Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented New Zealand-bred five-year-old Lusaka relished a rare opportunity to set the pace when he powered to the front from the No. 6 barrier and gave a bold frontrunning display to outclass his eleven rivals in the $31,000 Cash Converters Rotary Club of Fremantle Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was the first time that Lusaka had led in a race since he was successful over 1730m at Gloucester Park on September 15, 2023. He had won seven times when leading as a two and three-year-old, and then he raced 34 times without leading until Friday night.
“Finally, he was able to get a good pozzie (leading),” said his driver Deni Roberts. “He is a really good frontrunner but he hasn’t been able to show that, mainly due to bad barriers. He has won with the plugs in tonight.”
Lusaka, a $7.20 chance mustered excellent early pace to surge past his stablemate Vegas Strip ($41) and dash to the front 400m after the start, with the lead time a smart 36.5sec.
Lusaka then was able to amble through the opening quarters in 31sec. and 29sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.3sec. and 27.4sec. He recorded a mile rate of 1.55 in beating $7 chance Talks Up A Storm, who raced three back on the pegs before finishing solidly. The winning margin was two and a half lengths.
Lusaka, a Sweet Lou stallion who is prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is sure to develop into a strong candidate for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12. He now has raced 47 times for 16 wins, 19 placings and $288,919 in prizemoney.
Skylou, the $2 favourite, began from the No. 1 barrier and was beaten for early pace before moving to the breeze and wilting to finish in last position, 91m behind the winner.
The Bond stable and Roberts kept up the good work by scoring an easy victory with three-year-old Bettor Fortune, the $2.30 favourite who beat Beatitlikebeca over 2242m at Narrogin on Saturday night.