Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Rising star Kyle Symington continued in dazzling form in the sulky at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he landed his first metropolitan-class treble, scoring with Waverider, Aussie Scooter and Heez A Vibe.
The 21-year-old Symington completed his treble at 10.10pm when Heez A Vibe led all the way in the final event — and how did he celebrate his memorable achievement? By returning to Gloucester Park at 4 o’clock on Saturday morning to drive several pacers in their trackwork.
Heez A Vibe completed a training double for Symington’s mentor Ryan Bell — after they had combined to win the $100,000 APG Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings earlier in the night.
Heez A Vibe, the $1.60 favourite from the No. 2 barrier in the field of four, was not extended in setting the pace and coasting to a three-length victory over $8 chance Worlds Above.
Symington has now driven 31 winners this year and is in equal third place with Deni Roberts behind Gary Hall Jnr (40 wins) and Shannon Suvaljko (39) on the drivers’ premiership table.
“We had a fair bit of gear on him, and in the past couple of weeks we have taken it all off, and this seems to be helping him,” said Bell. “He has put on some length in his legs in the past couple of months , and he is now ready for a spell. You won’t see him again until the heats of the Pearl.”
Heez A Vibe was bred in New South Wales. He is by former star New Zealand pacer Tintin In America and is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Lettucerocker, who failed to be placed from nine starts in NSW and Victoria before being retired to stud.
Lettucerocker is a full-sister to Lettucerockthem and a half-sister to Lettucerocku, both outstanding pacers. Lettucerockthem had 226 starts for 49 wins, 62 placings and stakes of $1,042,176, while Lettucerocku raced 320 times for 47 wins, 73 placings and $662,610.
Lettucerockthem won once in Victoria and 21 times in NSW (including four Group 1 events at Menangle as a two, three and four-year-old) before going to America where he was a prolific winner. Lettucerocku won 17 times in NSW before winning another 30 races in America.