What a Delightfull decision
Ryan Bell is a cheerful character and a highly professional trainer whose cheeky nature has led to five-year-old mare Delightfull most unexpectedly entering his Baskerville stables.
A flippant act by the 35-year-old Bell just over three weeks ago had an enjoyable sequel when Delightfull caused a major upset when she was the rank outsider at $79.40 and stormed home to record an effortless victory in the Choices Flooring Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Not only was it a pleasurable result for Bell, but it was the culmination of a brilliant week for Aiden de Campo --- with the five-year-old Delightfull completing a winning treble for the dashing 29-year-old reinsman, who had won earlier in the night with Mandy Joan ($12.80) and Bettor Copagoodone ($3.90).
Those three winners gave de Campo a marvellous result of seven Gloucester Park winners in the space of four days, following victories on Tuesday with Dominus Factum ($1.50), Newsy ($13), Phar From Kalahari ($3.60) and Areu Talkin ($4.60).
The Delightfull story began just less than a month ago when Bell drove to the Hopeland stables of Kevin Charles to pick up Iona Diamond, a five-year-old mare owned by Charles’s son Kody.
Kevin and Kody Charles were busy with the breeding season and Kody was happy to give his mare a change of environment.
Bell had loaded Iona Diamond on to his float when, as a bit of a joke, he attempted to get promising gelding Whos The Dad to join the mare. With his silver moustache twitching, Kevin Charles informed Bell that Whos The Dad, a winner of two-year-old events at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park earlier in the year, was not going anywhere.
“Then, in the spur of the moment Kevin said ‘Oh well, you can take Delightfull instead,’” said Bell. “I was just being a smartie, but I was quite happy to take Delightfull to train for Kevin.”
Bell was not particularly optimistic when he took Delightfull and Iona Diamond to Gloucester Park on Friday night to race against each other in the ninth event on the card. They had been working well and he was sure that they would be prominent, without being strong winning chances.
Iona Diamond was a $14 chance from barrier two, while punters completely overlooked Delightfull from the No. 6 barrier. Bettor Pack It ($3.40) set the pace, with the $1.45 favourite Miss Mucho in the breeze and Iona Diamond enjoying the sit behind the leader, and Delightfull following Iona Diamond.
De Campo eased Delightfull the pegs with 600m to travel before switching her three wide at the 300m. She burst to the front 100m later and careered away from the opposition to win by five lengths from Bettor Pack It, rating 1.56.5 after final quarters of 28.7sec. and 29sec. Iona Diamond finished third.
Delightfull ended a losing sequence of twelve and improved her record to 73 starts for seven wins, 18 placings and stakes of $74,133. Interestingly, Bell had driven Delightfull twice, as a two-year-old when she won as a $34 outsider at Bunbury in April 2019 and then when she was unplaced behind Mandy Joan in a heat of the Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park a month later.
Delightfull is a half-sister to Lady Luca, whose nine wins included the group 1 Diamond Classic in June 2016.
Eighth Stratton Cup for Lewis
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis notched a record eighth victory in the J. P. Stratton Cup when he brought Perfect Major home with a spectacular burst of speed to win the $50,000 group 2 feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Perfect Major, an $18.60 chance from out wide at barrier No. 8, raced in last position in the field of nine before starting a three-wide move 300m from home, going four and five wide on the home turn and flying home to snatch a last-stride victory by a head over the pacemaker Vampiro ($2.60), with Star of Diamonds ($13) an excellent third.
Perfect Major, a Victorian-bred five-year-old son of Art Major, was sold to American interests (depending on a satisfactory veterinary test) just over three weeks ago. The sale fell through when the gelding failed the vet test.
Perfect Major’s South Australian owners Bruce and Craig Cameron and Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri are now setting the gelding for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in the coming summer.
“When he was last on the home turn, I thought he could run a place because he was starting to come home strongly,” said Olivieri, who had won the Stratton Cup with Just Packapunch in 1993 and Sensational Gabby in 2014.
