Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
When Deni Roberts predicted that Minstrel would win the start and make life extremely tough for Lavra Joe in the Yuletide Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night it was not an idle boast.
Everything worked to plan. Minstrel was smartest into stride from barrier four and then gave a bold frontrunning display to coast to an effortless victory over Arma Einstein and Lavra Joe to give the 28-year-old Roberts a significant history-making record as the first female to drive 200 winners in a season in Western Australia.
When Mistrel, the second fancy at $2.90, dashed to the front, Kyle Harper restrained Lavra Joe, the $1.70 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of five, back to last with a fervent hope that the brilliant five-year-old would outsprint his rivals in the final stages.
Minstrel was in second gear early with a comfortable lead time of 37.2sec. and an easy opening quarter of 30.8sec. before Roberts applied the pressure with Minstrel sprinting strongly over the final three 400m sections in 28.9sec., 26.7sec. and 28.1sec.
Lavra Joe, who moved off the pegs with 1000m to travel and then raced in the breeze, was unable to make any impression on Minstrel, who won by 10 metres from $5.50 chance Arma Einstein, with Lavra Joe a length farther back in third place. Minstrel rated a slick 1.54.7 over the 2130m.
“I was pretty keen on his chances,” said Roberts. “I had no concerns and he won with the plugs still in. I don’t think that he has ever been beaten when leading.”
The New Zealand-bred Minstrel, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, is by American sire Rocknroll Hanover and is out of the Mach Three mare Ovaride. He has raced 55 times for 20 wins, 17 placings and $734,007 in prizemoney.
His next appearance is likely to be in the 1730m Members Sprint on January 12.