Lusaka loves to lead
Talented New Zealand-bred five-year-old Lusaka relished a rare opportunity to set the pace when he powered to the front from the No. 6 barrier and gave a bold frontrunning display to outclass his eleven rivals in the $31,000 Cash Converters Rotary Club of Fremantle Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was the first time that Lusaka had led in a race since he was successful over 1730m at Gloucester Park on September 15, 2023. He had won seven times when leading as a two and three-year-old, and then he raced 34 times without leading until Friday night.
“Finally, he was able to get a good pozzie (leading),” said his driver Deni Roberts. “He is a really good frontrunner but he hasn’t been able to show that, mainly due to bad barriers. He has won with the plugs in tonight.”
Lusaka, a $7.20 chance mustered excellent early pace to surge past his stablemate Vegas Strip ($41) and dash to the front 400m after the start, with the lead time a smart 36.5sec.
Lusaka then was able to amble through the opening quarters in 31sec. and 29sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.3sec. and 27.4sec. He recorded a mile rate of 1.55 in beating $7 chance Talks Up A Storm, who raced three back on the pegs before finishing solidly. The winning margin was two and a half lengths.
Lusaka, a Sweet Lou stallion who is prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is sure to develop into a strong candidate for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12. He now has raced 47 times for 16 wins, 19 placings and $288,919 in prizemoney.
Skylou, the $2 favourite, began from the No. 1 barrier and was beaten for early pace before moving to the breeze and wilting to finish in last position, 91m behind the winner.
The Bond stable and Roberts kept up the good work by scoring an easy victory with three-year-old Bettor Fortune, the $2.30 favourite who beat Beatitlikebeca over 2242m at Narrogin on Saturday night.
Suvaljko changes his mind
Astute trainer Mike Reed and ace reinsman Shannon Shannon planned to drive smart three-year-old filly Ruby Lou with a sit after starting from barrier No. 5 in the 2130m Odin Consulting Services Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But a split second decision by Suvaljko to dash Ruby Lou, a $10 chance, straight to the front paid handsome dividends as she scored an effortless victory over Wicked Lover ($9) and Bull Shark Betty ($7.50), with the main fancies Captainshavtime ($3) and Aretha ($2.25) being unplaced.
“Speaking to Mick before the race, he said ‘go back’ and that was the original thought,” explained Suvaljko. “But when Ruby Lou was on the gate, and no other horse was, I changed my mind at the last minute.
“Ruby Lou has good gate speed, but you don’t have to use it every week. Once she got to the lead, and going on her Pinjarra run (second to Aretha), and around this track and running a 40sec. (actually 39.1sec.) lead time, she was going to be hard to beat.
“She was a bit weak early in her career but is a pretty tough filly now. She is no slouch and has won against older horses.”
Friday night’s event was run in Indian file, and after the slow lead time and modest opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 30.5sec. Captainshavtime and Aretha, racing in the last two positions in the field of seven, faced virtually impossible tasks, with Ruby Lou sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 27.8sec.
Ruby Lou has earned $91,045 from five wins and eight placings from 31 starts.
Copy Cat Queen is flying
Four-year-old mare Copy Cat Queen is one of the most exciting pacers racing at Gloucester Park in recent weeks and she gave another wonderful exhibition of her dazzling speed when Joey Suvaljko drove her to a brilliant victory in the $25,000 Quayside Transport Pace (1) over 2536m on Friday night.
She was the $3.20 favourite from the outside of the back line who raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before unleashing her trademark sizzling sprint to burst to the front 130m from the post and going on to win by just under four lengths from the pacemaker and $3.60 second fancy Dark Eyes.
Copy Cat Queen rated 1.57.4 after sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.1sec. She resumed racing after a six-month absence with a runaway win at Pinjarra on June 16, and she now has won at four of her five starts and earning $50,239 as a four-year-old and is developing into a formidable candidate in the rich feature events for mares later in the year.
She was driven for the first time in a race by the 22-year-old Suvaljko, with Copy Cat Queen’s trainer and regular reinsman Aiden De Campo enjoying the final couple of days on holiday in Fiji.
With De Campo overseas, the training of Copy Cat Queen has been shared by his father Andrew, Suvaljko and Ajay Markham.
“I had my first drive on her in trackwork on Tuesday, and tonight everything worked out fine,” said Suvaljko. “Sometimes she gets a bit keen and is inclined to pull but she did everything right. I pulled the plugs when I really didn’t need to.”
Copy Cat Queen has earned $127,960 from eleven wins and six placings from 31 starts.
Suvaljko continued in winning vein when he won with the De Campo-trained two-year-old colt Weelsofortune, an $8.50 chance who overcame difficulties to finish strongly from sixth at the bell and get up a snatch a last-stride win by a nose from the pacemaker Drop The Ace over 1822m at Narrogin on Saturday night.
Sweet Pins remains unbeaten
“He made it look easy,” said Stuart McDonald after driving the $1.04 favourite Sweet Pins to an effortless win in the $21,000 Quayside Transport Pace (2) over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
McDonald did not bustle Sweet Pins early after beginning from out wide at barrier eight while $51 chance Air Marshal showed good early pace by dashing over the lead time in 36.3sec.
