Big five-year-old gelding Bluto, a winner at four of his 12 New Zealand starts and successful at three of his 12 outings in New South Wales, broke through for his first win at his tenth appearance in WA for trainer-reinsman Gary Hall jnr when he overcame the back mark of 30 metres to score an easy victory in the $21,000 Fay Ward Member Since 2025 Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was excellent value as the $2.90 second favourite after finishing a head second to open-class star Gee Heza Sport at his previous outing a fortnight earlier.
Frontmarker Heez A Vibe surprisingly was the favourite at $2.80 who galloped out and then was forced to race in the breeze before wilting to finish eighth.
Bluto began smartly and enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, two-back position before he sprinted smartly to dash to the front 460m from home after the third 400m section of the final mile was covered in 28.4sec.
He went on to win by a length and a half from $8 chance Twobob Cracker, who ran on from eighth at the bell. The final 400m was run in 29.3sec. and Bluto rated 2.0.2.
“I dashed him away after getting to the front because I thought if he stopped, he would be far enough in front to go on and win,” said Hall. “If Gee Heza Sport was in this race off 30 metres, or even off 50 metres, he would be the $1.01 favourite.”
Bluto, who is raced by prominent New Zealand owner Graeme Anderson and Michael Boots, of Leeton in the New South Wales Riverina district and is affectionately known as Mr Harness Racing, has had 36 starts for eight wins, eleven placings and $120,763.
He is by champion sire Sweet Lou and is the ninth foal out of unraced mare Beach Parade, who is best-known as the dam of Partyon, a Bettors Delight mare who amassed $638,261 from 17 wins (including the 2017 New South Wales Oaks) and six placings from 31 starts.
Then, on Sunday Heez A Vibe lined up in a 1730m event at Kellerberrin and was the $1.30 favourite when driven by Liam Elliott to a two-length victory over Brulee.
