Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Star reinsman Chris Voak completed a double in successive events when he brought the $3 favourite Onesmartfella home with a spirited burst from the rear to win the 2130m Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night. This was his 1700TH victory in an illustrious career.
Voak, who had won the previous event with Carabao, was content to keep Onesmartfella at the rear after starting out wide from the No. 8 barrier.
Onesmartfella was in tenth position when Voak sent the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell. The following 400m was covered in a brisk 28.5sec. before Onesmartfella got on terms with Hotfoot It with 350m to travel. Onesmartfella then went on to win by a half-length from $5.50 chance Cloud Nine, who rattled home from ninth at the bell.
“Barrier eight was not really a concern because I thought there would be a bit of speed early,” said Voak. “He appreciated a drop in class, and I think his past couple of runs have been a big improvement. He has attacked the line, whereas in the past he hasn’t been that genuine.
“Tonight, he showed good grit to hold on, and that’s something he hasn’t shown a lot here in the West. It was an impressive run with the work he did because he is not known for that. He stuck his neck out when it counted.”
Onesmartfella has earned $102,042 from 11 wins, 12 seconds and three thirds from 51 starts. Friday night’s win gave trainer Jemma Hayman her 24TH win for the season, putting her in ninth position on the WA trainers’ premiership table.