Our Thunder ($13) took up the running after 500m before McDonald dashed Sweet Pins (who had settled in eighth place) to the front with 1200m to travel. Sweet pins strolled through the final 800m in 58.6sec. and won by three lengths from Air Marshal, rating 1.58.1.
Sweet Pins, prepared by master trainer Gary Hall snr, has yet to be extended and remains unbeaten after his four starts netting $42,478 in prizemoney.
“He has a lot of ability but whether he realises his full potential is uncertain considering the injury problems he has had,” said McDonald. “At the moment he is taking it all in his stride. He is a week-by-week project, so its fingers crossed.”
If Sweet Pins remains sound, there is no doubt he will be a leading contender for the rich feature events for four-year-olds later in the year.
Chilli Punter overcomes hoof problems
Tender care from Oakford trainer Jemma Hayman has enabled Chilli Punter to recover from hoof soreness, and the New South Wales-bred mare bounced back to form with an excellent win in the $30,000 Cleversure Smart Insurance Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Chilli Punter, a $7.90 chance from barrier three, was caught in the breeze in the early stages as the $2.30 favourite Our Sandy Shore was leading after an early tussle with $126 outsider Minor Catastrophe.
But when Jaxs Ideal ($15) surged forward to move to the breeze after 550m Kyle Symington was able to give Chilli Punter a perfect sit in the one-out, one-back position. Chilli Punter was switched three wide 220m from home and she took the lead 60m from the post before winning by a half-length from Dame Valour ($17), with $19 chance Pushbutton Rock running on from eighth at the bell to snatch third place from the wilting Our Sandy Shore.
A week earlier Chilli Punter began badly and finished last in a standing-start event, and after the race it was discovered that she was suffering from hoof soreness.
“There was a bit of bruising, and we have been able to recover from the soreness,” said Hayman.
Chilli Punter, a four-year-old by Betting Line and the second foal out of Rocknroll Hanover mare Habanero, has been a consistent performer who has earned $125,605 from ten wins and 17 placings from 44 starts.
Hayman maintained her good form at Narrogin on Saturday night when five-year-old gelding Your Grace, a $8.90 chance driven by Kyle Harper, finished strongly to win over 1823m, beating the odds-on favourite Shes A Tiny Dancer by a length.
Twobob Cracker is too tough
Standing-start exponent Twobob Cracker revealed his versatility with a tough win in the 2130m mobile Terra Mech Leasing Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA-bred seven-year-old trained by Glenn Elliott went into the race as a winner of 13 races, ten of which were in stands.
He was the $4.40 second fancy behind the last-start winner and $2.10 favourite Candy Apple and was drawn on the outside (barrier three) on the back line.
Emily Suvaljko settled Twobob Cracker down in eighth place, with the polemarker Recover Lover ($9) setting the pace and Candy Apple trapped out three wide.
Candy Apple worked hard to eventually getting to the front with 1200m to travel. Suvaljko sent Twobob Cracker forward with a three-wide burst at the 1100m and the experienced gelding moved to the outside of Candy Apple at the bell and went on to outstay her and win by a metre at a 1.56.7 rate after a 57.6 final 800m.
“When I saw the favourite doing so much work I was able to put Twobob Cracker into the race at the right time,” said Suvaljko. “They had just run a cheap quarter, and we got to the breeze pretty cruisy and were able to out-tough Candy Apple.”
Twobob Cracker is by Art Major and is the first foal out of Allamerican Ingot mare Where Dreams Grow, who raced 62 times for 12 wins, 14 placings and $103,800.
Im Lord Logan survives the pressure
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Im Lord Logan, having his second start after a two-month absence, revealed splendid fighting qualities when he defied considerable pressure from the tough stayer Frankie J Holden to go on and win the $21,000 Rotary Ending Polio Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Im Lord Logan, the $1.50 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier for trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green, held $12 chance Frankie J Holden at bay and went on to win by 2m from Betterthan Secret ($14), with Frankie J Holden 2m farther back in third place.
“I didn’t want Frankie J Holden to be eyeballing me, but I was pleased that Im Lord Logan relaxed in front, and when I clicked him up, he went,” said Egerton-Green.
“He is usually very speedy, but he was nice to drive tonight when he travelled the best he has ever felt. I felt that the quick quarter (28.1sec.) down the back might have tested him, but he fought on pretty good, even though they didn’t get home too quick (29.5sec.).
“Im Lord Logan has been a real headache, having respiratory problems and suffering from allergies.”
Im Lord Logan, who is by Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of unraced Bettors Delight mare La prix, has earned $51,536 from six wins and eight placings from 23 starts. He won once from six starts in New Zealand and his 17 WA starts have produced five wins and six placings.
Throat operation does the trick
Surgery last October to cure a nagging throat ailment has enabled Dreambigaimhigh to return to form, and the New South Wales-bred trotter to win twice in the space of five days last week.
