Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Four-year-old Soho Broadway, the youngest and least experienced runner and only mare in the field, showed that she is set for a successful campaign when she fought on determinedly to snatch victory in the 2536m Ima Rocket Star Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The daughter of Bettors Delight, having her second start after a spell, was a $4.90 chance from barrier six and was driven assertively by Gary Hall Jnr for owner-breeder Rob Watson and trainer Gary Hall Snr.
After racing three wide early, Soho Broadway was left racing without cover while Major Mucha ($7.50) was setting the pace after the polemarker Tiza New Day ($4.40) broke into a gallop soon after the start and dropped back to the rear.
The Tiger Army, the $4 favourite, met with early interference and was sent forward from last at the 1400m to get to the breeze about 300m later, thus giving Soho Broadway the one-out, one-back trail.
Hall sent Soho Broadway forward, three wide, approaching the home turn and the mare fought on gamely to beat Major Mucha by a head with $4.20 chance Im Spiderman a half-head away in third place. Im Spiderman trailed Major Mucha all the way and did not get clear until late.
Hall Jnr said that he was anxious to inject more pace in the race when Emily Suvaljko went forward with The Tiger Army. “I made her work a bit to ensure that the pace went on,” he said. “I sat on The Tiger Army for about 600m and when Soho Broadway got to a narrow lead (about 530m from home) I was keen to keep Im Spiderman in a pocket.”
This was Soho Broadway’s second win from five starts in WA, following her four wins from 21 starts in Victoria and placings in the South East Oaks and Queensland Oaks at Albion Park in July 2021. She has now earned $86,869 from six wins and ten placings from 28 starts.
Soho Broadway is out of the Tasmanian-bred Art Major mare Pixel Perfect, the dam of former outstanding pacer Soho Tribeca, who raced 59 times for 21 wins and 24 placings for stakes of $1,103,854.