Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg’s admiration for the progeny of American stallion Rock N Roll Heaven increased after her pacer State Of Heaven set the pace and won the $21,000 You’ve Got The Touch With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She had just returned from Melbourne last Monday after purchasing three yearlings at the Nutrien sale last Sunday, two of them by Rock N Roll Heaven, paying $30,000 for a colt and $7000 for a filly, as well as buying a Sweet Lou filly for $15,000.
State Of Heaven, a $5.20 chance from the coveted No. 1 barrier on Friday night, was driven with supreme confidence by Shannon Suvaljko, who urged the six-year-old to retain the early lead when being hotly challenged by the $1.75 favourite Magnus Victor.
State Of Heaven then held out Hes Never Been Beta ($12), who raced in the breeze before wilting to finish third. Magnus Victor, who raced in the one-out, one-back position, finished strongly to be a half-length second.
State Of Heaven, who is by Rock N Roll Heaven, dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.1sec. to take his record to 51 starts for nine wins, 24 placings and $95,552.
He was purchased in New Zealand by Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who raced the gelding 39 times for eight wins and 19 placings before selling him to Mrs Padberg, who has given the pacer eleven starts for Friday night’s win and four placings.
Before travelling to Melbourne for the yearling sale, Mrs Padberg transferred State Of Heaven to trainer Luke Edwards, who gave the gelding a start in a 2130m event last Friday week. State Of Heaven was the $1.90 favourite from the No.1 barrier when he raced roughly at the start and lost ground before racing in the one-out, one-back position and fighting on to finish third behind Ira Poole and Ideal Tomado.