Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Ace trainer Kim Prentice has had his problems with Crowd Control for much of 2023, but he is now more than happy with the way the gelding is performing.
“He was in the top half-dozen two-year-olds last year, but I’ve had a torrid time in getting him right this year,” he said after Gary Hall Jnr had driven him to a decisive victory in the Finishing Touch Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has had ulcer problems, but in the past month he has gone the best he has for the whole year. We were going to tip him out, but he will now keep racing because he is going so good. He is a very happy horse and is going extremely well.”
Prentice said that he was contemplating preparing Crowd Control to run in the $50,000 Chandon Classic for four-year-olds on February 23.
Crowd Control was a solidly supported $1.90 favourite from the outside of the back line. He settled down in ninth position while $126 outsider Era was setting a solid pace after holding out the fast-starting $9 chance Tantabiddi, a stablemate of Crowd Control.
Crowd Control was ninth with 950m to travel before Hall sent him forward, out three wide. Tantabiddi got to the front 550m from home before Crowd Control surged to the front approaching the home turn. He then raced away and won by 7m from Rock Artist ($41), with All Is Well ($8.50) finishing strongly from last at the bell to be third, with Tantabiddi holding on gamely to be fourth. The final 400m was covered in28.7sec. and Crowd Control rated 1.56 over the 2130m.
“It was enormous, a career-best run by Tantabiddi,” said a delighted Prentice.
Crowd Control is by American stallion Control The Moment and is out of the Barnett Hanover mare Just Visiting, a winner of two races at Bunbury in her 25-start career. Crowd Control has earned $106,752 from six wins and 17 placings from 31 starts, and his half-brother American Bullitt has been a handy performer, with a career record of 122 starts for 11 wins, 35 placings and stakes of $166,222.
Just Visiting is a half-sister to seven winners, including Truckers Ruffnut (53 starts for 20 wins, 14 placings and $249,770), Tuxedo Tour (70 starts for 15 wins,21 placings and $194,596) and Giver Us A Wave (47 starts for 12 wins, 13 placings and $147,072).