Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Not only was former champion footballer Bryan Cousins enjoying Australia doing battle with England in the second Ashes Test match at the famous Lord’s ground in London, but he was excited as he watched his mobile phone showing his five-year-old pacer Carabao winning the $20,250 Direct Trades Supply Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He bred and owns Carabao, who set the pace and won the 2503m standing-start event by a length and a half from Verano, another five-year-old he owns.
Both Carabao and Verano were $8 chances, with Chris Voak training and driving Carabao, and Mitch Miller driving Verano for trainer Kim Prentice.
Cousins has enjoyed great success as a breeder and owner of pacers after retiring from an outstanding football career as a speedy and skilful rover for Perth and Geelong, with a major highlight being his win in the 1983 Sandover Medal.
Voak got Carabao away fast from barrier three on the front line and the American Ideal gelding relished the role of pacemaker, and he gave his rivals little hope by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.6sec. and 28sec. Verano fought on gamely after enjoying the perfect trail behind the frontrunning Carabao.
The $1.65 favourite Peter Petrify had a tough run in the breeze throughout before wilting to finish fourth.
“Carabao showed a bit of class tonight,” said Voak. “He is capable of winning more standing-start races, but I am also considering trying to qualify to start in the John Higgins Memorial (a $50,000 group 3 mobile event) next moth.
“His feet have been a problem throughout his career. But I think I have got on top of the problem, and pain-free tonight he has done it really easily.”
Carabao has now had 49 starts for eight wins, 17 placings and $92,452 in prizemoney. He is the third foal out of the Western Terror mare Escovedo, who also produced Galante, a winner of $184,340 from 14 wins and 30 placings from 89 starts. Galante had 44 starts in WA for seven wins and 15 placings before continuing his career in America in 2021.