Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Emily Suvaljko’s plans to set the pace in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night were foiled when veteran pacer Machlani was beaten out by $34 outsider Yankee Lincoln.
But Suvaljko then was happy to bide her time with Machlani, a $14.10 chance, who was shuffled back to three back on the pegs after $21 shot Cowboys N Bandits surged to the front after 350m.
Machlani was still hemmed in until Yankee Lincoln vacated the spot behind the leader 250m from home, after Deni Roberts had sent the $1.75 favourite Lusaka to the front after racing in the breeze. Suvaljko was happy to send Machlani through on the inside before switching the eight-year-old three wide on the home bend. Machlani sprinted solidly to get up and beat Lusaka by a half-length, rating 1.55.3.
Machlani, raced by trainer Giles Inwood and Brian Ridley, has been an honest performer throughout his 126-start career of 13 wins and 34 placings for stakes of $142,214.
Inwood has prepared Machlani for his past twelve starts for two wins and three placings. “This was his second run after a five-week break,” said Inwood. “I gave him two or three weeks off and brought him back slowly.”
Machlani is by Mach Three and is out of former smart mare Leilani Lombo, who earned $224,595 from ten wins and five placings from 23 starts. Her major success was in the Group 1 APG Classic for two-year-old fillies at Albion Park in April 2010.