Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Banjup trainer Annie Belton is looking forward to her inexperienced gelding Louie Dior contesting the Group 2 $100,000 Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings next Friday night after he maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive upset victory in the 2130m Alex And Harley Hello Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The son of American sire Sweet Lou was a $16.40 chance from the No. 1 barrier for his first appearance at Gloucester Park after wining easily at his first three starts, all at Pinjarra last month.
Never Ending, unbeaten at his first nine starts and racing first-up after a 14-week absence, dominated betting discussions and was a hot $1.07 favourite from barrier two.
However, inexplicably, Never Ending broke into a fierce gallop at the start and lost about 15 lengths while Ryan Bell dashed Louie Dior straight to the front.
A slow lead time of 39.9sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.1sec. and 29.4sec. enabled Never Ending to make up several lengths. But he was still a conspicuous last in the field of five at the bell before he finished with a powerful burst to be third behind Louie Dior and $34 chance Sorridere.
Louie Dior, who beat Sorridere by two lengths, rated 1.57.9 after sprinting strongly over the final quarters in 28.2sec. and 27.4sec.
“I didn’t expect Louie Dior to beat Never Ending, but you have to race them all,” said Mrs Belton. “Louie Dior is still learning and is on the way up. He is so versatile. He has led and won, sat in the middle of the field and won, and has breezed and won.”
Bell, who drives only occasionally these days as he concentrates on training, said: “Louie Dior has still got a lot to learn but he is pretty good. The racing gods were on our side, drawing barrier one and then Never Ending galloping. However, he is definitely a top five player for next week’s big race.”
Louie Dior was bred and is owned by Mrs Belton and her husband Colin. He is the first foal out of their Tintin In America mare Dior Mia More, who raced 20 times for ten wins (including the 2016 Country Oaks in Bunbury), five placings and stakes of $77,806.