Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
A flying start rom the No. 2 barrier paved the way for Victorian-bred pacer Pradason’s victory in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Pradason was the $4.20 second favourite, and trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo’s ability to use his sparkling gate speed from the No. 2 barrier to take the lead after 100m from the polemarker and noted frontrunner The Kraken ($4.40) was a decisive factor in the Shadow Play six-year-old’s win.
De Campo made life tough for Pradason’s rivals with second and third quarters of 28.8sec. and 28.5sec. Pradason covered the final 400m in a modest 29.8sec., but he carried too many guns for the opposition and won by 2m from $4.40 chance Valentines Brook, who fought on determinedly to be second after racing without cover all the way. Lucky Galleon ($11) finished determinedly from seventh at the bell to be third.
Pradason is in the best form of his career, having won at seven of his past 20 starts to boost his record to 71 starts for 17 wins, 21 placings and stakes of $157,676. His WA record stands at 54 starts for 12 wins and 13 placings, following five wins from 15 Victorian starts and one placing from two appearances in New South Wales.