“Then in the second half of the home straight he absolutely motored. He has recently had a little rest, and that’s why he is racing with a bit of verve. He has won five or six Free For Alls, and I think he is underestimated.”
Friday night’s victory boosted Perfect Major’s record to 51 starts for 18 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $260,743. His 25 starts in Western Australia for Olivieri have produced ten wins and five placings.
Lewis and Olivieri combined to win the 2014 Stratton Cup with Sensational Gabby, with Lewis also winning this event with Black Irish (1983), Village Kid (1985, 1988 and 1991), Ohoka Ace (2005) and Sneakyn Down Under (2009).
No trouble for No Republic
Former Victorian square gaiter No Republic resumed racing after a 15-week absence in fine style with a commanding victory in the 2536m Catalano Truck And Equipment Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was an impressive performance which was a strong indication that the seven-year-old should develop into a leading candidate for the rich WA Trotters Cup at Christmas.
After nine wins in Victoria, No Republic has had four starts in Western Australia for three wins and a second placing. He is owned by Virginia Brosnan and her mother Julija, and now has earned $97,410.
Virginia Brosnan’s father Richard (73) is a former champion New Zealand horseman who trained and drove No Response to victory in the 1979 Interdominion Trotters Championship final at Addington and won the 1983 New Zealand Cup with Bonnie’s Chance. He is also a member of New Zealand’s harness racing’s Hall of Fame.
No Republic is prepared by Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey, who said that when he started training pacers several years ago, he purchased a few New Zealand pacers from Brosnan.
Brosnan left New Zealand less than two years ago and is now preparing a team of horses in country Victoria.
“I got a call from the Brosnans in May this year, asking whether I would be interested in training No Republic,” said Turvey. “I said I yes, and the horse arrived in WA at the end of the month. He came straight off the truck and was in such good nick that he won (at Pinjarra) ten days after arriving here. So, I took no credit for that.
“He won at Gloucester Park the following week, and a week after that he finished second at Gloucester Park. He was then engaged to have his next start at Gloucester Park, but I had to scratch him when he developed a bad abscess in a back foot.
“I thought that he would need the run tonight, even though he had been working well. I was not expecting him to win, but when he did, it was a bonus.”
No Republic was favourite at $2.80, and from the No. 4 barrier, Emily Suvaljko did not bustle him in the early stages, and he settled down in ninth position before she sent him forward, three wide, with 1050m to travel, with the $3.90 second fancy Mr Sundon bowling along in front. No Republic quickly moved to the breeze, and he took the lead 250m from home and went on to win by more than a length from Tears Of Joy ($4.60), with My Medina ($6.50) three lengths farther back in third place. My Sundon wilted to finish sixth.
Bond’s birthday present
Talented New Zealand-bred four-year-old Howard Hughes gave champion trainer Greg Bond a pleasant birthday present when he scored an impressive victory in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Howard Hughes, the $2.40 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of seven, was driven like the best horse in the field by Dylan Egerton-Green, who sent him forward with a three-wide burst in the early stages before racing in the breeze while the $3.40 second fancy Boom Time was setting a solid pace.
Howard Hughes proved too strong for Boom Time in the final stages and won comfortably by 2m, rating 1.56.4 over the 2130m journey. This took his record to two starts in New Zealand for one win, and 25 starts in Western Australia for Greg and Skye Bond for 13 wins and four placings. He now has earned $120,183.
Egerton-Green kept up the good work by driving two winners at Northam on Saturday night. He was successful with the Colin Brown-trained two-year-old Loucid Dreams ($1.30) and the Hayden Reeves-trained Miss Pocket Rocket ($8).
De Campo weaves his magic
Smart mare Mandy Joan, a $12.80 chance, appeared to face an impossible task when she was hemmed in on the pegs in seventh position with 400m to travel in the 2130m Battle Of The Codes For Telethon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But star reinsman Aiden de Campo produced a typical patient and skilful drive as he eased Mandy Joan off the pegs 300m from home and then weaved inside and outside of runners before charging home to hit the front in the final stages to beat Jaspervellabeach ($11) by a half-length, with $51 outsider Pierre Whitby charging home from the rear with a sizzling late six-wide burst to finish an eye-catching third.
