Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Luvbite, a winner over star pacer Tims A Trooper in a Free-For-All at Albion Park 13 months ago, failed at his following 31 starts in Queensland before arriving in WA three months ago, and regaining form for trainer Michael Young.
He was purchased for $10,000 by a group of Young’s clients, who are pleased with the seven-year-old’s efforts and two wins from his first six WA appearances for $25,780 in prizemoney.
Luvbite, the $2.30 favourite from the front line in the 2503m standing-start Christmas In July Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night, overcame difficulties to score a neck victory over the $4.80 second fancy and pacemaker My Silver Spoon.
It was a significant first success in a stand after being unplaced at his six starts in stands in a career which now stands at 153 starts for 15 wins, 57 placings and $227,656 in stakes. His first two wins came from 22 starts in Victoria before he continued his career in Queensland for another eleven wins and 44 placings from 125 starts.
He rated 1.53.2 when he defeated Tims A Trooper by a nose over 2138m in April last year, a notable success over a pacer who has amassed $593,137 from 22 wins and 44 placings from 119 starts.
Luvbite has inherited much of his ability from his dam, Mach And Me, who won the Group 1 APG final for two-year-old fillies over 1609m at Moonee Valley in May 2009 before being retired with two wins, four seconds and earnings of $159,885 from nine starts.
He galloped out in Friday night’s race before quickly regaining his pacing action. But Emily Suvaljko’s plans of setting the pace were dashed as Franco Mecca, Twobob Cracker and My Silver Spoon beat him out.
My Silver Spoon quickly assumed the role of pacemaker, and Suvaljko was happy to remain in the breeze until Medieval Man ($12) went forward after about 1000m to race outside the leader and giving Luvbite an ideal sit in the one-out, one-back position.
My Silver Spoon appeared the likely winner on the home turn before Luvbite knuckled down and ran home tenaciously to hit the front in the final couple of strides.
“Luvbite has always shown good promise and now he’s an old veteran with a few tricks,” said Young. “Galloping at the start wasn’t so much his fault; he was still sideways when the starter let them go. He didn’t really get a chance to step, but he got back into his stride quickly.”