Sorridere breaks through for overdue win

Talented pacer Sorridere (Sunshine Beach) broke a frustrating run of outs when he stormed down the outside to take out the Nox World Cup Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.

Not greatly fancied in the betting, Sorridere was immediately eased from his wide front row draw by driver Aiden De Campo who settled him one out and four back in the run with the highly fancied Better Eclipse behind him.

Minos who drew the pole was backed into favourite but he could not hold out the veteran Longreach Bay at the start. Still he was given every chance by his driver Lindsay Harper and he weakened to finish fourth after hitting the front on the final bend.

Better Eclipse finished on well out wide but at one stage it looked as if Franco Encore might snatch the race and he was getting inside runs after doing no work in the race.

But Sorridere sustained his run from along the back straight and at the finish he was too good in holding out Franco Encore and Better Eclipse.

SORRIDERE 6 FEB REPLAY

Sorridere had not won since he took out the Listed Pinjarra four year old classic in November 2024. And previous to that he had won the John Higgins Memorial at Gloucester Park.

Trainer driver Aiden De Campo was relieved after the event.

He just travelled nice tonight. And after that he got the right splits into it. And when he felt as good as he did down the back straight and let him run he felt like the Sorridere of old which is really good. So its been a while between drinks for him. I think the last really good race he ran he pushed across Mister Smartee to the line in the (Golden) Nugget.

Since then I’ve lost him but its good to have him back this week. We changed a bit of training with him. We jumped up on him in the saddle. He is suspect for pulling up a little bit. We had the pull downs on him the other day for the first time today. I was sweating on them until the 100 (metre mark) and that seemed to get him across the line.

De Campo has made a flying start to the season and at this early stage he leads both the State Drivers and Trainers Premiership is equal leader in the Metropolitan drivers with Shannon Suvaljko and leads the Metropolitan trainers leader board.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink