WELL bred four-year-old pacer Vande Velde tuned up for the $30,000 Raider Stakes with a last-stride win in the North Eastern Pacing Club Cup over 2698 metres at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston tonight.
The four-year-old gelding produced a powerful finishing burst to grab victory in the shadows of the post scoring by a short half-head from Something Eyre with resurgent Spirit a game third after facing the breeze for most of the race.
Vande Velde had not win since last November wen successful in a C4-C5 event in Launceston over 2200m.
The gelded son of Four Strarzzz Shark-Good Gracious promised a lot as a young horse but fierce racing habits and an unpredictable temperament has prevented the gelding from realising his full potential.
But Salter is hoping the four-year-old can deliver in the Raider Stakes later this month and finally live up to the early expectations.
Listen to what trainer-driver Christian Salter had to say about Vande Velde’s latest win.