Fresh off one of his biggest wins since obtaining his trainer’s licence in 2022, Wesley Vale-based trainer-driver Charlie Castles was back in the winner’s circle in Launceston on Friday night when Nancestiger ($2.50 fav) scored in the final race of the night.
The five-year-old gelding settled four-back the pylons before moving into the one-one at the bell in the small field that contested the no more than five lifetime wins event over 2200m.
Nancestiger raced away in the straight to record an easy 11.2m win from Kostyuk Leis ($2.60) with the race leader Repetitive ($5.50) a further 12.6m away third in a mile rate of 2:00.4s.
“He has been knocking on the door of late, so it was good to crack one. It’s been a while for him, but he certainly deserved it on his recent racing.
“His last 150m is usually the best part of his race. He usually always hits the line pretty good, and he did that well,” explained Castles.
The Sweet Lou gelding has now won five of his 44 starts, with 20 minor placings to his credit.
Last week, the Castles stable claimed the $20,000 6ty° Golden Girls with Sabine, which sits alongside the Sindbad Bay Final in 2024 with Just Tiger as his biggest wins for Castles since taking out his trainer’s license.
“We will aim Sabine at the few mares races coming up, the Mother Of Pearl next week is one of those. She is also good from the standing start, so a race like the Matron Stakes (next month) is another we are looking at.
This season, Castles is the leading strike rate trainer for top three placings in Tasmania, with a minimum of 75 starters, at 55.38% for top three finishers, while his winning strike rate is at 20%.
