Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Evergeen pacer Vultan Tin will continue racing as a 12-year-old next year, said his breeder and owner Phil Costello after the gelding ended a 16-month drought with his impressive win in the $25,000 Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Vultan Tin, a $7 chance from barrier three, was driven aggressively by Chris Voak and dashed past the $2.50 favourite The Mustang to take up the running 550m after the start.
After a smart lead time of 35.3sec. Vultan Tin relished his pacemaking role and reeled off quarters of 30.1sec., 29.2sec., 28.5sec. and 29.9sec. on his way to winning by three and a half lengths from $4.60 chance Doc Holliday, who finished strongly after being shuffled back in the middle stages to fifth, three back on the pegs.
Vultan Tin, who was having his second start after an absence of six and a half months, rated 1.55.6 over the 2130m and improved his record to 223 starts for 33 wins, 32 seconds and 22 thirds for stakes of $1,073,999.
He has been a wonderful campaigner, whose wins include the Narrogin Cup in 2017, 2021 and 2022, the 2019 City Of Perth Cup, the 2020 WA Pacing Cup, the 2021 Pinjarra Cup and the 2022 Governor’s Cup.
Costello, who was standing in as trainer on Friday night for his son Dan, who had work commitments with Harvey Beef, said that there was no special secret to Vultan Tin’s longevity.
“It’s probably just care and looking after him,” he said. “We have never had any problems with him. He is an old horse, and old horses take a while to come up.
“He was in work during the winter, but we couldn’t get his body right. We kept working him until we felt he was right to go.”
Vultan Tin will keep racing, and if his form is good, he will be given a chance in the Pinjarra Cup in March and the Fremantle Cup in April.