Henley Brook trainer leader Robbie Williams sighed with relief after guiding the $1.80 favorite Opal Hunter (Control the moment) to capitalize on race victory in the Happy 60TH Birthday Heather Sue Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.
“We were lucky,” he said. “We avoided two or three collisions, and most drivers did a good job of getting out of the way. There were three incidents, and I was in the middle of them and was lucky to avoid them all.”
Opal Hunter made his fourth start after a long absence as he recovered from a tendon injury, and he impressed with his convincing victory over $151 outsider Pocket The Change and the pacesetter Loch Tay ($9). He finished strong from sixth place at the bell.
“He is very talented, but has not had any races for 17 months and has only completed a few runs in low company,” said Williams. “So we’ve pushed it uphill and are probably a fraction too late to get a start in the Golden Nugget.
“We may run out of time. But we’ll take a chance and give him a chance next Friday in a Nugget prelude.”
OPAL HUNTER REPEAT
Opal Hunter has won three of his four starts in his current campaign, improving his record to 18 starts for eight wins, two placings and $52.96. He was purchased for $27,500 at the 2022 Perth APG Yearling Sale and is raced by a syndicate of 13.
He is a descendant of American sire Control The Moment and out of Betshes Precious, who earned $66,366 from nine wins in small events and 16 placings.
Opal Hunter is a full brother of Lord Titanium (66 starts for seven wins, 23[placementsand$118319)andhisyoungerhalf-sisterRubyLouhashad39startsforsixwinsnineplacementsand$106625[placingsand8319)andhisyoungerhalf-sisterRubyLouhashad39startsforsixwinsnineplacingsand6625[plaatsingenen8319)enzijnjongerehalfzusRubyLouheeft39startsgehadvoorzesoverwinningennegenplaatsingenen6625[placingsand8319)andhisyoungerhalf-sisterRubyLouhashad39startsforsixwinsnineplacingsand6625
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