Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Youre So Fine is gradually regaining his best form, according to reinsman Gary Hall Jnr, who drove the gelding to a narrow in in the 2130m Nova Boy’s Race Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Youre So Fine, trained by Gary Hall Snr, was the $2.50 favourite from the inside of the back line, and Hall Jnr made a quick decision to change his anticipated tactics after a fast lead time of 36.4sec.
Hall wasted no time in easing Youre So Fine off the pegs, and the gelding settled down in 11TH position, with the $4.40 second fancy Lamandier setting the pace.
“I wanted to drive Youre So Fine with a sit but after the early speed I reckoned they would start to walk,” he explained. “I didn’t want to go around them (and into the breeze), but I thought that if I didn’t go when I did (after 700m) that I would be three wide for the last lap.”
Youre So Fine then finished determinedly to get to the front in the home straight and win by a half-neck from $31 outsider Benji, who was tenth with 250m to travel before finishing fast along the inside. “I was a bit lucky because Benji was hampered for room late,” said Hall.
“Youre So Fine is certainly not in the form when he was one of the favourites for the Golden Nugget last December. But he has had a lot of issues and excuses. Early on, before his four-year-old campaign he damaged a tendon in both front legs. However, he is fine now.”
Youre So Fine, a gelding by Always B Miki, won once from three New Zealand starts and now has a good record of 27 starts for 12 wins, six placings and $202,676.