Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Steel The Show improved his Australian record to four starts for four effortless victories when he was not extended in scoring an easy win in the $22,000 www.aaronbainracing.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting a hot $1.30 favourite from barrier five, Steel The Show burst to the front after 75m and coasted to victory by a length over the fast-finishing $20 chance Talks Up A Storm, rating 1.57.2 over 2130m, with final quarters of 28.7sec. and 28.5sec.
The win completed a double for driver Deni Roberts and was the second leg of a treble for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
“We have a lot of time for Steel The Show, and he is definitely an open company horse,” said Greg Bond. “He probably proved that in New Zealand where he has done a fair bit of racing (44 starts for six wins, nine seconds and six thirds) and he finished fourth in a New Zealand Cup (behind Copy That in a field of 15 in a 3200m stand at Addington in November 2021).
“The way the system is over there, he was always racing against open company, and to his credit he was always close up, with thirds and fourths, and did win races.
“He has now had a few runs for us and has shown no signs of feeling any duress. We will probably run him in a Free-For-All shortly and test him there and see what he does. That will give us a guide. I’d like to think he’s a Cups horse at the end of this year. That’s the feel he gives us, and hopefully he delivers.
“Regarding our starter in the Nullarbor, we will make that decision probably the weekend before the race. At the time we will make a decision between Patronus Star and Minstrel, and if Steel The Show steps up he will be in the conversation.
“Probably, it’s Minstrel where we’re heading. He’s our proven Free-For-All performer and is probably our No. 1 seed. We’re happy with him, and he never gives it away. His was a great run (third behind Diego) tonight.”