A dashing frontrunning harness racing performance by Soho Tribeca at Pinjarra on Monday was a convincing indication that the American Ideal stallion will be a leading contender for the $200,000 Golden Nugget Championship at Gloucester Park on December 9.
Soho Tribeca, having his first start in Western Australia and his first for trainer-reinsman Kim Prentice, was a 2/1 second favourite for the $25,000 Four-Year-Old Classic at Pinjarra and he gave a sample of his class when he set the pace and sprinted over the final 400m in a dazzling 26.5sec. to win by a metre from Franco Rayner (who had trailed him throughout). The brilliant Chicago Bull, early warm favourite for the Golden Nugget, worked hard in the breeze and battled on grandly to finish 2m away in third place.
Soho Tribeca’s 30 starts for WA owner-breeder Rob Watson have produced ten wins, ten seconds and three thirds.
Another Golden Nugget hope Mr Mojito notched his seventh win from eight starts when he settled in ninth position, surged forward to the breeze at the bell and cruised to the front 70m from the finish to win, untouched, from Captain Doimio at a 1.55.2 rate over 2600m at Addington on Tuesday.
The Real Desire four-year-old was driven by Natalie Rasmussen, who trains the gelding in partnership with Mark Purdon.
The Purdon-Rasmussen combination won six of the 12 events on Tuesday, including the $765,000 New Zealand Cup, a stand over 3200m with champion four-year-old Lazarus, the even-money favourite.
Lazarus, driven by Purdon, coasted to victory by ten lengths over Tiger Tara, with Titan Banner third and Smolda fourth.
Smolda, a leading candidate for the TABtouch interdominion championship in Perth next month, led briefly in the first circuit and then trailed the pacemaker Lazarus. He had every chance and battled on doggedly into fourth place.
Highly-ranked stablemate Have Faith In Me (driven by Rasmussen) disappointed in finishing thirteenth and the Robert Dunn-trained Franco Nelson, ranked No. 5 for the Inters, finished sixth.
Have Faith In Me raced at the rear before starting a three-wide run approaching the bell. He moved into fourth place 700m from home, but then galloped hopelessly and dropped back in the field of 15.
Ken Casellas