Star reinsman Jack Callaghan has driven in excess of 800 winners, but he has had to wait for two and a half years to land his first winner in Western Australia.
“I thought it was never going to come,” said the 24-year-old New South Wales reinsman, who is settling into a life in WA.
Callaghan was excited when he drove Spirit Of St Louis to finish a head second to Betterzippit in the Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park in April 2023.
“That was my second or third drive here, and I thought that running second in a million dollar race was easy,” he said after driving When In Vegas to win the opening event, the $21,000 WA Derby Prelude at Gloucester Park on Friday night. “It has taken me a bit longer.”
Regarding his future plans, Callaghan said: “I’ll probably stay here for the next couple of months, and looking forward, hopefully, to teaming up with Never Ending, heading towards the WA Pacing Cup. If I keep getting drives, I’ll stick around.”
Callaghan was having his first drive behind the Greg and Skye Bond-trained When In Vegas on Friday night when he took full advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier by setting the pace with the $9.30 chance who held on to win by a head from the fast-finishing Elite Fleet ($23).
Lincoln Lou, the $2.50 favourite from barrier two, was smartest to begin but was unable to cross When In Vegas, who was able to dawdle through the lead time in 37.8sec. and the opening 400m section in 31.8sec. before increasing the tempo with quarters of 29.5sec., 27.8sec. and 28sec. with Elite Fleet enjoying a perfect trail behind the pacemaker.
Chase Me, the $2.65 second fancy from barrier five, raced without cover before wilting to finish fifth.
“I was surprised that I wasn’t getting any attackers, so I was happy to pinch it (a slow early pace),” said Callaghan. “I wasn’t worried when Lincoln Lou was challenging early. It is a little bit hard to drive through from the inside barrier over the initial bit. But once When In Vegas was able to get settled, he was able to hold that horse quite comfortably.
“When In Vegas ran a nice third quarter and was doing it well. I didn’t want to shut him down, so I kept him rolling, and I think he knew where the line was. I wasn’t worried when Elite Fleet came late.”
This was the first metro-class win for When In Vegas, who has earned $48,387 from five wins and seven placings from 19 starts. He is by American Ideal and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare Hit It Rich, who was retired after her 22 starts resulted in five wins, eight placings and $48,360.
Hit It Rich finished third at her only appearance in New Zealand in November 2016 before coming to WA where she won at four of her first five starts in the State early in 2017.
When In Vegas has earned an automatic start in the $200,000 WA Derby on October 31, with the Bond stable sure to hold a strong hand in the classic with talented three-year-olds, including Bettor Fortune, Troubadour, Belly Up and Rumble Strip competing for a place in the field of twelve.
“When In Vegas is a great little Westbred that we have bred,” said Mrs Bond. “Our best Derby hopes are Bettor Fortune and Troubadour. On their work at home there’s not a lot between them, but Bettor Fortune has more high speed.”
