Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Promising four-year-old Sound Wave, a close relative of former star pacer Winforu, will be set for the $30,000 group 3 Pure Steel Pace next Friday night.
“He will go to that race,” said trainer Ryan Bell after Kyle Symington had driven the Mach Three gelding to an all-the-way win in the 2130m The Naked Jule Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sound Wave, the $3 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier, set a modest early pace before dashing over the final 800m in 56.2sec. and winning by just under a length from $7 chance Moonlite Drive, who fought on grandly after racing in the breeze all the way. Master Publisher, an $8 chance at his first appearance after a 15-month absence, finished strongly from seventh at the bell to be an encouraging third.
“He is a dogged little fella, and from the No. 1 barrier I knew that nothing would get past him,” said Bell. “He will only do what he has to.”
Sound Wave was purchased for $32,500 at the 2019 APG Perth yearling sale and he now has raced 39 times for eight wins, 14 placings and $67,586 in stakes.
“We picked him out at the sales, and I also came home with Peligroso (a $36,000 purchase),” said Bell. “Both showed good ability, but I had a lot of health issues with them when they were two and early three-year-olds.
“A virus affected all my horses, but currently my stable is the healthiest it has ever been.”
Sound Wave is the second foal out of Terra Into The West, who raced 79 times for five wins, 26 placings and $59,570. Terra Into The West is a half-sister to Winforu, who earned $719,204 from 32 wins and 45 placings from 172 starts.
Winforu’s wins included the group 1 Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park in December 2003 and the group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup in February 2006. He also finished second to Blacks A Fake in the Interdominion Championship final at Globe Derby Park in January 2007.