Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Steel The Show looks destined for bigger and better things for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond after the gelding strolled to victory in the 2130m APG The Industry Owned Sales Company Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Steel The Show’s win completed a hat-trick of victories at his first three appearances in Australia, following similar all-the-way successes over 2130m and 1730m at his two previous outings at Gloucester Park.
“He just wanders around,” said driver Deni Roberts. “He is just so relaxed, and when a horse isn’t on the outside of him, he just goes as slow as he wants. When you ask him for an effort, he produces. I’m sure he can do it tough as well. He is very versatile, and that’s going to help him to go a long way.”
Without a strong breeze horse in Friday night’s race, Steel The Show was able to run an extremely slow lead time of 40.6sec. and slow opening quarters of 32.2sec. and 30.4sec. before he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.3sec. and 27sec.
He was the $1.04 favourite from the No. 1 barrier and he rated a modest 1.59.7 in beating $14 chance Ima Fivestar General by two lengths, with Vulcan Star ($14) finishing with a sparkling late burst to be a head away in third place.