IS THIS the most consistent harness horse going around from the Bendigo region?
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His trainer Graeme Dalton would like to think so and the stats would probably agree.
With Gusto has continued to compile an impressive record throughout his 139 race career, highlighted by 24 wins and 39 placings.
The 10-year-old is seemingly getting better with age, with his most recent form line boasting just one unplaced run in his last 10 starts.
An all the way win at Ballarat last Friday capped a very impressive few months for With Gusto.
That victory gave Dalton his 14th win with the gelding since August 2017. Five of those have been at racing headquarters at Tabcorp Park Melton.
It is a record of which Dalton is immensely proud.
"Among the cheap claimers he seems to be the pick of them," the veteran Sutton Grange-based trainer said.
"He is about as honest as they come .... I'd like to think he is the most consistent horse going around (from Bendigo).
"I haven't done any tallying up as such but I do know he's very consistent."
Dalton believed the undoubted key to success with the horse was keeping him fresh.
"I was going to say he doesn't get overraced, but he does go around pretty often, doesn't he," he said.
"But he only does light jog work at home, he doesn't have any gut-busters on the track or that sort of thing.
"Once they are race-fit, you don't have to work them that hard."
Testimony to his consistency, the gelding has now won $146,791 in prize money, at an average of over $1000 per start since his debut in May 2012.
He is about as honest as they come .... I'd like to think he is the most consistent horse going around (from Bendigo).
- Graeme Dalton
His rich vein of form comes at a time when contenders for the unofficial title of the region's 'most consistent' horse is strong.
Some others who spring to mind include the trotting trio of Kyvalley Finn, from the Chris Svanosio stable (unplaced only twice in his last 12 starts, with a Group 1 success included), the Maree Campbell-trained Lucinda Mac (unplaced only once in her last nine starts for two wins and five seconds), and the Gary Donaldson-trained Skyeski (unplaced only once in nine starts, with two wins and a pair of seconds).
Dalton said he was impressed with the authority of last Friday's win, which featured a text-book drive by Chris Alford, who has now won 17 races aboard the gelding.
"Ballarat has a bit of an uphill straight and if they get a bit of pressure early, it sometimes leaves them vulnerable," he said.
"But in his favour he does have gate speed and there's no sprint lane at Ballarat, so he won't have something that will sit on his back and sneak up the inside."
Given his current form, Dalton believes there is no reason why With Gusto cannot add to his growing tally of wins and placings.
"I suppose it all depends on his legs - he has had a bit of trouble with his legs in the past," he said.
"But if we can nurse him along, and while he stays sound, he will keep growing around."
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