Star reinsman Chris Voak faced a tough decision last week when he had to decide between Carrera Mach and Bracken Sky as his drive in the Game Footy Tipping Competition Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He had handled the Ross Olivieri-trained Carrera Mach in 32 races for four wins, eleven seconds and two thirds, while he had driven the Debbie Padberg-trained Bracken Sky four times for a second, a third, a fourth and a sixth placing.
Both pacers had drawn out wide in the 2130m event, and after plenty of thought Voak chose Bracken Sky (barrier nine) ahead of Carrera Mach (seven).
He proved to be an excellent judge, with Bracken Sky, a $16.20 chance, winning by just over a length from Gran Chico ($3.20), with $41 chance Carrera Mach, with Chris Playle in the sulky, sustaining a strong finishing burst from eighth at the bell to be a neck away in third place.
Bracken Sky’s victory can be attributed to Voak’s daring tactics. He got Bracken Sky away brilliantly and the six-year-old burst past the $3.20 favourite Walsh to take the lead after just 100m. Then, about 280m later Voak surrendered the lead to Gran Chico.
Bracken Sky’s prospects appeared hopeless when he was hopelessly hemmed in on the pegs behind Gran Chico approaching the home turn. But then the breeze horse Rakasinc began to wilt, enabling Voak to ease Bracken Sky into the clear with 110m to travel. Bracken Sky charged to the front in the straight and won convincingly at a 1.56 rate.
Bracken Sky, who ended a losing sequence of nine, has had 99 starts for 16 wins and 30 placings for stakes of $190,975. He had 45 starts in New South Wales for ten wins and 14 placings, and his 54 WA starts have produced six wins and 16 placings.
By Ken Casellas