Prepared by Wundowie trainer Bruce Stanley and driven by Ryan Warwick, Dreambigaimhigh was an $8.50 chance when he finished strongly to beat Elegant Peak at Gloucester Park last Monday, and he was a $6.40 chance when he scored an impressive victory over Dark Secret ($26) and Elegant Peak ($5) in the $21,000 Rotary International Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Dreambigaimhigh underwent throat surgery after he broke in running and finished a distant sixth in a race at Pinjarra last December. He was out of action and has performed well in his seven starts in his current campaign.
He was smartest to begin from barrier two on the front line in Friday’ night’s 2503m standing-start event before Warwick surrendered the lead to Elegant Peak after 450m. Dreambigaimhigh travelled strongly before surging to the front 300m from home.
“I was happy to surrender the lead because until we get a bit of confidence in him, we have to,” said Warwick. “He did a lot of things wrong before Bruce found out that he had a breathing problem.”
Stanley purchased Dreambigaimhigh late in 2023, and the five-year-old has had 27 starts in WA for three wins and eleven placings, taking his career earnings to $106,410 from six wins and 21 placings from 52 starts. He won at three of his 22 NSW appearances and managed one third placing from three starts in Victoria before heading west.
He showed early promise, and he set the pace when he won the $50,000 group 1 Trot NSW final for two-year-olds at Menangle in July 2022.
Golden Lode shines, first-up
Up-and-coming New Zealand-bred gelding Golden Lode showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the rich feature events for four-year-olds later in the year when he worked hard before winning the $25,000 Rotary Club of Fremantle Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Making his first appearance for seven weeks, Golden Lode, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, was the $3.80 second fancy from the outside of the back line of three runners.
Roberts was rewarded with her aggression. Golden Lode settled down at the rear before Roberts quickly dashed him forward with a three-wide burst to get to the breeze 550m after the start, with Gully Gum ($6.50) setting a solid pace.
Gully Gum dashed over the final three 400m sections in 28.7sec., 28.6sec. and 27.4sec. but found Golden Lode too strong, finishing a length second to that pacer.
“I wanted to punch through as hard as I could to get forward of the better ones, and we managed to do that early,” said Roberts. “Golden Lode is a good horse, and he can do it all.
“He hasn’t had much luck in the draws and there’s always been a horse wanting to hold the breeze.”
Blaze On, the $2.30 favourite from out wide at barrier No. 8, settled down at the rear before starting a three-wide run after a lap. He was forced to work hard for the rest of the race and finished sixth.
Friday night’s win gave Golden Lode his first success as a four-year-old after he had won at ten of his 19 starts as a three-year-old. He is by Always b Miki and is the sixth foal out of Yankee Dream, who earned $277,214 from 15 wins and 18 placings from 56 starts.
Golden Lode has earned $151,321 from eleven wins and 13 placings from 33 starts.
For five-year-old New Zealand-bred Blaze On, this was his final appearance in Australia. A winner at twelve of his 38 starts he has been sold and will do his future racing in America.
His trainer Michael Young said that Blaze On was a victim of the national handicapping system, saying: “Under the system he had to draw out wide every week, and that left no future for him here.”
Horses sold to the United States by Young include Vespa, Orlando Blue, Watts Up Sunshine, Watching Our Coin and Acushla Machree.
Crunchem Is born to succeed
Two-year-old colt Crunchem is born to succeed. And he delivered the goods in fine style when he won at his second start in a race, finishing strongly to win the $21,000 Moonstream Information Services Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory gave 33-year-old Aiden De Campo his 500TH success as a trainer and showed that the Captain Crunch colt should be prominent in the upcoming rich feature events for two-year-olds.
Crunchem was the fourth favourite at $7.30, and Mitch Miller was quite content to take the perfect sit behind $8 chance Butter Me Up, who began speedily from the No. 5 barrier.
Chugach, the $3.70 favourite, was forced to work in the breeze before Deni Roberts sent him to the front with 300m to travel. That was when Miller got Crunchem into the clear and the colt finished strongly to get to the front 75m from the post and go on and beat Chugach by a length, rating 1.59.2 after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 29.4sec.
“Aiden has a high opinion of Crunchem, but he has had drama after drama getting him to the races,” said Miller. “He had a nice run tonight, and there’s plenty of improvement in him.”
Crunchem is the second foal out of former star mare Tricky Styx, who raced 79 times for 22 wins, 16 placings and $460,548 in stakes. Her wins included the group 1 Diamond Classic and the group 2 Champagne Classic as a two-year-old.
After that she finished second to Beaudiene Boaz in the 2016 WA Derby and third to Major Reality in the WA Oaks, and she went on to win the group 3 Narrogin Cup and the group 2 Pinjarra Cup in 2016, followed by her victory in the group 3 Winter Cup in 2017.
Tricky Styx’s first foal Zephyra has had 33 starts for ten wins, eight placings and $320,557 from 33 starts. Her victories have included the group 1 Diamond Classic and the group 1 Westbred Classic as a two-year-old in 2022 and the group 2 Four-Year-Old Westbred Mares Classic in 2024.
