Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred six-year-old Otis has never been reliable in standing-start events, and when he lined up on the 20-metre line in the 2503m Nova’s Fresh Country Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night as the $5 third favourite punters were concerned when he broke into a gallop.
He settled down a distant tenth, but trainer Dylan Egerton-Green made a winning move when he dashed him forward with a three-wide burst to move quickly into the breeze while the $4.20 second fancy Caliente was setting a solid pace.
Caliente sprinted the third quarter of the final mile in 27.4sec. but he was unable to hold out Otis, who moved on terms with him at the 400m and then moved clear to go on and win by 1m from $7.50 chance Lucapelo.
It was an excellent performance from the Michael Young-trained Lucapelo, who began on the front line and galloped at the start before settling down at the rear.
Maddison Brown then sent Lucapelo forward soon after the start, and the four-year-old gained an ideal trip behind Otis in the one-out, one-back position.
Egerton-Green, who produced Otis in splendid condition for his first start after a 19-week absence, said: “He’s a quality horse but has a few tricks, and tonight he didn’t get away as good as he can.
“Stands are almost out of the equation now because after this win he will be virtually handicapped out of them.”
Otis, who is owned by his breeder Steve Johnson and his daughter Charlotte, has been a consistent performer who has raced 45 times for 12 wins, 18 placings and stakes of $150,293.