Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“It was a bit of a shock going that fast from the breeze,” explained trainer-reinsman Gary Hall Jnr after driving Ventura to an easy win in the $21,000 Barbagallo Leaders In Motoring Excellence Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ventura, having his first start for Hall and making his first appearance for 23 weeks, was a $4.50 chance from the No. 2 barrier, and after making a brief but unsuccessful challenge for the lead 600m after the start, he continued to race in the breeze before getting to the front with 400m to travel and win by two and a half lengths from the $2.40 favourite Whataretheodds.
Ventura rated a fast 1.52.8 rate over 1730m after $18 chance Runningonempty had begun like a shot from the outside barrier (No. 9) and had dashed over the first three 400m sections in 28.3sec., 28.5sec. and 28.5sec. before the final quarter went by in 28.8sec.
Runningonempty upset most predictions that Whataretheodds would be first out from the No. 1 barrier and would set the pace. Kyle Symington wasted no time in getting Whataretheodds off the pegs in the first lap to take an ideal trail in the one-out, one-back position behind Ventura.
Whataretheodds ran home solidly to finish second, without threatening Ventura.
“The key was Whataretheodds getting crossed from barrier one and not leading,” said Hall. “If he had led, we probably would have run second to him.
“Then, in the run, Ventura was travelling so nicely that I was quite confident.”
The New Zealand-bred Ventura won twice from 15 New Zealand starts before arriving in WA and entering Nathan Turvey’s stables.
Ventura shone for Turvey, with 15 starts for him producing seven wins and two placings.
Turvey then had a few problems with Ventura, who was getting fierce and pulling hard, resulting in Turvey asking Hall to have a go with the gelding’s preparation.
Ventura is by New Zealand sire Gold Ace and is the sixth foal out of Zitura, who had 61 starts for nine wins, 19 placings and $114,990. Zitura also produced Livura, who excelled on the racetrack before being retired with a fine record of 118 starts for 23 wins, 41 placings and stakes of $261,006.
Turvey, Peter Ensel and Michael Rowe purchased Livura for $45,000 in March 2016, and the gelding had 92 starts for his new owners for 19 wins, 33 placings and $218,069.
Ventura is following in Livura’s footsteps, and his 13 WA starts have resulted in eight wins and two placings to take his career record to 28 starts for ten wins, seven placings and $73,289.