Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
High Price, an immature three-year-old, was on his best behaviour when he scored an effortless victory in the 2536m 7Mate Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’m rapt with the run, and he deserved that win,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. High Price, trained by Gary Hall Snr, had broken in the score-up three times in his brief career.
“He had to go back to trials after doing things wrong out of the gate,” said Hall Jnr. “He’s quite a nice horse who could mature and make it through to a good grade.
“He will be aimed at the WA Derby next month. His best asset is his speed from a sit, and the 2536m of the Derby will suit him, tucked away on the rails. He could be a knockout horse because the distance won’t worry him, and he can reel off a good quarter.”
High Price was the $2.10 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, and he settled down at the rear while the $3.50 second fancy Vintage Blu ran past Name In Lights to take up the running after 200m.
High price was tenth in the middle stages before Hall dashed him forward three wide 1500m from home to burst to the front 200m later. He covered the final 400m sections in 29.5sec. and 29.6sec. and won by just over two lengths from Vintage Blu, rating 1.59.1.
The WA-bred High Price is by former champion pacer Alta Christiano and is out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Harriet Price, who managed two wins and two placings from 17 starts for earnings of $11,189.