Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Recent American interest in buying Moonlite Drive probably was intensified after the New Zealand-bred six-year-old gave a typical splendid frontrunning performance to win the Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The son of champion sire Bettors Delight was the $2.50 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and Maddison Brown rated him perfectly in front to land him a neck winner over the fast-finishing $19 chance Onesmartfella.
“I don’t think he has been beaten when he has led,” said trainer Michael Young. “He struggles a bit with the front straight start (for 1730m events) as most horses do. But I was confident he would hold up and lead (from the No. 1 barrier) from the front straight start (for the 2536m event) because from barrier one in a 1730m event two starts ago he got out well and almost held out Floewriter.
“He might end up in the States. There is interest around and maybe this win might seal the deal.”
Moonlite Drive, who ended a losing sequence of nine, has earned $148,780 from 66 starts. After one win in New Zealand and four in Victoria he has raced 31 times in Western Australia for eight wins, seven seconds and four thirds.
Seven of his eight WA wins have come when he has set the pace. He is also a specialist over 2536m, having started over that distance nine times for five wins, two seconds, one third and one tenth placing.