Classy pacer Glenferrie Hood bounced back to winning form at precisely the right time.
With the 2018 Brisbane winter carnival officially starting next week, the Wayne Graham trained gelding scored a timely victory in the Listed $25,540 Oakwood Capital Wondais Mate Open at Albion Park last night (Saturday).
Glenferrie Hood rated 1:52.2 for the 1660m event defeating Frankie Rocks and Remember Them.
Sectionals were covered in 27.4, 29.6, 27.2 and 28.2 seconds.
Starting from the inside gate and handled by Kylie Rasmussen for the first time, the big striding son of Christian Cullen ended up in the trail after Frankie Rocks blasted off the gate and led easily.
Sitting poised in the pocket, Glenferrie Hood enjoyed a perfect run while race favourite Our Uncle Same raced without cover.
Entering the home straight, Glenferrie Hood shot to the passing lane and ran past Frankie Rocks with Remember Them using inside runs to fill third placing.
Our Uncle Sam weakened to 6th.
“The draw was everything, I’ve been happy with his efforts since his break but he just needed some luck and we got it via the draw. There’s little between these horses at this level and the pegs are the best place to be, he’ll get his chance at the bigger races in the coming weeks now.” Trainer Wayne Graham said.
Glenferrie Hood has now won 30 races from 101 starts while banking more than $344,000.
It’s the second time he has won the Wondais Mate after scoring in 2016.
The main open class events during the winter carnival include the Gr.2 $50,540 Garrrads Sunshine Sprint on July 14 followed by the Gr.1 $200,540 UBET Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship the following week.
The Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship is the final leg of the 2017/18 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit series.
Next week, the Listed $25,540 Mr Feelgood Open is scheduled and the winner of that event is exempt from ballot for the Blacks A Fake.
Another highlight last night was the efforts of champion reinsman Luke McCarthy, the former Brisbane based reinsman returned for the night and landed a winning quartet.
From 6 drives, he landed 4 winners and a narrow second in the main event.
Now based in Sydney, McCarthy will be driving during the three nights of the Albion Park carnival.
The key dates are July 7, 14 and 21.
Chris Barsby | RQ Web News | July 1 | Photo by Dan Costello