Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising New Zealand-bred five-year-old Storyteller followed his impressive all-the-way victory the previous Friday night when he was seen in a vastly different role when he began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line in the $23,000 Hoist Solutions Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2.30 favourite, with Gary Hall Jnr content to let him drop back to settle in last position while the early pace was hectic.
The lead time was a sizzling 35.1sec. with $5 chance Mr Fantastic beginning speedily from barrier seven and challenging the polemarker Longreach Bay for the early lead.
Mr Fantastic set the pace and Infinite Sign ($12) came from the rear to move to the breeze with 1200m to travel, and soon after that Emily Suvaljko sent Lets Get Rockin ($15) forward with a three-wide burst which was followed by Hall with Storyteller.
Infinite Sign took a narrow lead at the 250m before Lets Get Rockin got to the front in the home straight. Storytelller (eighth at the bell) went four wide on the home turn and finished strongly to get up and win by a head from Lets Get Rockin, rating 1.56.3 over the 2130m journey, with final quarters of 28.8sec. and 29.6sec.
“Storyteller always felt the winner after that fast lead time,” said Hall. “And the cart up probably helped him a bit. However, he probably would have won without it. It’s good to get the win because he has been a bit of a funny horse and a hard horse to get past the post (in front) on occasions. And it’s good for him to get two wins together.”
Storyteller, trained by Gary Hall Snr, has raced only 15 times for seven wins, three placings and $66,617.