Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented colt Ten To The Dozen overcame a gear malfunction to record a stylish victory in the 2130m Entertainment With Horsepower Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2.40 equal favourite with Menemsha, and he had the necessary pace to take advantage of the No. 1 barrier and set the pace, with his main rival working in the breeze at his first appearance for five months.
After a slow lead time of 38.8sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 30.2sec. Ten To The Dozen dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.6sec. and 27.2sec. to win by a half-length from stablemate Thenu Came Along ($4.40), who finished well ahead of Off the Charts ($41) and Menemsha. The winner rated 1.57.2.
Ten To The Dozen, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was having his third start after a spell, following a narrow first-up victory over 1684m at Pinjarra and then a close second to stablemate Golden Lode over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday after setting the pace.
“I was a little disappointed at his defeat at Pinjarra,” said star driver Deni Roberts. “He ran really good time, but I thought he should have won.
“I put some head gear (pull-down blinkers) on him tonight, but they failed him by coming straight down at the start. So, he raced all the way all blocked up. But he went quite well. Normally, I wouldn’t release the pull-downs until the final 200m or 100m.”
Ten To The Dozen, an Art Major colt and a $65,000 purchase at the 2022 Perth APG yearling sale, has had 15 starts for seven wins, four placings and stakes of $95,188.
His win completed a double for the Bond stable and Roberts, who had combined earlier in the night to win the KTC Bloodstock Yearling Parade Pace with veteran pacer Galactic Star.
Ten To The Dozen is sure to be one of the leading contenders in upcoming feature events for three-year-olds, including the APG Sales Classic for colts and geldings on March 1, the APG Gold Bullion Classic on April 5 and the Caduceus Club Classic on April 26.