Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Two years ago, Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko took the lease of Ardens Horizon because the New Zealand import was unable to handle working in the sand with leading trainer Gary Hall Snr.
“I leased him from a bunch of Senior’s owners, and I took him hoping to win a maiden or a couple of races,” said Suvajko after driving the Bettors Delight five-year-old to an easy victory in the Manning, Young and Currall Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ardens Horizon has exceeded all expectations, and his 41 starts for Suvaljko have produced 13 wins, 17 placings and $163,979 in prizemoney.
“Initially, he wasn’t working anything special, but he has kept on improving and has done a super job,” said Suvaljko.
“He goes well in mobiles and stands, and leading into tonight’s race I couldn’t see any horse beating him. The only difference was that Watching Our Coin was scratched, and I was confident Ardens Horizon would have beaten him.”
Ardens Horizon, the $1.40 favourite from the outside of the front line, had a lucky escape from a possible misfortune when he was bumped by Fleur Du Maquis, who galloped and veered outwards at the outset of the standing-start event.
“Fleur Du Marquis went up the track and into us,” said Suvaljko. “But my bloke paced out good and kept pacing after this.” Ardens Horizon took the lead after 500m and after dashing over the final three 400m sections in 28.7sec., 28.3sec. and 28.6sec. he won by two lengths from the $8 chance Deeorse, who led early before trailing the leader.
Friday night’s victory was Ardens Horizon’s sixth win in a stand. He showed plenty of early promise and did a fine job in finishing fourth behind Tricky Miki in the WA Derby in November 2022.