Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion four-year-old pacer Never Ending was in a seemingly hopeless position in eighth place with a wall of horses in front of him 250m from home in the $50,000 Nova 93.7 Winter Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night before he unwound a spectacular burst of speed to score a thrilling last-stride victory.
His trainer Justin Prentice switched him five wide on the home bend, and the Sweet Lou gelding, at a dream quote of $3.40 at his first appearance for three months, charged home to beat Tenzing Bromac ($6.50) by a head, with The Miki Taker ($6) a nose away in third place.
It was an outstanding performance by Never Ending, who is sure to benefit from the run as Prentice prepares him for the $2.1 million TAB Eureka over 2300m at Menangle on September 7.
Never Ending faced an acid test against eleven older and vastly more experienced open-class pacers in Friday night’s 2536m Cup in which he rated 1.56.4 after the final 400m sections (off the front) were covered in 27.8sec. and 28.8sec. The Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-olds.
“I just wanted him to run a good race and make sure I did the right thing for what he needs at this stage of his campaign,” said Prentice, who was celebrating his 36TH birthday. “He will have one or two more runs here before travelling to Sydney where I plan to give him a start at Menangle before the Eureka.
“There’s a 2536m random barrier draw race next Friday but I don’t want to back him up next week. He will have his next start the following Friday when the only event he can contest is a 1730m sprint, which is not ideal for him.
“I think he will like Menangle, the big shape and big sweeping corners. I have been really happy with his steering at home, and he steered very well tonight. He got a bit keen out of the gate when a few of them came out quickly on his outside.
“Coming to the home turn I wanted to give myself plenty of room because in the past he has wanted to run in. He was good and got around the bend well. He was so wide and going so quick that he wanted to lug in a bit.
“I checked him off a little bit when a horse was getting underneath him, and he just over reacted because of the Murphy and the pole. Turning for home he put in a rough one and lost his momentum to some degree. And then he finished powerfully.”
Never Ending began from the No. 4 barrier, and Prentice said that he didn’t want to get involved in anything in the early stages after a fast lead time (67.9sec.). Jumpingjackmac, the $2.50 favourite, dashed straight to the front from barrier three and withstood an early challenge from $126 outsider Hampton Banner, who began speedily from the outside barrier.
Tenzing Bromac, at his first start for 11 weeks, raced wide early and then in the breeze before taking a narrow lead with 220m to travel. The Miki Taker raced three back on the pegs before Aiden De Campo eased him off the inside 550m from home. Jumpingjackmac wilted to finish ninth.
Never Ending was purchased for $75,000 at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale and is raced by 13 of Prentice’s stable clients, has amassed $606,275 from 15 wins and two placings from 19 starts. He is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the eighth foal out of the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey, who was retired after racing nine times for two placings, a second at Northam as a two-year-old in July 2006 and a third at Bunbury as a three-year-old in April 2007.
Never Ending, bred by Steve Johnson, is the best of Endless Journey’s progeny which includes Isaiah Artois (26 starts for nine wins, six placings and $117,351), Dibaba (164 starts for 17 wins, 29 placings and $112,846) and Mandy Joan (59 starts for 13 wins, 15 placings and $168,564).