Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Most punters were convinced that the polemarker and noted frontrunner Al Guerrero would set the pace and prove hard to beat in the 2130m Taste Of WA This October Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But talented young driver Emily Suvaljko had other ideas. She was confident that Jaspervellabeach had the necessary speed to burst to the front from the No. 5 barrier.
Her judgment proved to be spot on. Jaspervellabeach, the $6.40 third fancy, began speedily and surged past Al Guerrero, the $1.75 favourite, and into the lead after 100 metres.
Then, after a fast lead time of 36.4sec. Jaspervellabeach relaxed and ambled through the first quarter of the final mile in 31.6sec. before increasing the tempo with 400m sections of 29.7sec., 27.4sec. and 29.1sec.
But it was far from plain sailing. Mirragon, a last-start all-the-way winner and the $4.40 second favourite, raced fiercely in the breeze and was hailed the winner when Chris Lewis sent him past Jaspervellabeach turning into the back straight in the final lap.
Mirragon led by a length 220m from home but was unable to move across to the pegs. Eventually, he wilted and finished a well-beaten third behind Jaspervellabeach and Euphoria, with Jaspervellabeach regaining the lead with 120m to travel.
Suvaljko admitted that she was destined for defeat after Mirragon had gained the upper hand in the final circuit. “I thought I’d lost the race when we were headed by Mirragon, and down the back Jaspervellabeach was flat out. I pulled the plugs and got stuck into Jaspervellabeach, and I though we could run a place. However, Jaspervellabeach kicked back really good.
Trainer Gary Elson instructed Suvaljko to go forward with Jaspervellabeach at the start, and Suvaljko was more than happy to follow his instructions.
“I thought that Al Guerrero had not been getting out as quickly as he had been previously, while Jasper seems to be getting quicker and quicker,” said Suvaljko.
The Victorian-bred Jaspervellabeach has been an excellent moneyspinner for owner Kristy Elson, with his 63 starts producing 15 wins and 15 placings for stakes of $256,606.