Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Few horses in recent years have established such a wonderful record in standing-start events as the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Glenledi Chief.
He overcame the back mark of 30 metres to score a magnificent victory in the $20,250 Cash Converters Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night to extend his remarkable record in stands in Western Australia for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond to 15 starts for ten victories.
Sent out as the fourth favourite at $12.20, Glenledi Chief was driven with great skill and confidence by Dylan Egerton-Green, who quickly got the gelding into seventh place in the one-wide line in the field of twelve.
His stablemate Socrates was a hot $1.60 favourite from barrier two on the front line. Unfortunately, Socrates galloped at the start and lost ten lengths before Ryan Warwick urged him forward to move into the breeze, with $51 outsider Gee Smith Chief setting a brisk pace.
Socrates, a winner at his five previous outings, surged to a clear lead 500m from home, but was unable to hold out Glenledi Chief, who began a three-wide move with 650m to travel and hit the front at the 300m before dashing away to win by almost two lengths.
“I thought Glenledi Chief was the second best horse in the race (behind Socrates) and he capitalised on a quick beginning and the slow start by Socrates,” said Egerton-Green. “He got a perfect run, and I didn’t have to pull out until the 600m, which was good. He is pretty smart and has good manners.”
Glenledi Chief has raced only 39 times for 14 wins, 11 placings and $148,918 in stakes. He looks set for many more wins. He is by American sire Well Said and is out of the Presidential Ball mare Its Forever Now, who raced 41 times, all in mobiles, for seven wins (three in New South Wales and four in Victoria) and 18 placings for $106,288 in prizemoney.