Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Oldbury trainer Lisa Walton has no regrets that she accepted owner Albert Walmsley’s offer to lease seven-year-old pacer Lord Rosco two months ago.
The New Zealand-bred gelding was seen in his trademark role as pacemaker when he held on to win the 2130m Caduceus Club Pace over 21230m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Lord Rosco’s three starts for Walton have resulted in two wins and an unplaced effort for stakes of $22,733 which boosted his career earnings to $134,172 from 18 wins and 17 placings from 59 starts.
He relishes a frontrunning role and 13 of his 18 wins have been when he has set the pace.
Lord Rosco was the $3.60 third favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and Gary Hall Jnr took full advantage of the coveted draw by sending the gelding straight to the front and then ambling through the lead time in a slow 39.2sec.
“Because he is so fast out, he’s always going to get an easy lead time,” said Hall. “And there was no pressure, with all the others sit and kick horses.”
After opening quarters of the final mile in 32sec. and 30.5sec. Lord Rosco dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.5sec. and 28.3sec. as he won by a head from last-start winner and $19 chance Tuas Delight, who finished fast after trailing the leader all the way.
“He didn’t have a lot left but felt that Tuas Delight was never going to catch him,” said Hall. “Lord Rosco is pretty quick when he is on the rail, but he has also got a bit of toughness.”