Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred four-year-old Iseeubaby is thriving under a change of environment at star trainer Michael Young’s Banjup stables, and she recorded the fastest mile rate of her career when she scored a most impressive victory in the $25,000 JP’s Drink Specials Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by Emily Suvaljko, Iseeubaby, an $8.70 chance, burst to the front after 50m and went on to win by two and a half lengths from the $1.70 favourite Delightful Peg, rating 1.52.6 over the 1730m trip after flying final quarters of 27.5sec. and 7.8sec.
“Iseeubaby has always had that kind of ability but hasn’t always applied herself,” said Young. “I’m not sure whether she will measure up in the big races for mares in November (the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic and the $150,000 Westral Mares Classic).
“But the good ones (including Delightful Peg and Fakenit) couldn’t beat her tonight.”
Iseeubaby is one of several smart mares from the Young training establishment who will be set for the two rich feature events for mares, the other being Penny Black, Beach Diamond, Beetastic and Heavenly Gipsy.
Beetastic led early before racing three back on the pegs and finishing fourth behind Iseeubaby on Friday night when she hampered for room in the closing stages, while Beach Diamond improved from ninth at the bell to finish sixth.
“I left the ear plugs off Iseeubaby tonight because at her previous start she didn’t get out of the gate as quickly as she normally does,” said Suvaljko. “And in the warm-up she felt good, and she got out a lot better.
“The No. 4 horse (Sugar Delight) is very quick out, and I thought that Iseeubaby’s only winning chance was by leading. Jocelyn (Young) handed up to me (after 550m) and that worked in our favour. Iseeubaby then rolled along and ran some nice sectionals.”
Water Lou confirmed that she is sure to be a major player in the feature events for mares when she finished with a brilliant burst to win the $31,000 Taste of WA Pace over 2130m.
A week after Water Lou had given a smart frontrunning performance to win at a 1.52.8 rate over 1730m, the Kevin Keys-trained five-year-old was seen in a different role on Friday night when she was driven with a sit by Shannon Suvaljko.
Water Lou, a $12.20 chance, was eighth at the bell and fifth with 100m to travel before charging home to win by a half-neck from $7 chance Harrison John, rating 1.55.6 after final 400m sections of 27.8sec. and 28.6sec.
“Sit-sprinting is her go,” said Keys. And Suvaljko agreed, saying: “She has always been as good with a sit and when she couldn’t get to the front tonight, we were able to duck in early. Then she travelled really good all the way while Penny Black was putting constant pressure on the leader (Eastbro Chrissy), and we had the last kick on them.”