Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Six-year-old New Zealand-bred Classic Choice relishes setting the pace, and Busselton trainer Barry Howlett was confident that the gelding would be successful after drawing favourably at barrier No. 2 in the 2130m Beau Rivage Open Through July Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Classic Choice was the warm $1.70 favourite, and Chris Lewis left nothing to chance by dashing him straight to the front and setting a solid pace on the way to winning by just over a length from the polemarker and $8 second fancy American Bullitt, who trailed the pacemaker throughout.
Classic Choice rated 1.57.3 after dashing over the final quarters in 28.8sec. and 28.5sec. The win improved Classic Choice’s record to 61 starts for 13 wins, 20 placings and $129,104 in prizemoney.
“He is a very consistent performer, and the good barrier tonight made me confident,” said Howlett who purchased the son of Sweet Lou as a weanling in New Zealand in 2018. “He hasn’t got great zip coming from behind but has good high speed and is suited out in front.”
Classic Choice is the second foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Heart Of Jessie, who won at five of her 32 starts for stakes of $30,442. Heart Of Jessie’s dam Jessie Grace produced ten winners, including the speedy Pazam, who won at three of his eight New Zealand starts before winning at 19 of his 31 starts in WA in the late 1990s and early 2000s.