Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Trainer Debra Lewis produced lightly-raced four-year-old Goodfellaz in fine fettle for a stylish first-up victory in the $50,000 TABtouch San Simeon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven with supreme confidence by champion reinsman Chris Lewis, Goodfellaz, a $9.10 chance, was not bustled out from barrier six, but was trapped four wide before being eased back to ninth position. However, Lewis was not content to race at the rear and he sent the gelding forward with a three-wide burst after 300m to move to the breeze, with the $1.30 favourite Cotton On setting the pace.
Goodfellaz forged to the front 220m from home and won by more than a length from $19 chance Seeryanfly, who finished strongly after trailing the pacemaker all the way. The final quarters were run in 27.6sec. and 28.6sec., with Goodfellaz rating a smart 1.56.9 over the 2130m journey.
Goodfellaz was most impressive at his first appearance for nine weeks, with Lewis explaining: “He’s had a few little issues along the way, and we have just looked after him.
“He had a fair bit of work under his belt and looking at the field we thought that we had to go forward early and be up there. I knew he was fit. We got carted back early and then had to go forward again.
“After working to get to the breeze he got a bit keen before coming back to me. He did a really good job, and I was rapt in him. The further we went the more confident I was that we could beat Cotton On. He did it quite comfortably in the end.
“He is a half-brother to Restrepo, who was a very good horse, and Goodfellaz will definitely go to fast class.”
Goodfellaz, by American Ideal, is the seventh foal out of Shes Innocent, who was retired to stud after racing 14 times in WA for one win, four placings and $12,460.
Restrepo, Shes Innocent’s first foal, raced 49 times for 19 wins, ten placings and $527,118. His wins included two Group 1 events, the 2013 Coca Cola Sprint at Menangle and the 2014 Ballarat Cup. He also won one Group 2 feature and four Group 3 events. Shes Innocent’s half-sister Innocent Eyes amassed $421,875 from 18 wins and 17 placings from 62 starts.