“I was getting held up, but I knew if she got the splits, she would run home pretty good,” said de Campo. “I just had to wait a little bit.
“Mandy Joan probably wasn’t at her best tonight, but she definitely improved on what she did the previous week (when ninth behind Wainui Creek). She will keep ticking over, leading up to the big races for mares at the end of the year.”
Mandy Joan, a five-year-old by Art Major, was bred and is owned by Steve Johnson, and she has earned $159,944 from 13 wins and 12 placings from 49 starts.
Euphoria breaks through
Promising New Zealand-bred four-year-old Euphoria, beaten into second place at four of his five previous starts, broke through for an overdue victory when he took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier and led all the way in the $18,000 Nova 93.7 Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory by just under two lengths from Zazu completed a double for trainer Gary Hall snr and reinsman Gary Hall jnr in the first two events on the program. The Halls combined to score a narrow victory in the opening event with Jumpingjackmac.
Euphoria gave his eleven rivals little hope by setting a brisk pace with quarters of 28.3sec., 29.7sec., 29.2sec. and 29.4sec. He rated 1.55.7 over the sprint trip.
Former Victorian performer Zau gave signs of better things to come when he began speedily from barrier four and worked hard in the breeze all the way. Veteran pacer Anvil Rollover also impressed in coming from tenth at the bell and finishing strongly, out four wide, over the final 300m to finish third.
Euphoria, hot favourite at $1.40, is by boom sire American Ideal and is the first foal out of the McArdle mare Bliss, who raced only twice for unplaced efforts in New Zealand in December 2013.
Euphoria managed only two seconds from eight starts in New Zealand before being sold to Beth Richardson, Karen Hall, Danny Roberts and Sue Beven. The gelding now has raced 21 times in WA for nine wins, seven seconds, two thirds and three unplaced efforts. He has earned $69,532 from nine wins and eleven placings from 29 starts.
Bonstar is a good buy at $8000
Veteran East Cannington owner-trainer Peter Marsh is looking forward to the prospect of two-year-old filly Bonstar following in the footsteps of Bonsu, a mare he prepared throughout her 216-start career of 14 wins and 57 placings for earnings of $131,948.
Bonsu gave her owners Marsh and E. J. Bastow considerable enjoyment in a nine-year career from 2011 to 2019, during which her only win at Gloucester Park came in July 2013.
Marsh and Bastow outlaid $8000 to purchase Bonstar at the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale, and the filly has netted $19,663 in stakes from her one win and four placings from ten starts.
Bonstar, by Follow The Stars, is closely related to former top-flight pacer Buck The Odds, who earned $307,547 from 31 wins and 29 placings from 121 starts.
Bonstar, the favourite at $1.80 from the No. 1 barrier in the Retravision Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, was driven confidently by Shannon Suvaljko. The filly was untroubled to lead all the way and coasted to victory by three and a half lengths over the $5 second fancy Free Wheeling, who recovered well after being checked 900m from home when See The World broke into a gallop.
Born To Boogie shows her class
Lightly-raced six-year-old Born To Boogie continues to impress and is developing into a leading candidate for the rich feature events for mares in the summer.
Trained by Ross Olivieri and driven by Chris Lewis, Born To Boogie overcame the disadvantage of starting out wide at barrier No. 8 in the 2130m Channel 7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she was restrained at the start and finished powerfully from the rear to win by 2m from Alice Kay.
Born To Boogie, raced by Merv Butterworth’s racing syndicate, was great value at $12.50 due to the wide draw, while Double Up was favourite at $1.50.
Double Up started from barrier three and set the pace, with the $4.60 second favourite Fanci A Dance in the breeze and Born To Boogie racing in ninth position in the field of ten.
Chris Lewis started a three-wide move with Born To Boogie 700m from home before Born To Boogie was able to follow $26 chance Alice Kay, who was switched three wide 100m later. Both mares finished strongly, with Born To Boogie proving the stronger.
