Hall’s patience pays dividends
Champion reinsman Gary Hall junior’s plan of trailing the pacemaker and favourite Catch A Wave in the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night required him to get off the pegs and get Mister Smartee into the clear at some stage in the final circuit and with sufficient time to sprint past the leaders.
Once Mister Smartee drew the inside barrier on the back line, immediately behind speedy beginner Catch A Wave, Hall made up his mind not to move off the pegs and pin his faith on being able to get clear in the final circuit.
Hall had an ideal opportunity with a lap to travel to ease out and push Gee Heza Sport out three wide. But he made a split-second decision to stay on the pegs and bide his time.
Gee Heza Sport was travelling comfortably in the one-out, one-back position, with Waverider dashing forward, three wide, to move outside that pacer.
“I had a trouble-free trip, but I did have some concern about getting off the pegs at the bell when Waverider was coming three wide,” explained Hall. “I thought about pushing off but decided against it.”
Hall was mindful that if he eased off the pegs then and pushed Gee Heza Sport three wide Mister Smartee would then be directly behind the breeze horse Minstrel, with Gee Heza Sport out three wide, and capable of keeping Mister Smartee in a watertight pocket.
“I was waiting for Waverider to drop off down the back, so I had to wait until Luke (McCarthy) got Gee Heza Sport in front of Waverider,” said Hall. “And it all worked out good.”
Hall eased Mister Smartee into the clear 350m from home, forcing Gee Heza Sport three wide, and approaching the home turn Deni Roberts got Minstrel past the tiring pacemaker Catch A Wave. But Mister Smartee, the $3.40 second fancy, carried too many guns and the five-year-old sprinted powerfully to burst to the front 90m from the post before going on to win by a length from Minstrel ($4.80), with Gee Heza Sport ($8.50) a neck away in third place. Catch A Wave ($2.90) finished three lengths behind Gee Heza Sport in fourth spot.
Catch A Wave, winner of the Fremantle Cup 12 months earlier, set a brisk pace and the final 400m sections were run in 29sec., 28.5sec., 28.1sec. and 28.4sec., with the winner rating 1.56.4 over the testing 2936m journey.
This was a notable victory for 75-year-old champion trainer Gary Hall snr --- his eleventh Fremantle Cup success --- and it gave his 42-year-old son his tenth win in the rich group 1 feature event.
Hall snr now has trained 50 group 1 winners, while Hall jnr has driven 69 group 1 winners. He has driven 80 winners in the first 18 weeks of the year and is now enjoying a 12-day holiday in Exmouth.
Mister Smartee, the least experienced runner in the race, has amassed $1,263,030 in prizemoney from 18 wins and two seconds from 23 starts in a remarkable career.
Hall snr said that he had abandoned plans to take Mister Smartee to Brisbane to contest the rich Interdominion championship series in July. “He might be a year away from being up to that sort of travel,” he said.”
The New Zealand-bred Mister Smartee will go for a spell soon before being prepared for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup over 2536m on December 12.
Hall jnr was full of praise for Mister Smartee, saying: “I have driven a lot of good ones along the way, and he is right up there with the best. You can’t win these sort of races without a good horse.”
Hall and his father paid special tribute to Minstrel, saying that the eight-year-old’s effort, following his gallant third behind Mister Smartee in the $1.25 million Nullarbor the previous week was phenomenal.
Im the Black Flash shines first-up
Master trainer Gary Hall snr holds a strong hand in next Friday night’s group 3 Four And Five-Year-Old Championship after Im The Black Flash and Skylou resumed racing in grand fashion in the Retravision For All the Electrical Stuff You Love Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Im The Black Flash, racing first-up after an absence of 14 weeks, overcame the 50m back mark to score an easy victory, while Skylou, racing first-up for 15 weeks and sharing the back mark, gave an outstanding performance to finish third.
Im The Black Flash, driven by Stuart McDonald, was a $5 chance, with Skylou (Gary Hall jnr) sharing favouritism at $4 with frontmarker Chilli Punter (Kyle Symington), and last-start winner Ideal Muscle (Aiden De Campo and off the 20m mark) well supported at $4.20.
Skylou paced roughly at the start and lost several lengths as he settled down a distant last. Im The Black Flash raced at the rear while Chilli Punter was setting a brisk pace, with Acushla Machree ($8.50) working hard in the breeze.
McDonald began a three-wide move approaching the bell and Im The Black Flash sustained a spirited burst to get to the front 100m from the post on his way to winning by two lengths from Chilli Punter, with Skylou charging home from last at the bell to finish third.
The winner rated 1.57.5 in notching his twelfth win from 32 starts and taking his earnings to $207,294. The Hall stable is expected to nominate Im The Black Flash, Skylou, Mister Smartee and Alta Tribute for next Friday night’s $50,000 event. Alta Tribute has won at six of his nine starts and resumed after a spell last month with two starts for two wins at Pinjarra.
