Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented reinsman Kyle Harper was perfectly happy to remain at the rear with Beyond The Sea in the 2130m The Game Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night while the top two fancies Im Themightylucy ($2.20 favourite) and Cherishthememories ($3.20) were engaged in a battle royale at the head of the field.
Beyond The Sea ($6.90) and trained by Murray Lindau, was restrained from barrier six and raced in tenth position until Harper eased her out 700m from home to follow a three-wide burst from the rear from $26 chance Nullarbor Navajo.
Im Themightylucy, resuming after a spell, was smartest into stride from the No. 1 barrier and easily withstood an early challenge from Unconditional before Jocelyn Young dashed Cherishthememories forward in a spirited but unsuccessful bid for the lead.
Those two mares then raced head-for-head and were left as sitting shots for the swoopers. Corey Peterson sent Nullarbor Navajo (at her first appearance for nine months) to the front at the 120m mark before Beyond The Sea maintained her strong finishing burst to get to the front in the final 10m to win by a half-length at a 1.55.7 rate after a final 800m of 57sec.
Paroquet, a $91 outsider, ran on from last at the bell to be third, just ahead of Cherishthememories. Im Themightylucy wilted to finish sixth.
Beyond The Sea completed a hat-trick of wins and boosted her career earnings to $71,886 from eight wins and five placings from 25 starts. The win completed a double for Harper, who had been successful earlier in the night with Machnificent.