Page’s Powerful outsider wins after flashing home late
TRAINER Helen Page took two runners into the Shane (Demons) Coster Handicap on the Gold Coast, but it was the least favoured of the two that found the winner’s stall for the in-form local.
First up three-year-old Excalibrator was the chief elect in the opening race on the card at the Gold Coast, but it was Page’s other galloper Powerful Flash ($29.60 at Crownbet.com.au) which saluted for the stable.
Someone had 10k on excalibrator ???
— zack hunt (@EZACKT) July 8, 2017
The resuming three-year-old settled at the back of the field and was produced at the perfect time to sweep past the field and beat out Mishani El Lobo, which returned $2.20 at Sportsbet.com.au , while Gingersnaps rounded out the placings.
The win was Powerful Flash’s second win from seven attempts, and continued a terrific strike rate which has now seen it place in 65 percent of its races.
The horse’s trainer said she understood the lack of market support for her galloper given its last start performance and lack of heavy track form.
“He had a problem last time in,” Page told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He sweated up badly and had to pass the stewards’ test to race again, and he’s never been on a heavy track so there was always a doubt over what he would do.”
Despite the concerns the ground may not suit on Saturday, Page said the horse has trialed well previously in those conditions, and the give in the ground may have actually helped Powerful Flash make up late ground on the leading division.
“He’s handled soft and heavy tracks before in barrier trials, so we had a little bit of confidence that way. I knew he’d get back, so when its wet it sort of slowed up the leaders and with the light weight he was able to win.
“It was wonderful, I mean he’s a class one horse, and the other horses have won three or four races coming into it.”
The Gold Coast track had experienced plenty of rain in the lead up to Saturday’s meet, which played havoc with the markets.
Page was unsure how both her horses would handle the additional softness in the track, but the fact that her outsider of the field toppled the short-priced favourite did surprise.
“It was an open race, and its a heavy 9 and even 10 in parts of the course my jockeys tell me and some horses just don’t handle it. (Powerful Flash) was able to today,(Excalibrator), not as much,” the trainer said.
“Both of mine came into the race fresh so it was a little bit of a concern with the heavy track, but we said ‘oh well, we’ll give it a go’, so it worked out well.”
The strong performance from Powerful Flash was a direct contrast to Excalibrator’s run.
The three-year-old was searching for its fourth win from nine attempts, but after getting pushed wide and shuffled back early in the run the $2.10 favourite wilted in the straight to finish outside the placings for just the third time in its career.
Page is prepared to put the run down to bad luck and move on.
“I’ll forgive the run there,” she said.
“A heavy 9 and first up without a trial just took its toll on him.
“He’s probably the best horse out there and if it had been a good track he’d be the winner for sure.”