Two and a half years and 22 starts after being imported from Europe, Australian Bloodstock's Slow Pace (USA) opened his winning account in Australia in Friday's $160,000 Listed Carlton Mid Wyong Gold Cup (2100m).
Ridden by Robert Thompson for Newcastle-based trainer Kris Lees, Slow Pace was one and one back early as Halfway To Heaven set the pace.
Thompson took off in the mid stages to sit outside the leader and in a slogging finish, Slow Pace (Distorted Humor) defeated the Chris Waller-trained favourite Sacred Master (Mastercraftsman) by a half-length with another one and a quarter length back to
It was a first win in the event for both jockey and trainer.
"It's only taken me 40 years to win it,” Thompson told Sky Racing. "You've got to keep trying.”
"He hadn't had 54 (kilos) on his back for a very long time but too his credit he toughed it right out to the line.
"Hughie (Bowman on Sacred Master) came but as soon as he got there he could go no further and my old bloke was still surging underneath me.”
Lees said the Newcastle Cup on September 16 would be the next mission for the 9yo son of Distorted Humor.
"He'll be at Newcastle for sure,” Lees said.
"He'll join Sense Of Occasion and Singing and we'll see how Olympic Academy pulls up from today.
"He didn't handle that today. There'll be a couple there.”
A Group III winner at Longchamp and Listed winner at Saint-Cloud when trained by Freddie Head, Slow Pace advances his overall record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 5 thirds from 39 starts with earnings of $525,943.
His stakes-winning dam Slow Down (Seattle Slew) is a half-sister to dual Grade III winner and Grade 1 runner-up Olmodavor (AP Indy), out of the top-class El Gran Senor mare Corrazona whose seven wins included the Grade 1 Beverley Hills Handicap.
