Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant mare Steno enhanced her prospects in the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic (November 8) and the $150,000 Mares Classic (November 22) when she revealed sparkling speed to romp to an effortless victory in the $50,000 Schrader Free-For-All for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven confidently by her trainer Jocelyn Young, Steno, the $1.60 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier, set a brisk pace and sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.4sec. to beat $41 chance Stormyskyes by two and a half lengths, rating a splendid 1.53.5.
“She will have one more run before the Norms Daughter,” said Young, who released the ear plugs in the home straight just to keep Steno’s mind on the job.
Five-year-old Steno, who was making her second appearance after a 24-week absence, following her sound first-up fourth behind Aardiebytheseaside a fortnight earlier, is sure to be a major player in the upcoming rich feature events for mares.
She certainly has bright prospects of making amends for her unplaced efforts in the big races last November when she was a $61 outsider from the outside of the back line and finished fourth behind Beyond The Sea in the Norms Daughter Classic before she finished a disappointing ninth, ten lengths behind the winner Simply Shaz in the Mares Classic.
Steno is an outstanding frontrunner who has set the pace in nine of her ten wins in Western Australia after continuing her career in the West after nine wins from 17 starts in New South Wales, one win from two Victorian starts and two placings from two appearances in Queensland.
Her record now stands at an imposing 20 wins, eleven placings and $408,048 in prizemoney from 43 starts.
“She has gate speed and being in front is a great benefit, and we look to use her early speed when applicable,” said Young. “Tonight, she got a bit too keen early when Dylan Egerton-Green was going forward and trying to find a spot for Zephyra.”
Aardiebytheseaside, the $3 second fancy from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, was attempting to improve her WA record to eight stars for eight wins. But she ruined her chances by pacing roughly in the mobile score-up and losing about five or six lengths before dashing forward to race three wide for about 600m to get to the breeze. She wilted over the final 400m to finish well back in ninth place.
Starlight Dream ($15), a stylish winner at her first two runs after a spell, began from the outside of the back line and was ninth at the bell before starting a three-wide move 550m from home and fighting on to finish fifth.