Reinsman Stuart McDonald said that My Carbon Copy was bolting in the back straight in the final lap before coasting to an effortless victory in the opening event, a 1730m sprint, at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Favourite at $1.10 from the No. 1 barrier, My Carbon Copy was untroubled to set the pace before winning by two lengths from Soho Thunderstruck at a 1.54.7 rate, with final quarters in 27.9sec. and 27.7sec.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old is a full-brother to former star pacer My Hard Copy, who was retired with earnings of $1,271,592 from 27 wins and 23 placings from 89 starts. His wins included the WA Pacing Cup in 2015 and 2016 and the 2018 Fremantle Cup in which he defeated Lazarus, Chicago Bull, Ultimate Machete and Soho Tribeca.
“Early on, we had a little bit of trouble with My Carbon Copy,” said champion trainer Gary Hall snr. “He used to pull a bit and stop a bit. But now he’s improving all the time. He has got high speed; he might be following in his brother’s footsteps because My Hard Copy kept improving as he got older.”
Vincenzo Peruggia wins first-up
Vincenzo Peruggia, whose career was in grave doubt early in 2017 when he was suffering from badly bowed tendons and was off the scene for 20 months before making a successful return to racing, reappeared at Gloucester Park on Friday night after an absence of almost five months.
The six-year-old was produced in fine fettle by veteran trainer Tony Svilicich and was not extended in setting the pace and winning the second event over 2536m, with Chris Lewis in the sulky. Favourite at $3 from barrier six, he raced three wide early before forging to the front. He won easily from Crocodile Kid and Soho Wonder, rating 1.58.5.
