Consistent four-year-old Hunger Strike warmed up for the $75,000 Empress Stakes next Friday night in fine style with a splendid win in the 2130m Barbagallo Aston Martin Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Hunger Strike was a $7.90 chance who revealed considerable strength in winning by a half-length from the $1.75 favourite A Little Silence, rating 1.56.2.
Hunger Strike began speedily from barrier five and was trapped three wide in a spirited early battle for the front which saw her race out wide until she forged to the front after 650m. She showed admirable toughness to go on and win after working so hard early.
She was driven with commendable aggression by Deni Roberts, who was able to steady the tempo after a fast lead time of 35.8sec. The opening quarters were run in 29.9sec. and 30.4sec. before Hunger Strike made life tough for the opposition by sprinting over the third 400m section in 28.4sec. A Little Silence ran on gamely from sixth (three wide) at the bell to finish second.
“Hunger Strike dropped a bit in grade tonight and it was pleasing that she kept going after racing wide early,” said part-owner and trainer Nathan Turvey. “Against the good mares we will probably drive her for luck.”
Leading trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo has the brilliant Wishing Belle at her peak for a powerful performance in the $100,00 APG WA Sales Classic for three-year-old fillies next Friday night.
Wishing Belle, the $1.30 favourite, was surprisingly beaten out from the No. 2 barrier by $23 chance Im Category Five (barrier three) in the 2130m Barbagallo Maserati Pace for three-year-olds before de Campo urged her forward and into the lead after 250m.
She then was untroubled to set the pace, and she dashed over the final quarters in 27.8sec. and 27.3sec. to win by just under three lengths from Im Category Five, rating 1.55.5.
“She is so lazy, and I was a little concerned when we were beaten out,” said de Campo. “However, she is getting better with every run and her trackwork has been super. She never looks like she is doing it as easy as she is.”
Wishing Belle boasts an outstanding record of 13 starts for ten wins, three seconds and $289,112 in prizemoney.
Delightful Peg, trained by Gary Hall snr and driven by Gary Hall jnr, remains unbeaten after four starts in WA. The four-year-old New Zealand-bred mare now has raced 24 times for seven wins, three placings and $104,290.
She was the $2 favourite from barrier four in the $25,000 Barbagallo Jaguar Land Rover Pace and she was never in any danger after she had taken the lead after 200m, leaving her talented stablemate Fakenit ($2.70) in the breeze. The final 400m sections whizzed by in 28.3sec. and 27.1sec. and Fakenit ran home strongly to finish a half-length from the winner, who rated 1.57.3sec.
“When the better performed mares didn’t come forward (early) I was happy with the slow pace,” said Hall jnr. “Her point-to-point speed has probably been somewhat questionable, and it was pleasing that she was able to zip home.”
The final two events on Friday night were won by Aldebaran Boyd and Wave Rebellion.
Aldebaran Boyd, the $2.60 favourite from the 20m mark in the 2503m Barbagallo Volvo Trot, raced in third place in the Indian file affair until trainer Chris Voak eased him off the pegs and into the breeze approaching the bell. He took the lead with 250m to travel and won by almost three lengths from the pacemaker Bee Bee Beroc ($5.50).
Four-year-old Wave Rebellion, the $1.70 favourite and the youngest and by far the least experienced runner in the 2130m Barbagallo Alfa Romeo Pace over 2130m, proved vastly superior to her rivals at her first appearance for four months.
She was the sole runner off the back line and trainer Stuart McDonald was content to remain in last position while Jackie Daniels ($4.80) was setting the pace. Wave Rebellion revealed a sparkling turn of speed in the back straight in the final circuit to get to the breeze 500m from home and then get to the front on the home bend on her way to winning by a head from the defiant Jackie Daniels.
