Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred five-year-old Ifeel Sikdarl was all the rage as the $1.60 favourite in the 2130m Barbagallo Art Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gave his supporters some anxious moments before holding on to defeat the $7 chance Sunshine Swift by a head.
Sunshine Swift led from the No. 1 barrier before Maddison Brown sent Ifeel Sikdarl to the front after 450m. Athabascan ($41) moved to the breeze in the first circuit, leaving Sunshine Swift blocked in behind the pacemaker.
When Athabascan began to wilt in the last lap Kyle Harper was able to get Sunshine Swift off the pegs, and the six-year-old ran home strongly and just failed to overhaul the favourite, with the final 400m being covered in 28.7sec.
“I had to work a bit more than I had hoped to get to the front,” said Brown. “And then I was happy to get the first quarter a bit easier (31.2sec.). Ifeel Sikdarl doesn’t have a lot of zip, but he will fight on. I was worried about the horse on my back (Sunshine Swift) because he is very fast, and I didn’t want to let him out too early.”
Ifeel Sikdarl has done a fine job for Jandabup trainer Graham Cummins, who has given the Sportswriter gelding 26 starts for seven wins, 11 placings and $53,992 in stakes, taking his career record to 43 starts for ten wins, 16 placings and $74,330.
He is out of the Bettors Delight mare Millwood Kansas, who earned $52,877 from seven wins and eight placings from 19 starts.