak.
“Earlier in his career he would have five or six good runs, and that would be it. Now he seems to be getting better and maintains his good form. His feet were his biggest problem, but after getting on top of them, he has raced extremely well.”
Carabao’s past three wins have come after he has set the pace, but Voak said that the gelding was not exclusively a frontrunner. “He is also a good sit and sprint horse,” he said.