Five-year-old Walsh has lived in the shadow of the brilliant Shockwave throughout his career, but he has proved an honest and capable performer who boosted his earnings to $106,491 when he set the pace and won the 2130m Positive For Pacing Pace at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.
Walsh, purchased for $34,000 at the 2017 WA yearling sale, has been forced to play second fiddle to Shockwave, who was bought by similar interests for $46,000 at the same sale and now boasts a fine record of 44 starts for 16 wins, 17 placings and $469,465.
Described by his trainer-driver Aiden de Campo as an honest performer who never runs a bad race, Walsh was a $4.10 chance from the prized No. 1 barrier on Saturday night when he led and fought on doggedly to win from the $2.50 favourite Major Stare and Power And Grace ($3.40). After final quarters of 28.4sec. and 28.2sec., Walsh rated 1.57.8 as he improved his record to 71 starts for 11 wins and 22 placings.
Nine-year-old Major Stare trailed Walsh all the way and ran home strongly, as did Power And Grace, who enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.
By Ken Casellas