Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Inexperienced three-year-old Cyclone Charlotte was thrown in at the deep end when she was the only filly pitted against eleven colts and geldings in the Catalanotrucks.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Her task was made even more difficult when she drew out wide at barrier No. 7 in the 2130m event in which Seven No Trumps and Jackpot Joe had each won seven races, and several other runners had been racing in excellent form.
Cyclone Charlotte, a winner at three of her nine starts, was an $8.40 chance who was driven with aplomb by Aldo Cortopassi, who settled her in eleventh position while the New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Chip ($14) was inclined to overrace in the lead.
Cyclone Charlotte was tenth at the bell, and with 600m to travel she followed the three-wide run of Loucid Dreams. Seven No Trumps, a $16 chance, who after racing without cover, took the lead 450m from home. He was joined by the $3.60 favourite Alcopony on the home turn, with Cyclone Charlotte moving into fifth place, out four wide.
Cyclone Charlotte accelerated quickly, and she burst to the front 30m from the post and won by a half-length from Seven No Trumps, with Alcopony a close-up third, ahead of $26 chance William Gees Legacy, who rattled home out wide from eleventh at the bell. Cyclone Charlie rated 1.56.5, with final quarters (off the front) of 28.8sec. and 29.1sec.
“I’m pretty excited about her,” declared Cyclone Charlotte’s trainer Ray Williams. “And I have been even when she was breaking in running and running seconds. It was a very good run against the boys tonight.
“Not only can she kick (sprint), but she is so tough. She works like a gelding, and when she gallops up the hill at home she goes through the line as good as anything, including Magnificent Storm, even though she doesn’t do as much as he does. I am looking forward to her coming back as a four-year-old. If she pulls up well, she will run in a race for fillies next week.”
Cyclone Charlotte is still relatively inexperienced, having had only ten starts for four wins, five placings and $39,681. She had two starts in New Zealand for a win and a third placing before arriving in WA.
She is by Bettors Delight and is out of the Mach Three mare Cyclone Kate, who had 60 starts for 21 wins, 18 placings and $341,723. She won six times in New Zealand, twice in Victoria and 13 times in New South Wales.