Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young’s decision to fit Dolly Vardon blinkers on Valentines Brook in a bid to improve the gelding’s gate speed had the desired effect in the 2130m A&E Property Group Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But young reinsman Kyle Symington was concerned when he saw Valentine Brook’s off-side ear plug fall out at the start. However, this did not affect the $1.40 favourite who revealed sparkling early pace and gave a bold frontrunning display to romp to victory, beating the $7.50 chance Pradason by eight lengths, rating 1.55.7, with final quarters of 29.3sec. and 27.7sec.
“Valentines Brook mustered plenty of early speed, and Kyle said he was heaps better than he has been,” said Young. “The horse doesn’t like the whip, so Kyle just let him come out (under his own steam). And he didn’t release the nearside ear plug.
“I don’t work my horses overly hard and Valentines Brook has been huge in condition. He is still big and is capable of improving further.”
Pradason fought on gamely to be second, with Mea Culpa ($5) finishing solidly from last at the bell to be third after being trapped three wide after a lap and the being restrained to the rear.
The Victorian-bred Valentines Brook has excelled under Young’s care, with his 21 starts for her producing four wins, ten seconds, two thirds and $60,680 in prizemoney, taking his career record to 65 starts for 14 wins, 24 placings and $150,515.