Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Star mare Eighteen Carat was not extended in scoring an all-the-way victory in the $26,000 In The Gig On Sky Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — a win that showed she was in peak form for the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic next Friday night.
She was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier and gave Gary Hall Jnr an armchair drive as she dictated terms and strolled to victory by a length and a half from $81 outsider Bettor Get It On, who raced three wide for the first 450m and then in the breeze for the rest of the event.
Eighteen Carat rated 1.57.8 over 2130m and was untroubled to reel off quarters of 30sec., 30.8sec., 29.1sec. and 28.5sec.
Booraa ($26) also ran a good trial for the Norms Daughter Classic in finishing solidly to be third.
“She did just what she had to,” said trainer Michael Young. “It was a good trial for next week for the Norms Daughter Classic and for the $150,000 Mares Classic a fortnight later.”
The New Zealand-bred Eighteen Carat has now won at six of her eight appearances in Western Australia and has improved her career record to 46 starts for 11 wins, seven placings and stakes of $160,646.