Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The 13 part-owners of exciting young pacer Never Ending owe a debt of gratitude to Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice, who was so captivated by the good looks of the Sweet Lou colt at the 2021 APG Perth yearling sale that he outlaid $75,000 to purchase him.
Never Ending is unbeaten after four starts and looks certain to develop into an outstanding performer. He boosted his earning to $79,985 when he scored a superb victory in the Group 1 Hoist Torque Australia Pearl Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He was a beautiful looking horse and was my favourite colt at the sales,” said Prentice after Gary Hall Jnr had driven Never Ending, the $1.30 favourite, to a commanding win over his stablemate and $4 second fancy Valedictorian to give Prentice a quinella result following his quinella in the 2019 Pearl Classic with Manning and Aristocratic Star.
Valedictorian was bought by Prentice for $40,000 at the 2021 sales, and he now has had seven starts for four wins and two second placings for stakes of $122,928 for the Trotsynd No. 20 syndicate.
“I had never had a horse by the American stallion Sweet Lou, but he was such a nice-looking colt that I decided to buy him,” said Prentice. “And I also had success with other pacers bred by Steve Johnson who were closely related to Never Ending — Know When To Run (27 starts for ten wins, 12 placings and $118,678) and Major Martini (20 starts for ten wins, seven placings and $322,483).
“Tonight, it was real easy for Never Ending, as it probably should be when you’re a $1.20 chance. It was more of a relief more than anything. I am obviously stoked to get the result, and the quinella as well. And the stable’s other runner Rolling Fire was an unlucky fifth. He didn’t get a clear run and was bolting on the line.
“Valedictorian’s run was massive, sitting in the breeze and going those times. Both he and Never Ending will be set for the $225,000 Westbred Classic on September 16, while Rolling Fire will be aimed at the $150,000 Golden Slipper on September 30.
“Never Ending is an exciting horse who is still learning what it is all about.”
Never Ending is the eighth foal out of Endless Journey, who had nine starts as a two and three-year-old in 2006 and 2007 for two placings. Endless Journey also has the distinction of being the dam of Isaiah Artois, winner of the Pearl for two-year-olds in June 2014 before being retired with a record of 26 starts for nine wins, six placings and stakes of $117,351.
Another of Endless Journey’s foals, Mandy Joan won the Group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic at Pinjarra in July 2019, and she has earned $168,564 from 13 wins and 15 placings from 59 starts. It is also interesting to note that Endless Journey’s great granddam Stormy Port produced Albuqerque, winner of the South Australian and Tasmanian Derbies in 1994 before being retired with a record of 35 starts for 15 wins, ten placings and $322,630.
Friday night’s victory gave Hall his fourth success in the Pearl Classic, following wins with Itsallabout Nicole (2009), Go West U Terror (2010) and Swagga (2013).
Never Ending started from barrier three on Friday night and was not bustled by Hall as Crowd Control (Kim Prentice) won the start, but was unable to cross the polemarker Lucapelo, who led for the first 400m before Hall sent Never Ending to the front, with Valedictorian, three wide early, moving to the breeze.
After a modest lead time of 38sec. and opening quarters of 30.2sec. and 29.5sec. Never Ending sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27.9sec. to win by a length and a half at a 1.56.3 rate. Valedictorian fought on grandly to be second, a head in front of Crowd Control, who finished strongly out wide after enjoying the one-out, one-back trail all the way.