Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Sportswriter four-year-old Himself is proving an outstanding standing-start specialist, and he gave his supporters no cause for concern as he romped to an easy victory in the Mrs Trotting Camel Handicap, a 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $1.60 favourite from the inside of the 10m line, with Dylan Egerton-Green giving him time to settle before dashing him past $14 chance Deeorse and into the lead after 550m.
After an opening quarter of a leisurely 31.2sec. Himself covered the final 400m sections in 29.7sec., 28.1sec. and 28.6sec. on his way to win by just over four lengths from $7 chance Firerockfireroll, who fought on doggedly after racing in the breeze. Robbie Rocket ($4.80) ran on from sixth at the bell to be third.
Himself, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has raced nine times in Western Australia for six wins and three seconds. Seven of those starts were in stands and produced six wins and a second placing. Three of his 11 New Zealand starts were in stands and resulted in two wins and a second.
Himself also is a capable performer in mobile events. His final New Zealand appearance was in a 2600m mobile event at Addington on April 16 this year when he won by five and a half lengths from Arnies Army. He is out of the McArdle mare Shards Of Myross, who managed just one win and four thirds from 21 starts.