Get A Pepsi pulls off stunner
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:41 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
GET A PEPSI stunned at 17-1 in division one and MAMMA MIA delivered as an even-money favourite should, both scoring gate-to-wire victories in yesterday’s divided Allan E ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial for overnight-allowance winners at seven furlongs.
One of three winners for the jockey-trainer combination of Robert Halledeen and Jason DaCosta, MAMMA MIA, 1000 Guineas and Oaks champion 2023, returned off a five-month lay-up to blitz NEO STAR with speed down the backstretch, winning by a length and a half.
After turning back a brief bid from SONNY T AND CHIPPY coming off the home turn, MAMMA MIA showed her class by thwarting a rally from rail-running NEO SAR, who appeared ready to barrel his way past the mare a half-furlong out but was burdened with topweight 126lb under Shane Ellis.
Slamming the door on NEO STAR along the rail, Halledeen powered home MAMMA MIA in 1:26.1, closing a three-timer for himself and DaCosta after earlier landing the third event with United States-bred three-year-old debutant, AMERICAN AVIATOR, and the fourth astride LUCY IN THE SKY at a mile among four-year-olds, non-winners of two races and imported maidens.
Halledeen’s three-timer moved him to 12 winners, four clear of champion Raddesh Roman, who booted home PAPPIE DON in the second at seven furlongs and roused UNRULY DUDE over the last furlong to nail SPECIAL GIFT stealing home in the fifth at five furlongs round with claiming rider Demar Williams.
GET A PEPSI, second time out for Fitzroy Glispie, was hustled from post-position two by claiming rider Richard Henry to dispute the lead with DaCosta’s BANADURA, partnered by Halledeen.
Enjoying his nine-pound advantage over the filly BANADURA, six-year-old GET A PEPSI repelled the four-year-old and had enough left in the tank to see off SUPREMASI, who tracked the pace from third and tried closing inside the final furlong.
Henry cheekily angled GET A PEPSI to mid-track close home, just enough to have his mount get a rallying peep at SUPREMASI with Tevin Foster, hanging on by a neck to win in 1:26.4 ahead of the four-year-old.
Racing continues this afternoon with a 10-race card.