Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
West Australian-bred mare Paroquet returned to her best form and ended a losing run of seven when Chris Lewis drove her to an all-the-way win over the fast-finishing Vulcan Star in the 2130m Imperial Finance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Paroquet, prepared by Michael Munro, was a $91 outsider the previous Friday night when she charged home from the rear to finish third behind Beyond The Sea. It was a different story on Friday night when Paroquet began from the No. 2 barrier and was the $3.50 second fancy behind Eton Rock ($3.40).
Lewis sent Paroquet straight to the front, and after a slow lead time of 38.8sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.2sec. and 29.9sec. the five-year-old Shadow Play mare dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.9sec. and 28.1sec. She held on to beat Vulcan Star, who settled down in ninth position before sustaining a strong three-wide burst from seventh at the bell.
“She showed good gate speed and was able to control it early,” said Lewis. “She was able to relax in the early stages and finished off well.”
Paroquet, who managed just two third placings (at Wagin and Narrogin) from her first 14 starts, has blossomed under the care of Munro and she now boats a fine record of 39 starts for eight wins, six placings and $74,981. She relishes racing at Gloucester Park where her 20 appearances have resulted in seven wins and four placings.
She is the tenth and last foal out of the unraced Walton Hanover mare Smooth Moven, and is a half-sister to Tank You Kindly, who had 145 starts for 12 wins, 22 placings and $95,855.