Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
“I was rapt with him; I love him; he’s so versatile; he has gate speed; he can do it tough; he’s got it all,” enthused outstanding young driver Deni Roberts after Steel The Show’s effortless win in the 2536m $30,000 Call Garrard’s Horse And Hound For All Your Equine Needs Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Steel The Show, the $1.40 favourite for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was not extended in leading and coasting to victory over $31 chance The Mustang, who began speedily from the outside barrier in the field of seven but was unable to get to the front before Gary Hall Jnr was able to take the trail behind the pacemaker who dashed over the final three quarters in 28.6sec., 28.3sec. and 29.1sec.
“He won with the earplugs in and had another gear left in him,” said Roberts. “He takes a bit of driving at times, and he looks like he hasn’t much left, but he has. The WA Pacing Cup in November will be a target for him.”
The Bonds produced Steel The Show in fine fettle for his first outing for three months, and the New Zealand-bred Bettors Delight six-year-old has been handled by Roberts in all his six WA starts that have produced four wins and two fourths.
Steel The Show’s next start is likely to be in the $50,000 Winter Cup over 2536m next Friday week.