Chris Voak, Western Australia’s leading driver last season, is maintaining his brilliant form in the sulky this year, and he stole much of the limelight at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he landed four winners on the ten-event program.
He completed his quartet in the eighth event, the 2130m Retravision Pace, when he caused an upset by bringing $13.50 chance Rabchenko home with a powerful burst from tenth at the bell to win by more than a length from $3.50 second fancy Extreme Prince and the $1.95 favourite J B Mauney.
Rabchenko, bred and owned by Kevin and Annette Charles, was having only his second start for Pinjarra trainer Frank Vanmaris and was unfavourably drawn out wide at barrier No. 7.
Voak, who had won earlier in the night with Perfect Major, Boom Time and Star Of Diamonds, did not bustle Rabchenko early and the eight-year-old was tenth at the bell when Voak switched him three wide to follow the run of J B Mauney.
Ryan Warwick sent J B Mauney to the front 420m from home, but he was unable to withstand the strong finishing burst of Rabchenko, who gained the upper hand in the final 25m and went on to win by more than a length to end a losing sequence of seven unplaced efforts.
Voak has enjoyed a happy association with Rabchenko, having driven the veteran pacer 20 times for six wins and four placings. Rabchenko, an Art Major gelding, has had 98 starts for 15 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $147,401.
Voak followed his Friday night quartet with wins behind Sugar Street at Bunbury on Saturday night and Here Comes Sharkie at Kellerberrin on Sunday afternoon.
by Ken Casellas