Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Young reinsman Tom Nally was more than happy to drive experienced pacer Sound Wave in the $21,000 7Plus Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, after fellow-claiming driver Liam Elliott opted to handle Fly To The Finish.
The two reinsmen fought out an exciting finish, with Nally getting Sound Wave, a $16.50 chance, home in the final desperate stride to get up and win by a half-head from Fly To The Finish, the $3.50 favourite.
Sound Wave, owned and trained by Simon Lowings, began from the No. 7 barrier and raced in eighth position, immediately behind Fly To The Finish in the one-wide line, with $6 chance Bronzed setting the pace and $5 chance Shes A Tiny Dancer moving to the breeze after dashing forward, three wide, 650m after the start.
Gary Hall Jnr sent Shes A Tiny Dancer to the front with 250m to travel, and she remained in front until the final couple of strides.
Elliott dashed Fly To The Finish forward, out three wide, with 900m to travel, and Nally was happy to follow that run which ended with Sound Wave lifting strongly in the home straight to beat Fly To The Finish by a half-head, rating 1.59.
“Sound Wave hung on the final bend but once he straightened up, he took off again,” said Nally. “What won the race for me was Liam coming out (three wide) at the bell and giving me a good cart up.”
Sound Wave, a seven-year-old by Mach Three, was purchased for $32,500 at the 2019 Perth APG yearling sale, and has proved a splendid investment, earning $162,172 from 12 wins and 30 placings from 106 starts.