Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Ace trainer Kim Prentice has always had a keen eye for selecting youngsters, and he was spot on with his judgment when he outlaid a mere $10,000 to purchase a Fly Like An Eagle colt at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale.
The colt is named Wake Up Geoff and is trained by Prentice for a syndicate of five owners who celebrated a splendid victory in the $100,000 TABtouch Bet Loop APG Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This took Wake Up Geoff’s record to 12 starts for three wins, three seconds and $107,038 in prizemoney, and his stylish win over classy youngsters Ideal Beach and Amalfi Knight was a strong indication he will develop into a leading contender in upcoming rich feature events for three-year-olds, including the $200,000 WA Derby on October 30.
Wake Up Geoff is the fifth foal out of Bettors Delight mare Gaylees Delight, who earned $67,784 from five wins and 11 placings from 37 starts, the final 14 of which were in WA for a solitary win at Pinjarra in 2016.
Wake Up Geoff showed good early promise, and he gave a sample of his potential when he finished second to the brilliant D Mac in the Group 1 Golden Slipper last September. He was making his second appearance after a spell when he began from the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2130m classic.
He was the third fancy at $6.50 and was beaten for early pace by the $1.85 favourite Amalfi Knight, who began speedily from the No. 3 barrier and led by a full length but was unable to cross Wake Up Geoff, who was driven hard by Mitch Miller during a flying lead time of 35.5sec.
Aiden De Campo then was able to angle Amalfi Knight across to the pegs after 450m and enjoy an ideal trip behind the leader, who relaxed over the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.8sec. and 30.6sec. before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 28.7sec. and winning by 4m from the $3 second fancy Ideal Beach, who ran on determinedly from seventh in the middle stages. Amalfi Knight was 1m away in third place.
“Wake Up Geoff’s gate speed has been a chink in his armour, but to hold the lead tonight hopefully will give him the confidence, going forward,” said Miller. “It is exciting to have a genuine Friday night horse, and I’m looking forward for the big races for three-year-olds.”
Thirty-one-year-old Miller completed a double when he drove $11 chance Rellim to an easy all-the-way win in the 2130m Real Punters Play Here TABtouch Pace. The seven-year-old, trained by Miller’s elder brother Dean, ended a losing sequence of 31 and improved his record to 86 starts for ten wins, 31 placings and $104,301.