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Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

Seventy-one-year-old Kevin Charles is a busy man, particularly at this time of the year as he prepares twenty youngsters for the APG yearling sale next Sunday week.

But the Hopeland trainer still had the time to present Sameplace Sametime in fine fettle for her engagement in the $18,5000 www.Etchcoatings.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Charles has been a regular fixture at Gloucester Park all his life, and that’s why he named the Somebeachsomewhere seven-year-old mare Sameplace Sametime, a pacer he and his wife Annette bred.

Sameplace Sametime, a $6.60 chance, was driven perfectly by Chris Voak, who brought her home with a spirited late burst to win from Crocodile Kid ($23) and Rock Me Over $4.60).

Sameplace Sametime is the third foal out of former brilliant Million To One mare Leilani Lombo, who won the group 1 APG final for two-year-old fillies at Brisbane’s Albion Park in April 2020 and was retired after racing 23 times for ten wins, six placings and $224,595 in stakes. Charles purchased Leilani Lombo from Mick Lombardo after her racing days were over.

Sameplace Sametime has earned $85,649 from ten wins and 19 placings from 88 starts. Her win ended a losing sequence of 14.

“It was about 18 months to two years ago that Sameplace Sametime had a bad bone chip in her off fore knee,” said Charles. “After the operation to remove the chip, the vet said that she would not race again. But she has been able to race without any problems.”

Charles was confident before Friday night’s race, saying that Sameplace Sametime had worked in dashing style at Pinjarra the previous Saturday morning.

“She worked with Roman Art, and they went phenomenal time,” said Charles. “She just got over Roman Art at the finish, and my confidence was boosted after Roman Art finished second to Minstrel in the Lord Mayor’s Cup earlier tonight.”

Sameplace Sametime’s victory came three nights after four pacers bred by the Charles breeding establishment had been successful at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening. Those winners were Middlepage, Queeninthecorner, Eye Better and Eldaytona.