Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Barry Howlett bred, owns and trains Sugar Shake, a five-year-old who made a successful debut at Gloucester Park when he gave a bold frontrunning exhibition to win the 2130m TABtouch Place A Same Race Multi Pace on Friday night.
“He had never seen Gloucester Park, but I was confident that he would win,” said Howlett. “He has a bit of ability and has good gate speed, and from barrier one I knew he would lead. He was a level 6 horse racing against level 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15 horses but it makes it easy when you draw barrier one.”
Sugar Shake was the $4.10 second fancy, with Magnus Victor, a level 10 pacer from barrier five, a hot $1.50 favourite. Magnus Victor was fastest into stride but was unable to cross Sugar Shake, driven by Chris Lewis. Aiden De Campo then was able to get Magnus Victor into the favourable one-out, one-back position.
Sugar Shake dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.9sec. and 28.7sec. and was not extended in beating $16 chance Lamandier, who finished strongly from sixth at the bell. Name In Lights ($21) who trailed the pacemaker, was a sound third, just ahead of Magnus Victor.
Sugar Shake has had only ten starts for five wins, three placings and $30,480. “We didn’t do much with him early when he was quite small,” said Howlett. “And he has suffered from bad feet all the time which has required constant treatment.”
Howlett bred Sugar Shake from Bonnies Blessing, a mare he bred but did not race because of leg issues. “Bonnies Blessing is a daughter of Bonnie Blue Eyes and is a very big horse, standing more than 17 hands, but Sugar Shake is much smaller, typical of the progeny of Bettors Delight.”
Sugar Shake has inherited much of the ability of Bonnie Blue Eyes, who raced 44 times for 12 wins, 16 placings and $87,565 before being retired to the breeding barn. The best of her nine winners was No Blue Manna, who earned $628,157 from 41 wins and 25 placings from 105 starts.