Born To Boogie, who is by American sire Rock N Roll Heaven, won five times in New Zealand and has thrived under Olivieri’s care, with her six WA starts producing four wins and two close seconds. She has earned $96,825 from nine wins and 12 placings from 32 starts.
“It was a great run,” said Olivieri. “And it was a big price, considering her form. That’s what the barrier draws do.
“She has had a few little issues that we have had to tidy up. She’s classy and could make her presence felt in the big races for mares in the coming summer. She will be heading for those events, and hopefully so will Double Expresso, who found a smidgeon of form tonight when second to Bettor Copagoodone.”
Trips to the beach bear fruit
A change in training routine has done the trick for Bettor Copagoodone, who bounced back to form with a strong victory in the 2536m Etch Coatings Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I have been down to the beach at Naval Base all week with Bettor Copagoodone and Bettor Pack It,” said Hopeland trainer Giles Inwood. “We went to the beach on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the mares waded in the water and had a roll in the sand.
“It was the first time they have been to the beach for me. I thought they both would have a good chance this week, so I wanted to freshen up their minds.”
Bettor Copagoodone was the second favourite at $3.90 in Friday night’s event when Aiden de Campo got the mare away swiftly from the No. 4 barrier. She took the lead after 350m and de Campo rated her perfectly in the lead, and she won by just under a length from the $6 third fancy Double Expresso, who sustained a spirited burst from ninth in the middle stages.
Bettor Copagoodone, owned by Mildred Malazarte, had been racing well in stronger fields and hadn’t enjoyed much luck, according to Inwood, who now has prepared the Bettors Delight five-year-old for 12 starts for two wins and five placings. Her latest win improved her record to 64 starts for 11 wins, 21 placings and $97,494 in prizemoney.
Later in the night $3.40 chance Bettor Pack It, also owned by Malazarte, set the pace before finishing second to outsider Delightfull in a 2130m event for mares.
Hall says Jumpingjackmac is the best
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr is in awe of three-year-old Jumpingjackmac, declaring that the inexperienced New Zealand-bred gelding is the best pacer in the powerful stable run by his father and Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr.
Hall jnr heaped praise on Jumpingjackmac after he had driven him to a desperately close victory over Otis and the pacemaker Stamford in the 2130m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Racing first-up after a 19-week absence, Jumpingjackmac, the second fancy at $2.70, overcame the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) and a tough run in the breeze to finish with great determination to get up in the final couple of strides to beat the $1.70 favourite Otis by a half-head, with $16 chance Stamford a nose away in third place.
Stamford was smartest into stride from barrier six and Aldo Cortopassi sent him past Otis and into the lead 50m after the start. Jumpingjackmac settled in seventh position in the one-out, two-back position before Hall switched him three wide after a lap and into the breeze with 1200m to travel, with Otis trailing the pacemaker.
Otis lost few friends with his strong three-wide finishing burst in an event in which the final quarters were covered in 29.1sec., 28.9sec. and 28.3sec., with the first three placegetters rating 1.56.3.
“I had always planned to go to the breeze, and when Otis got crossed and went to the fence it made it a bit easier for us,” said Hall. “If Otis had stayed in the breeze it would have made it harder for us. It is hard when you win by a half-head to determine whether the horse has gone as good as he can.
“He has done a good job. He wasn’t really tractable, and he did a few things wrong, and he has done that before. We need to iron those faults out. He will get better with the more racing he has.
“He hung in when I was going around into the breeze, and I got close to Aldo’s wheel. It was a bit of a nightmare for a second. And then he hung in again on the final bend.
“I think Jumpingjackmac is our best horse. You have to count Chicago Bull out because he is in the twilight of his career. Potentially, Jumpingjackmac is our best; he does things that he shouldn’t be able to do on limited work. He’s got a big motor, and rating 1.56.3 was very good, considering that the track was rain-affected.”
Jumpingjackmac, who has raced eleven times (all in WA) for eight wins, two seconds and $103,049 in stakes, is looming large as the horse to beat in the rich classics for four-year-olds early next year.
