Outstanding young driver Emily turned 25 on Thursday and she celebrated the occasion in fine style with a perfect exhibition in the sulky to land Penny Black a stylish winner in the $50,000 group 3 Schrader Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night
Penny Black, the $3.50 second fancy from the awkward draw on the inside of the back line, was eased off the pegs immediately after the start and settled down in fourth spot, following $8.50 chance Sweet Darling in the breeze.
The polemarker Sweet Vivienne ($6.50) led for the first 230m before Heavenly Gipsy ($5.50) charged to the front, and then soon after that Sweet Vivienne broke into a gallop. Suvaljko seized the initiative and dashed Penny Black to the front, with the lead time a quick 35.8sec.
Penny Black quickly relaxed with opening quarters of 31.9sec. and 29.9sec. before she sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.2sec. and 27.7sec. and won by 4m from Heavenly Gipsy, rating 1.55.3 over 2130m.
This was Penny Black’s third appearance after a three-month absence, and she is sure to prove hard to beat in the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on November 7 and the $150,000 Mares Classic two weeks after that.
Penny Black resumed after a spell with an excellent third behind Mister Smartee and Captain Ravishing after racing in the breeze before winning at her next two outings.
“Sitting outside Mister Smartee first-up really toughened Penny Black up, and she has come back with a bit of versatility,” said Suvaljko. “She can go that slow quarter early and is sprinting home a lot better. At her past two wins she has run home in a pair of twenty-sevens. She is a big black beast.”
Penny Black, prepared by leading trainer Michael Young, has earned $292,611 from 15 wins and ten placings from 33 starts.
Suvaljko and Young completed a double when promising four-year-old mare Majestic Ga Ga, the $2.40 favourite, proved too good for her rivals when she set the pace and beat Luvaflair ($4.60) in the $21,000 Retravision Lowest Price Guaranteed Trot over 2130m.
Majestic Ga Ga raced 29 times in Victoria for six wins and eight placings, and she now has earned an additional $72,763 from her seven wins and four placings from 16 WA starts.
“She is not just a frontrunner; she is pretty versatile,” said Young. “She is a bit finicky and has her quirks as well as being inclined to overrace at various stages.”
