Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo enhanced his reputation as one of the State’s best trainers of juvenile pacers when he landed the quinella in a thrilling finish to the $50,000 Team Bond Pearl Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He made a wise decision to drive American Machine ahead of stablemate Amalfi Knight, with American Machine justifying his confidence by winning the group 3 classic by a head from Amalfi Knight, who had won narrowly from American Machine in a qualifying heat.
“Amalfi Knight (driven by Dylan Egerton-Green) was huge, and he probably deserved to win,” said de Campo.
American Machine was the $1.60 favourite from the No. 3 barrier, with Amalfi Knight, starting from barrier five, the $2.50 second fancy.
Deni Roberts foiled de Campo’s plans of setting the pace by getting $11 chance Chugach away to a flying start from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and bursting straight to the lead.
This left Amalfi Knight in the breeze, with American Machine enjoying a perfect sit in the one-out, one-back position. After a fast lead time of 35.1sec. and opening quarters of 29.6sec. and 30.5sec. the final 400m sections were run in 29sec. and 28.4sec., with American Machine rating 1.55.3 which was a race record, lowering the 1.55.5 rate set by Theo Aviator in 2019.
de Campo became the first driver to win the classic twice, following his victory with Seaside Magic 12 months earlier when that pacer beat Captain Stirling, driven by Egerton-Green.
Amalfi Knight took a narrow lead with about 120m to travel, and he fought on grimly to lose by a head from American Machine.
“I was a bit concerned when Chugach burst to the front,” admitted de Campo. “American Machine went quite rough into the first bend, and he had to pick himself back up. He is still raw and learning how to race, and he can rip and tear at times. But he has a heap of high speed and has a huge engine.”
American Machine is out of American Ideal and is the second foal out of unraced Art Major mare Majors Gem, an older sister of one of de Campo’s stable stars Menemsha, who has raced 51 times for nine wins, 19 placings and $383,938 in prizemoney.
American Machine, bred and owned by Craig Lynn, has earned $71,530 from three wins and four placings from 12 starts.
