Ken Casellas | PACEPIX
Jemma Hayman celebrated her one hundredth winner as a trainer when four-year-old pacer Petes Honour produced a powerful performance to win the $25,000 HTA Reaching For The Top Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He’s been a little treasure who rises to the occasion when he needs to,” said Hayman, who bred, owns and trains Petes Honour.
Petes Honour was a $10.70 chance from the awkward draw at barrier six, with the polemarker Hale Saint Louie the clear-cut $2.05 favourite.
Cams Boulder ($19) began fast from barrier three but was unable to cross to the front, while Chris Lewis was in an aggressive mood as he urged Petes Honour forward, out four wide to get to the breeze after 400m.
Insta Gator ($5.50) began from the outside of the front line before Kyle Symington dashed him forward to move to the outside of the pacemaking Hale Saint Louie after about 700m had been covered, thus giving Petes Honour some respite in the favourable one-out, one-back position.
Insta Gator got to the front on the home turn before being swamped by the fast-finishing Petes Honour, who gained the upper hand 50m from the post and won by a length from Insta Gator, rating 1.57.2 after a final 400m of 28.2sec.
“This was a special occasion, with Chris driving the winner after having notched his 6000TH winner with Petes Honour at Pinjarra (in September 2023) and then winning with him again in last month’s event at Gloucester Park to honour the unexpected death of his son Mark,” said Hayman.
Petes Honour is by boom American sire Sweet Lou and is the fifth foal out of Western Terror mare Arousing, who was retired with a record of 110 starts for 11 wins, 32 placings and stakes of $119,663. Petes Honour looks certain to build significantly on his record of 40 starts for nine wins, ten placings and $97,106.
“Petes Honour will be heading for a $100,000 Westbred event for four-year-olds coming up (next Friday week),’ said Hayman. “And the way he is going I can’t see why he can’t stretch his neck and reach Free-For-Alls.”