Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Prominent breeder and owner Mark Congerton was all smiles when he reappeared at Gloucester Park on Friday night after an absence of almost five years.
Congerton, a part-owner of former superstar multi-millionaire pacers Im Themightyquinn and King Of Swing, celebrated his return when his New Zealand-bred pacer Coney Island Lou scored a smart victory in the $21,000 Steel Blue Work Boots Pace over 2130m.
The four-year-old was his first starter at Gloucester Park since Gary Hall Jnr drove King Of Swing to win a race from Simba Bromac on November 15, 2019.
Hall drove Coney Island Lou, prepared by Gary Hall Snr, with utmost confidence, setting the pace with the $1.10 favourite from barrier five and winning by just over a length from the $9.50 second fancy Ideal Tomado after dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.8sec. and 27.9sec.
This was a successful Australian debut for Coney Island Lou, who now has raced 16 times for five wins, four placings and stakes of $82,608, illustrating Congerton’s astute judgment of horseflesh.
“I liked the breeding and liked the look of the yearling when I watched a video of him walking,” said Congerton. “He was offered at the yearling sale at Canterbury in February 2021and I was keen to buy him. He had a reserve price on him of $40,000, and there were no bids. So, I was able to buy him online for $40,000.”
After Coney Island Lou’s first win in New Zealand Congerton sold a share of the gelding to Glen Moore, who was also a part-owner of Im Themightyquinn and King Of Swing, as well as hundreds of other outstanding pacers.
Coney Island Lou now races in the name of Congerton’s wife Peta-Ann, Moore and 6PR radio broadcaster Russell Collett, who was a part-owner of Crusader Banner, who won 13 races between 2013 and 2018.
Coney Island Lou is by Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of the American Ideal mare Alta Shangri La, who raced 17 times for two wins and one placings for stakes of $29,940. Alta Shangri La’s elder half-brother Alta Intrigue (trained by Hall Snr and part-owned by Moore) was retired after racing 75 times for 14 wins, 29 placings and $260,594. Alta Intrigue had 49 starts in WA for ten wins and 16 placings.
Hall Jnr said that Coney Island Lou was having a bit of trouble adapting to the WA style of racing and the WA tracks.
“But he certainly has got a motor,” he said. “His best asset is his speed, and when he goes up in grade and races in a sit and kick style you will probably see a better horse. He had issues in New Zealand, hanging and overracing, but he was really good tonight, out in front.”