Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis ended the program at Gloucester Park on Friday night on a high, driving Power And Grace to victory in the 2130m HTA Access Solutions Pace to complete a treble, following wins with Lavra Joe and Hampton Banner.
Power And Grace, trained by Ross Olivieri, was the $2.70 second fancy behind stablemate Rupert Of Lincoln ($2.05), and a flying start paved the way for his convincing victory over that pacer.
A brilliant beginning from out wide at barrier seven saw Power And Grace burst straight to the front over Rupert Of Lincoln, who got to the front from the No. 2 barrier.
Power And Grace relaxed immediately and coasted through the lead time in 38.4sec., with Chris Voak then opting to ease Rupert Of Lincoln off the pegs and into the breeze. After an opening quarter of the final mile in 30.5sec. Power And Grace dashed over the next 400m sections in 29.6sec., 28.4sec. and 29.1sec. to win by a length and a half from a dogged Rupert of Lincoln, rating 1.57.8.
The victory ended a sequence of five unplaced runs in Power And Grace’s current campaign and improved his record (all in WA) to 49 starts for 15 wins, 16 placings and $126,444 in prizemoney for owner Albert Walmsley.
“He went okay last week (when fifth behind Tuas Delight) when he probably was a bit underdone,” said Olivieri. “His trackwork during the week had been good, but I wasn’t sure whether he could beat Rupert Of Lincoln.
“He is a fast horse and tonight he was too quick (at the start) for Rupert Of Lincoln, who couldn’t hold him out. Rupert’s long suit is his strength, whereas speed is Power And Grace’s forte.”
Power And Grace, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere, is the first foal out of the unraced Art Major mare Pure Magic, whose half-brother Pure Power finished third behind Baby Bling in the Miracle Mile at Menangle in April 2013 and was retired with a record of 59 starts for 13 wins, eight placings and stakes of $305,000.