Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
“Hopefully that win was good enough to get into the Nugget,” said part-owner and trainer Sue Wiscombe after Lindsay Harper had driven the speedy Somebeachsomewhere gelding to a smart all-the-way victory in the 2130m Feel Good Hits On Nova Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Eldaytona is one of many talented pacers vying for a place in the field to contest the $200,000 Golden Nugget next Friday week.
“Look at his form; he deserves a start,” said Wiscombe. Indeed, the WA-bred Eldaytona has raced consistently and boasts a splendid record of 35 starts for 13 wins, 12 seconds and two thirds for earnings of $134,958.
Eldaytona was the $1.40 favourite on Friday night, and he dashed straight to the front and gave his rivals little chance by speeding over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.8sec. on his way to winning by 2m from the fast-finishing $101 outsider Tuas Delight, rating 1.56.6.
Eldaytona is the seventh foal out of Hearty Franco, who produced six winners, including Lady Luca (65 starts for nine wins, eight placings and $134,568) and Delightfull (92 starts for eight wins, 22 placings and $98,319).
Lady Luca’s wins included the Group 1 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in June 2016, and Delightfull was a smart youngster who, at her third start in a race finished third behind Soho Interceptor and Has No fear in the Group 1 Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park in March 2018.
Hearty Franco’s dam Heather Franco produced outstanding performers Franco Hat Trick (191 starts for 30 wins, 66 placings and $659,210) and Franco Heir (83 starts for 19 wins, 16 placings and $392,272).
Franco Hat Trick won the New South Wales Derby at Harold Park in April 1997, and a year later he won the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire. Franco Heir’s only appearance at Gloucester Park was when he finished second to Manifold Bay in the WA Derby in April 2001 — three starts before he won the New South Wales Derby at Harold Park.