Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Promising WA-bred four-year-old High Price is still learning, according to Gary Hall Jnr who drove the Alta Christiano gelding to an easy all-the-way win in the 1730m Beau Rivage Restaurant Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
High Price, the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, was not extended in winning by a length and a half from $12 chance Peligroso, who trailed the leader all the way.
High Price rated a smart 1.55.2 rate after swift quarters of 28.7sec., 29.1sec., 29sec. and 29.2sec.
“He is a funny horse who did just what he had to do,” said Hall. “He is probably better than what he shows. He travelled strongly in front but doesn’t have a racing brain.
“He was bolting turning for home but when you give him his head, he doesn’t just put three lengths on them.”
High Price, who is trained by Gary Hall Snr, has earned $67,818 from seven wins and eight placings from 26 starts. He is by former brilliant pacer Alta Christiano and is the first foal out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Harriet Price, who raced 17 times for two wins and two placings for stakes of $11,189.
Harriet Price’s two wins were in New Zealand before she had eight starts in Western Australia for one placing.