Veteran trainer Colin Brown has Arma Believer racing in wonderful form, and the WA-bred four-year-old boasts an impressive record in his current campaign of eight starts for four wins, three seconds and one fourth placing.
Arma Believer warmed up in fine style for the $50,000 Christmas Gift next Friday when Brown’s daughter Maddison drove him to victory in the TABtouch Watch Sky Racing Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Arma Believer was a $3.90 chance from out wide at barrier eight, and he began speedily but was unable to cross $14 chance Henty and was left in the breeze for the first lap. He then gained the favourable one-out, one-back trail when the $3.80 favourite Chasing Rex sustained a fast three-wide burst to get alongside the frontrunning Henty with 1250m to travel.
Chasing Rex took the lead 600m from home before Arma Believer assumed control with 360m to travel. He then went on to win by a neck from $41 outsider Wicked Hustler, who ran home fast after trailing the pacemaker.
“I was happy to give up the breeze,” said Maddison Brown. “I like the horse better with a sit, when he is more genuine, behind a helmet. He has all the ability, but his attitude lets him down sometimes.”
Arma Believer, who is by former star pacer Vincent, has earned $99,166 from eight wins and 14 placings from 31 starts.
Earlier in Friday night’s program were three Christmas Gift qualifying heats over 2130m which were won by Rocknrollartist (1.55.9), Maungatahi (1.55) and Sweet Lucifer (1.56.1).
Rocknrollartist began brilliantly from the outside barrier (No. 9) and was untroubled to lead throughout for trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo; Maungatahi began out wide at barrier eight and Impressed in running home strongly from ninth at the bell to win easily from Lil Happy Fella; and Sweet Lucifer began fast from barrier six before setting the pace and winning easily from Hes Never Been Beta.
