Pinjarra trainer Brett Pope made no attempt to hide his enthusiasm for Virtual Trader after the emerging three-year-old won the Westspeed Hcp (1200m) at Belmont on Wednesday.

Virtual Trader (3g Trade Fair – Virtual by Encosta De Lago) had won at Bunbury on debut in March and then resumed with a second to Antique Belle at Belmont Park a week ago.  “He’s an impressive type,” Pope said after the gelding led from barrier-to-box under apprentice Chanelle O’Grady.  “We thought he was something special from the first day we let him run along.

“He boxed on really well first-up and that toughened him right up,” Pope said.  “He even tried to drop me on Monday so I knew he had to go around again.”

Virtual Trader was bred by Nerida Barnden-Brown and he continues the great winning run for Trade Fair.  The Alwyn Park resident got the winner from a daughter of Melbourne stakes winner Lady In Reality (Fair Sir).