Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Paroquet, whose first 14 starts, as a two and three-year-old, resulted in just two thirds, at Wagin and Narrogin, has blossomed as a four-year-old and she gave promise of better things to come when she gave a powerful frontrunning performance to win the group 3 Retravision Lewis Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Paroquet, bred and owned by Paula Petricevich, has had ten starts as a four-year-old for five wins and three placings. She was a $16.30 chance on Friday night when she won in dashing style from stablemate Sheza Bromac ($21) to give trainer Michael Munro a quinella result.
Sheza Bromac was first into stride from barrier two before Chris Voak took the sit behind Paroquet, who began speedily from barrier three and surged to the front after 350m.
“Paroquet is a strong horse who grows a leg when in front,” said reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. “So, I thought that if she got to the front and then had a bit of a breather, she would be hard to beat. Her recent trial at Byford when she beat Perfect Major gave me plenty of confidence.
“I thought that if I could hold the runners on her outside, and with Eighteen Carat on the back line, Paroquet could lead and take plenty of catching.”
After a lead time of 36.5sec. and opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 29.7sec. Paroquet sprinted over the third quarter of the final mile in a swift 28.2sec. to make life tough for her rivals. She then covered the final 400m in 29.3sec. and was untroubled to win.
Eighteen Carat, the $1.90 favourite at her first appearance for 18 weeks, finished third. She started from the inside of the back line, and Gary Hall Jnr eased her off the pegs immediately after the start. She settled down at the rear and was tenth at the 950m mark when Hall dashed her forward, with a three-wide burst.
Eighteen Carat was sixth at the 400m and she finished strongly. “I was really happy with her,” said trainer Michael Young. “It was a sensational run. She made up plenty of ground, off the track, when they were running, and she got to the line really good.”
Paroquet, who is by the American stallion Shadow Play, is the tenth foal, and the fifth winner, out of the unraced Walton Hanover mare Smooth Moven. She now has earned $47,818 from six wins and five placings from 30 starts.
Paroquet, whose first 14 starts, as a two and three-year-old, resulted in just two thirds, at Wagin and Narrogin, has blossomed as a four-year-old and she gave promise of better things to come when she gave a powerful frontrunning performance to win the group 3 Retravision Lewis Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Paroquet, bred and owned by Paula Petricevich, has had ten starts as a four-year-old for five wins and three placings. She was a $16.30 chance on Friday night when she won in dashing style from stablemate Sheza Bromac ($21) to give trainer Michael Munro a quinella result.
Sheza Bromac was first into stride from barrier two before Chris Voak took the sit behind Paroquet, who began speedily from barrier three and surged to the front after 350m.
“Paroquet is a strong horse who grows a leg when in front,” said reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. “So, I thought that if she got to the front and then had a bit of a breather, she would be hard to beat. Her recent trial at Byford when she beat Perfect Major gave me plenty of confidence.
“I thought that if I could hold the runners on her outside, and with Eighteen Carat on the back line, Paroquet could lead and take plenty of catching.”
After a lead time of 36.5sec. and opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 29.7sec. Paroquet sprinted over the third quarter of the final mile in a swift 28.2sec. to make life tough for her rivals. She then covered the final 400m in 29.3sec. and was untroubled to win.
Eighteen Carat, the $1.90 favourite at her first appearance for 18 weeks, finished third. She started from the inside of the back line, and Gary Hall Jnr eased her off the pegs immediately after the start. She settled down at the rear and was tenth at the 950m mark when Hall dashed her forward, with a three-wide burst.
Eighteen Carat was sixth at the 400m and she finished strongly. “I was really happy with her,” said trainer Michael Young. “It was a sensational run. She made up plenty of ground, off the track, when they were running, and she got to the line really good.”
Paroquet, who is by the American stallion Shadow Play, is the tenth foal, and the fifth winner, out of the unraced Walton Hanover mare Smooth Moven. She now has earned $47,818 from six wins and five placings from 30 starts.