Nota Bene Denario, the $2 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, survived a spirited challenge for the early lead and set the pace before fighting on grimly to win the 2536m Vale Joe Iemma Pace by a head from the fast-finishing $41 outsider Deeorse at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Speedy beginner Lord Rosco was the smartest to begin (from barrier three), but was unable to cross Nota Bene Denario, who was driven hard by Gary Hall Jnr to gain the advantage of leading.
“He was hard work and made me earn the win,” said Hall. “I thought the early pressure would test him; I think he is more of a speed horse than a tough horse. He went flat out for nearly 150 metres (when challenged by Lord Rosco) and then came back to me really good, enabling me to get away with plenty (with the first quarters of the final mile in 31.9sec. and 30.7sec.). e went ouHe He
“If he had overraced, he definitely would’ve been rolled. He’s done a good enough job, even though it was like he was gone on the line. You can’t get that little bit out of him.”
Lord Rosco, second fancy at $2.20, was angled to the pegs by Dylan Egerton-Green after the failed attempt to get to the front, and the six-year-old had an ideal passage behind the pacemaker until he was eased off the pegs with 600m to travel. But he just battled on to finish fifth.
by Ken Casellas