Little Darling is in top form
Six-year-old Little Darling is emerging as a leading candidate for next Friday night’s $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes after a brilliant victory in fast time in the $25,000 Retravision 60 Day Price Promise Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bred and owned by the Howlett family and trained in Busselton by Barry Howlett, Little Darling, the $2.50 second favourite, was simply too good for her six rivals and won in convincing fashion from Champagne Everyone ($11) and the $1.90 favourite Madam Publisher, who set a fast pace for Stuart McDonald.
Little Darling was seen outside her comfort zone, racing without cover before dashing to the front with 100m to travel, rating a fast 1.55.4.
“Ideally, she is a sit and kick horse, but she has a bit of versatility, racing three wide early and then in the breeze,” said champion reinsman Chris Lewis. “The last three sections were pretty quick (28.6sec., 27.9sec. and 28.4sec.) in anybody’s language.”
Little Darling, who was having her first start since finishing powerfully from the rear to win the group 2 Empress Stakes a fortnight earlier, has earned $276,583 from eleven wins and 18 placings from 44 starts.
Thompson’s wise purchase
Byford trainer Karen Thompson made a wise decision to spend $11,000 to buy Navy Street 14 months ago. The WA-bred six-year-old boosted his earnings for his new owner to $66,212 --- from four wins and six placings from 38 starts --- when Tom Nally drove the gelding to an all-the-way victory in the $21,000 RAC Members Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The 22-year-old Nally, having his first drive behind Navy Street, dashed the $15.90 chance straight to the front from the No. 2 barrier and then was able to coast through the lead time in 38sec. and the opening quarters in 32sec. and 30.8sec. before increasing the tempo with final 400m sections of 28sec. and 27.8sec.
Last-start winner Bettors Pride was the $1.65 favourite from barrier two on the back line. Shannon Suivaljko got him away smartly and quickly into an ideal spot, one-out and one-back. He finished strongly but was unable to overhaul the pacemaker who won by a head, rating 1.58.3 over 2130m.
Veteran pacer Cams Boulder raced without cover and did well to hold on and finish third.
“I was getting bit nervous over the final hundred metres,” said Nally. “But Navy Street tried his heart out and stuck his head out at the finish.”
Navy Street, a gelding by American sire Hes Watching, runs his best races when he sets the pace, and he now has raced 81 times for 14 wins, 16 placings and stakes of $140,931.
Longreach Bay defies the doubters
Coolup owner-trainer Peter King breathed a sigh of relief when his evergreen pacer Longreach Bay began with his customary brilliance and set the pace to score an impressive victory in the 2536m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has proven that he can run the distance,” said King. “A lot of people were saying that he had raced seven times without winning over 2500m.
“And now he has proven that he can run the distance, and we will still head towards the 2662m Narrogin Cup next Saturday week. He is flying at the moment, and of those seven runs over 2500m four were in stands when he galloped, one was in the 2021 Golden Nugget when he was badly checked, and another was when he broke down and had to have 14 months off.”
Joey Suvaljko got Longreach Bay, the $3.70 second favourite, away to a dazzling start from the outside barrier in the field of eight when he proved far too speedy for the $2.30 favourite Lion Queen from the favourable No. 2 barrier.
After opening quarters of 30.7sec. and 29.8sec. Longreach Bay sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28sec. to win, unextended, by a half-length from $8.50 chance Gaitcrasher, who fought on strongly from fifth at the bell. Lion Queen was a close-up third.
“He had more to give, and the plugs were still in,” said a jubilant Suvaljko.
Longreach Bay has now raced 80 times for 19 wins, eight placings and $204,486 in prizemoney.
Blazing Reactor is settling down
When Blazing Reactor arrived from New Zealand to Bob Mellsop’s Bunbury stables in June last year he proved to be a handful, with Mellsop describing him as having “a bit of crazy in him.”
But the gelding has settled down and, at his third appearance at Gloucester Park he gave a sample of his ability with a smart all-the-way win in the $23,000 Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace on Friday night.
“He has come a long way since I got him,” said Mellsop. “Initially, I wasn’t able to jog him because he pulled too hard in the cart. Now he is settling down and we can jog him with a loose bridle. He is versatile, and tonight he travelled beautifully.”
Blazing Reactor was a $4.90 chance who was first out from barrier four and went on to set a solid pace and won by a length from $3.90 chance Gilty By The Beach, with the $2.35 favourite Mikis Beach fighting on from seventh at the bell to finish third.
Blazing Reactor, driven confidently by Deni Roberts, rated a smart 1.55.6 over the 2130m trip after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 27.7sec.
“He is a smart horse, and his gate speed will be a great asset,” said Roberts. “He is most comfortable in front where I can let him run what he wants to run. He came back to me nicely early, and that was good.
“After a fast lead time of 36.7sec. we got a bit of a breather (with an opening quarter of 31sec.) and were able to rate it out of them after that.”
Blazing Reactor is by Auckland Reactor and is the second foal out of unraced Elsu mare Elsom Rocs. He won at two of his 13 New Zealand starts and his 16 WA starts for Mellsop have produced eight wins (five at Pinjarra, two at Gloucester Park and one at Bunbury), taking his record to 29 starts for ten wins, for placings and $70,381.
