Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Brilliant mare Cyclone Charlotte survived a scary moment 1300m from home when rank outsider Ideal Charm broke into a fierce gallop immediately in front of her in the $30,000 Hoist Torque Winter Feature at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was only the quick evasive action by driver Deni Roberts that prevented Cyclone Charlotte from being severely checked and probably being knocked out of the race.
Cyclone Charlotte, the $1.50 favourite, was travelling smoothly in eighth position in the one-wide line half-way down the back straight after a lap had been covered when Ideal Charm galloped and almost fell. Roberts reacted instinctively and avoided the possibility of being badly checked by pulling the left rein and guiding Cyclone Charlotte away from Ideal Charm.
Cyclone Charlotte lost only one length, with the $4.20 second fancy Beyond The Sea setting the pace. Roberts switched Cyclone Charlotte three wide with 950m to travel and the mare sustained a powerful burst to get to the front on the home turn and race away and win by five lengths from Beyond the Sea.
The final 800m was covered in 56.7sec. and Cyclone Charlotte rated 1.58.1 over the 2130m. This took Cyclone Charlotte’s record to 17 starts for seven wins and nine places for earnings of $81,333. She raced twice in New Zealand for one win (in March 2022). She is by Bettors Delight and is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare Cyclone Kate, who amassed $360,349 in prizemoney from 21 wins and 18 placings from 60 starts.
Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams was delighted with Cyclone Charlotte’s performance, and he praised the efforts of his daughter Jodie and her son Liam and Rowen Langridge who joined forces to prepare Cyclone Charlotte while he was in Brisbane with star pacer Magnificent Storm.
“Cyclone Charlotte has a real big heart, and she just keeps on giving,” he said. “I’m looking at the big races for mares in the summer, and she would not be out of place in the Golden Nugget, though I’m not looking there at the moment.”