“He’s definitely a WA Derby contender later this year,” declared star driver Deni Roberts after guiding Bettor Fortune to a stylish victory at a 1.56.2 rate in the HTA Rent A Gen Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bettor Fortune, now trained by Greg and Skye Bond, won at one of his two starts in New Zealand as a two-year-old and he is unbeaten, without being extended, at his first three starts in Western Australia this winter.
“He is Vampiro’s half-brother and I think he is a bit more genuine to the line,” said Roberts, who handled Vampiro only in his final five starts, all at Gloucester Park, for two third placings and then being retired with earnings of $697,921 from 29 wins and 29 placings from 97 starts. Vampiro won once from his seven New Zealand starts before arriving in WA.
Bettor Fortune was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 5 barrier in Friday night’s event for three-year-olds, and he quickly dashed to the front in a quick lead time of 36.6sec. before bowling along and sprinting over the final 400m in 27.8sec. to beat $10 chance Beatitlikebeca by two lengths.
Captain Stirling, racing first-up, dashed forward from barrier eight at the start and worked in the breeze before fighting on to finish a creditable fourth.
By Ken Casellas