Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Highly promising New Zealand-bred filly Cyclone Charlotte ruined her chances when she broke in running at two of her first three appearances in WA and was sent back to trials.
But she has overcome this bad habit and was on her best behaviour at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Aldo Cortopassi drove her to a splendid victory in the $20,250 Ned The Chess Player Pace.
Cyclone Charlotte, trained by Ray Williams, was the $3.80 second fancy, with Taking The Miki, the recent WA Oaks winner and third placegetter in the WA Derby the $3.50 favourite.
Miss Allegra ($5) dashed to the front after 300m and she was able to coast through the opening quarters in 31.3sec. and 29.8sec., with Taking the Miki working in the breeze, and Cyclone Charlotte enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and two-back in sixth position.
Cortopassi bided his time before he sent Cyclone Charlotte forward with a three-wide burst 550m from home. The Bettors Delight three-year-old accelerated quickly and surged to the front with 250m to travel before winning by a length and a half from $4.20 chance Wall Street Girl, who finished solidly from eighth at the bell.
“She did everything right tonight,” said Cortopassi. “She had a bad habit and would get out of her gear at high speed. She threw away a couple of races. Tonight, she was on song, and everything was perfect. She hit the line great, and it’s now onwards and upwards for her.
“She’s got a really good turn of foot; really explosive. Taking The Miki had to do a bit of work, going around to the breeze, and that helped us a bit. Settling, one-two gave us every chance.
“Her early problems were mainly due to gear issues. But they have been cured, all’s good.”
Cyclone Charlotte is certainly bred to be a winner. She is out of the Mach Three mare Cyclone Kate, who earned $341,723 from 21 wins and 18 placings from 60 starts. She won six times in New Zealand, 13 times in New South Wales and twice in Victoria.
Cyclone Charlotte has had nine starts for three wins, five placings and stakes of $27,936.