Star reinsman Chris Voak went into the $27,000 Joe Gaudet Member Since 2006 Binshaw Consolation at Gloucester Park on Friday night with high hopes as the trainer of three smart pacers My Silver Spoon, Maximum Rock and Sweet Vivienne.
His optimism was rewarded with the quinella, with My Silver Spoon, the $3.20 favourite driven for the first time by Gary Hall jnr, setting the pace and holding on to win by a neck from his drive, Maximum Rock, a $7.50 chance who ran on strongly from sixth in the one-wide line at the bell.
Sweet Vivienne, a $18 chance driven by Kyle Symington, was a most unlucky ninth after having been badly checked soon after the start and again on the home turn.
“This is the first time I’ve driven for Voaky, but I thought I was in trouble when Our Sandy Shore galloped approaching the home turn,” said Hall. “At the time I had them all where I wanted them, and we were travelling comfortably. But when Our Sandy Shore galloped it enabled others to get clear.
“I was worried, but on the line My Silver Spoon was going quite easily. He can race on and off the bit at times and getting the best out of him is the problem.”
Voak explained that My Silver Spoon was a lazy horse with a good share of ability but with a problem at getting himself to apply himself in his races.
“Junior (Hall) said that when Our Sandy Shore broke, My Silver Spoon went to sleep,” said Voak. “He is such a headache little horse. He came in with a 79 heart rate and still had plenty to give. He is frustrating because he tends to wait for the others. I know he has the capability to put a field away. I’ll tweak a bit of head gear in an attempt to get him to concentrate.”
Maximum Rock ran a sound trial for next Friday night’s $100,000 Westbred Classic for four-year-old stallions and geldings. “He needed the run, and next week we will have a shot at winning the big race,” said Voak.
My Silver Spoon is a four-year-old by Bettors Delight and is the first foal out of Art Major mare Silvia, who raced six times for four placings and stakes of $5370. My Silver Spoon has earned $63,268 from seven wins and five placings from 21 starts. He ran one third placing from his two New Zealand starts before arriving in WA.
