Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Tenzing Bromac, a comparatively lightly-raced six-year-old, will be the powerful Greg and Skye Bond stable’s No. 1 contender for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November.
That’s the strong prediction from ace driver Deni Roberts after she had driven the New Zealand-bred gelding to an impressive victory in the $31,000 Vale Ron Davies Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Tenzing Bromac, the $2.20 favourite from the awkward barrier at No. 7, was restrained at the start and settled down in eighth position before Roberts dashed him forward to take up the running after 700m.
After a solid lead time of 36.4sec. the opening quarters were run in modest times of 30.9sec. and 30.3sec. before Tenzing Bromac sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 27.7sec. and won by one and a half lengths from the brilliant four-year-old Never Ending, the $3.10 second fancy, who charged home with a powerful late burst.
“I think that this will be his season,” said Roberts, who chalked up her century of winners for the season when Tenzing Bromac improved his record to 38 starts for 18 wins, 14 placings and $284,675.
“I remember I went from driving him at Kellerberrin (in July 2022) and he went on to Free-For-All company in one season. He has now learnt his ropes and is comfortable in the fast-class grade. He is our No. 1 shot ahead of Minstrel for the Pacing Cup.
“He has travelled really well in winning races from the breeze, and he hasn’t had many opportunities to lead. So, it was nice for him to find the rail tonight. He has a lot of raw ability and there is a lot of depth to him.”
While Tenzing Bromac, who rated 1.56.3 over 2130m on Friday night, was a brilliant winner, Never Ending was superb in defeat.
Never Ending was restrained from the outside barrier (No. 9) and he raced at the rear while Tenzing Bromac was setting the pace from the early leader Talks Up A Storm, with Mighty Conqueror ($20) racing without cover and Steel The Show ($7.50) enjoying an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position.
Never Ending was ninth at the bell and Justin Prentice eased him three wide with about 270m to travel. He went four wide on the home turn and sprinted home fast to finish second. It was a splendid rehearsal for his appearance in the $2.1 million Eureka at Menangle on September 7.
Prentice was delighted with Never Ending’s performance, saying: “He went to the line super, and I was struggling to pull him up in the warm-down lap. He has recovered very well and I’m hoping he runs up to his ability in the Eureka, and whatever happens, happens.”
Never Ending will leave Perth by air at 7 o’clock on Tuesday night where he will be met by Prentice, who will fly to Victoria on a commercial flight earlier on Tuesday. Never Ending then will stay for a day or two at Shepparton before travelling by truck to Sydney where he will be stabled at trainer Peter Rixon’s property at Pheasants Nest.