The once despised gelding Eclipse Line continues to amaze with his splendid performances in WA since being purchased for $4000 late last year.
He was a $4.30 chance when he made most of the running and scored an easy win over Gee Smith and Strauny in the Ascot Home Renovations Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
That was his seventh win (three in metro-class events) from 19 starts in WA for his owners, trainer Michael Young, Matt Leppard and Ollie Cownie. Eclipse Line has also been placed five times in WA and his return to his new owners is $69,532 --- and they are confident he will boost his earnings when he contests another standing-start event next Friday night.
Eclipse Line arrived in WA with a losing sequence of 22 (including two placings at Penrith) and his only success from four Victorian starts and 24 in New South Wales was at Newcastle in September 2024.
“We bought him from the same connections who sold us Our Thunder and Bobby Waterhouse last year,” said Young.
Our Thunder arrived in WA with a losing sequence of 63, and his six starts in the space of six weeks for his new owners produced three wins, two seconds and one third placing before he was retired.
Bobby Waterhouse, who arrived in WA with a losing sequence of 35, won at Pinjarra, Kellerberrin and Collie last year as well as being placed four times.
Eclipse Line began from the 10m mark on Friday night and Emily Suvaljko sent him forward soon after the start to get to the front after 600m. He then enjoyed an unchallenged time in the lead and coasted to victory by just under two lengths.
This gave Suvaljko the second of her three winners on the night. She won earlier in the program with Ta In Advance, and she drove the Young-trained mare Majestic Ga Ga to victory in the Perth Construction Specialists Free-For-All Trot.
Majestic Ga Ga, the $1.50 favourite, began from the outside barrier in the field of eight and she raced three wide for the first 500m before racing in the breeze while $17 chance Luvaflair was setting a solid pace. Majestic Ga Ga gained the upper hand about 90m from the finish and went on to beat $23 chance Line The Starzzz, who trailed the pacemaker before finishing with a determined burst.
This extended Majestic Ga Ga’s winning sequence to four and improved her career record to 59 starts for 22 wins, 17 placings and $200,858.
Majestic Ga Ga thrives on racing and she will make her next appearance when she begins off the 60m mark over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night, while stable star Penny Black will contest the $35,000 Golden Girls Mile over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday.
Mad Monday, trained by Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, made a sparkling return to racing after a four-month absence when he outclassed his eleven rivals in the 2130m Ascot Group Made In WA Pace.
Mad Monday was the $1.90 favourite from barrier four, and Roberts sent him to the front after 450m. He dashed over the final three quarters in 28.9sec., 28.7sec. and 27.8sec. and won without his earplugs being released, scoring by seven lengths from $13 chance Spitfire, who overraced in the breeze and fought of gamely.
“Mad Monday has taken the next step and has matured a lot,” said Roberts. “His work has been good, and he was even better tonight.”
Mad Monday has had 20 starts for seven wins and five seconds and is giving every indication that he will be a strong candidate for the rich feature events for four-year-olds later in the year.
