Speedy New Zealand-bred pacer Diego, beaten into third place by Our Rhythm N Blues and Carrera Mach a fortnight previously, turned the tables when he finished strongly to win the 2130m Retravision, Your Fujitsu Air Conditioning Specialist Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Diego raced without cover for his third placing and Gary Hall jnr was happy to position the five-year-old $3.90 second fancy in the prime one-out, one-back position before switching him three wide 550m from home. Diego then took a narrow lead on the home turn from the pacemaker Carrera Mach (favourite at $1.85) and went on to defeat that pacer by just over a half-length.
The final quarters whizzed by in 27.8sec. and 28.3sec. and Diego rated 1.55.6 in notching his sixth win from nine starts in Western Australia after three wins and five placings from 16 starts in New Zealand. Our Rhythm N Blues ($12) improved from tenth (and last) at the bell to finish seventh.
