Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Skylou, winner of the WA Derby last year, is still learning, according to Gary Hall Jnr after driving him to an easy victory in the 2130m Barbagallo Jaguar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’ve always liked the horse, but it is taking a while for the penny to drop,” he said. “His work at home is right up there with the likes of Mister Smartee. The ability is there; it’s a matter of putting it all together.
“It’s between the ears, and if he can sort that out, he will keep winning races. With a good draw he will be dangerous in a race like the Golden Nugget when it’s up tempo.”
Skylou, the $1.60 favourite trained by Gary Hall Snr, began from barrier five and he worked his way past the polemarker and his stablemate Coney Island Lou and took up the running 400m after the start.
He set a solid pace with the final three 400m sections whizzing by in 28.3sec., 28sec. and 28.8sec. to win by more than two lengths from $26 chance Street Hawk, who fought on after racing without cover.
Skylou, a Sweet Lou four-year-old, rated 1.54.8 and took his record to nine wins, four placings and $220,739 in prizemoney from 18 starts.