Former New Zealand pacer Nota Bene Denario made a successful Australian debut when he easily won the Allwood Stud Farm Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
However, it was not all plain sailing for the six-year-old who was a hot $1.50 favourite from the No. 1 position on the front in the 2503m standing-start event.
He raced roughly at the start and lost a couple of lengths which enabled $17 chance Bettor Pack It to charge to an early lead. Gary Hall Jnr then was able to get Nota Bene Denario to settle into a pace and the gelding dashed to the front after 500m and was not seriously challenged at any stage on his way to winning by two lengths from Bettor Pack It.
Hall was far from satisfied with Nota Bene Denario’s performance, saying: “He has been sharp at home and really fast. But tonight, by the time I got him to the front I couldn’t get him on the bit. So, we were lucky that was an easy sort of field and he was good enough to win.
“He didn’t do anything special and won easily. But it didn’t feel easy. At the start, he kept missing his stride and every time I grabbed him up, he’d pace, and then I’d let him go, and he kept missing his stride. All’s well that ends well. We have had a few little issues with him, so I think we can get him going a bit better.”
by Ken Casellas