Tiger Royal breaks through
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Tiger Royal ended a 17-month drought with a thrilling last-stride win in the $31,000 Vale Greg Sugars Fremantle Cup Consolation Pace over 2936m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $56.30 outsider after starting from the back line, with the polemarker Rolling Fire the $2.60 favourite, and Lusaka a popular $2.65 chance.
Kyle Symington quickly had Tiger Royal racing in fifth position, three back on the pegs, with Rolling Fire setting a solid pace.
Lusaka enjoyed a handy trip in the one-out, two-back position, and Deni Roberts sent him forward with a three-wide burst with 700m to travel. He took the lead on the home turn, and finished third in a three-way photo finish, with The Miki Taker ($8.50) flashing home, out four wide, to finish a nose behind Tiger Royal, who was eased off the pegs with 200m to travel and finished fast to gain a final-stride verdict.
Tiger Royal had the advantage of gaining an inside run when The Miki Taker was eased off the pegs from behind the pacemaker 500m from home.
“Tiger Royal was travelling really well when I came off the fence,” said Symington. “Pre-race I thought he was a place chance. His previous run (fourth behind Prince Of Pleasure) was pretty good and I expected him to get a soft run tonight.
“He needs that type of trip on the fence, and other horses doing the work. He was having his second start after a spell, and he always goes well when fresh.”
Tiger Royal is trained by Ryan Bell, who said the gelding was having only his 14TH start since his previous win 17 months ago. Those 13 appearances had produced three seconds and five third placings.
“He has always been about the place and has hardly run a bad race,” said Bell. “He is just an opportunist. Last year we had a few feet issues with him, but now we seem to be on top of those. Even though he is only a short sprint horse he actually always hits a flat spot between the 400m and the 150m.
“He needs to get out and get rolling, and that’s why I thought the 2900m and racing three back on the fence would be right up his alley. Last week he looked the winner, but he didn’t like being hampered.”
Tiger Royal is by Sweet Lou and is the second foal out of the unraced Elsu mare Tigers Lady. He has earned $151,133 from 14 wins and 20 placings from 65 starts.
Hall stable’s Derby hopes
Brilliant three-year-old Cyclone Jordy is the nominal favourite for the $200,000 WA Derby on October 31, but master trainer Gary Hall snr has no hesitation in declaring the magnificent New Zealand-bred gelding is not a certainty in the prestigious group 1 feature event.
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr had another armchair drive when he guided Cyclone Jordy to an effortless victory in the $50,000 Retravision Caduceus Club Classic over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He looks like a perfect candidate for the Derby,” said Hall. “He is a great horse to drive. He has everything: great gate speed, he comes back to you as soon as he crosses (to the front), and he races the horses when they come to him. The closer they get, the harder he goes.
“Derbies over 2536m are never easy races to win.”
Cyclone Jordy, the $1.10 favourite on Friday night, began speedily from out wide at barrier seven and burst to the front after 250m before setting the pace and sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 27.5sec. to win by 4m from his stablemate Scooter B ($8.50), who trailed him all the way after leading early from the No. 4 barrier.
Cyclone Jordy rated a smart 1.55.3 to notch his tenth win in a row, and his ninth win from nine starts in WA. He has already amassed $278,675 in prizemoney from twelve wins and one second placing from 14 starts.
“At this stage Cyclone Jordy and Scooter B are my best two for the Derby,” said Hall snr. “I have another three-year-old who is just as good as both of them. He is Chase Me, and I think he is really good. He has a few steering problems, but he showed his class with wins at his final two appearances in New Zealand.”
At his final New Zealand outing Chase Me rated 1.55.5 when he beat Lincoln Lou by two lengths in the $100,000 Golden Gait over 1609m at Alexandra Park on December 20.
He began from barrier seven and settled down in fifth place before going forward with a three-wide run to take the lead 650m from home and win comfortably after covering the final 800m in 56.5sec.
One week earlier Chase Me won by a half neck from the fast-finishing Yourtheonethatiwant over 1700m at Alexandra Park. He began from the back line and raced in seventh position early before racing three wide for much of the final circuit to get to the front 100m from the post.
Chase Me, who has earned $73,195 from three wins, two seconds and one third placing from six starts, arrived in WA in mid-January this year and is expected to make his Australian debut within the next three to four weeks.
He is by Downbytheseaside and is the fifth foal out of Delicata, whose first foal Chase Auckland shone in a brief career of 35 starts for 14 wins, nine placings and stakes of $809,156.
Chase Auckland’s victories included the group 1 Sires Stakes for three-year-old-old colts and geldings at Addington in November 2017, a $224,250 feature at Alexandra Park the following month, the group 1 Northern Derby at Alexandra Park in March 2018 and a group 1 $176,000 Free-For-All at Alexandra Park in November 2019.
Cyclone Jordy’s win on Friday night gave Hall snr his ninth success in the Caduceus Club Classic, and it was Hall junior’s eighth win in the classic.
