Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Lusaka, a winner of nine races as a three-year-old, notched his second win as a four-year-old when he proved too strong for his eight rivals in the 2130m Fly With Fly Like An Eagle Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory over Vanderbilt and Franco Ecuador showed that he has the ability to keep improving and develop into a serious contender in the rich events for four-year-olds late this year.
He was the $3.70 second fancy from the No. 5 barrier, with the polemarker Franco Ecuador the $1.90 favourite, and Vanderbilt an $8 chance from barrier No. 2.
Franco Ecuador set the pace, with Arma Xfactor ($7.50) in the breeze, Vanderbilt trailing the pacemaker, and Lusaka enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.
Deni Roberts was happy to bide her time before sending Lusaka forward, three wide, with 300m to travel. Lusaka sprinted smartly and took the lead, 130m from the post, before winning from Vanderbilt and Franco Ecuador. The final 800m was covered in 56.4sec. and Lusaka rated 1.55.9.
“He is progressing into a really nice type,” said Roberts. “I thought that this was a good race in which to sit him up. He has been doing a lot of work in his races and I don’t like to drive him like that all the time.
“Obviously, you do when you have to but with the opportunity to sit him up, you can see that he can sit and sprint as well. When I pulled him out, he was winning. He felt really good.”
Lusaka, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has had 24 starts for 13 wins, six placings and $154,717in prizemoney. He looks set for a bright career.