Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Star reinsman Ryan Warwick notched his 99TH winner for the season when he drove Ideal Agent to a comfortable victory in the $23,750 Vale Robbie Dewar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ideal Agent, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was the $2.50 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, and after a slow lead time of 38.1sec. Warwick quickly dashed him forward to race in the breeze outside the pacemaker Tyler Brett ($5.50).
Warwick was content to race without cover before he took Ideal Agent to the front 250m from home, and the New Zealand-bred five-year-old won by a length from $2.70 chance Typhoon Banner, who fought on gamely after enjoying an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position.
Ideal Agent covered the final 800m in 56.8sec. and he rated 1.56.7 over the 2130m. He now has had 53 starts for 15 wins, 20 placings and $221,470. He raced 30 times in New Zealand for four wins and 12 placings.
“He seems to be getting a lot more confidence in his past couple of starts,” said Warwick. “Greg and Skye have changed something at home, and this has been quite noticeable in his performances. He is now close to the horse of old.
“It would be good to get a sit in a race instead of having to race in the breeze. The problem is that he’s been racing in small fields that are not all competitive with a few other horses. You have sort of got to be out there (in the breeze) to control the tempo. Otherwise, things could get away from you. It will be nice when he gets in a race in which he doesn’t have to do the work.”