Maximum Rock is on the way up
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak tipped a bright future for Maximum Rock after driving him to an easy victory in the $35,000 Garrad’s BOTRA Cup, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a really nice horse, and I have a lot of time for him,” said Voak. “And I think he will develop a lot more.”
Voak made the most of Maximum Rock’s front-line draw, with a 20m advantage over the $2 favourite Dawson, who was attempting his fifth win in a row.
Maximum Rock was the $4.10 second favourite and he made life tough for his rivals by setting a solid pace and reeling off the final three 400m sections in 29sec., 28.7sec. and 29.2sec. and coasting to victory by two lengths from $10 chance Bluto, with Dawson 2m farther back in third place.
Voak is still weighing up the options for four-year-old Maximum Rock, who has earned $78,052 from seven wins and 14 placings from 30 starts for his breeder and owner Bob Fowler.
“I’m considering setting Maximum Rock for the Marathon (a $35,000 3309m stand on August 15),” said Voak. “And after that there are the feature events for four-year-olds later in the year.”
Voak has been at the forefront in the BOTRA Cup in recent years, having won with Carabao in 2023 and then finishing second to Carana with Rock Artist last year.
After Rock Artist’s second in the Cup last year, he finished to Carana again in the Marathon two starts later and then went on to contest the rich events for four-year-olds, finishing fifth in the Four-Year-Old Championship, sixth in the Four-Year-Old Classic and eighth behind Mister Smartee in the Golden Nugget.
“I didn’t think that Rock Artist would make the Nugget, and this year the four-year-olds are nowhere as near as strong as they were last year,” said Voak. “I know that Maximum Rock has more power than some other horses I’ve driven in the big races for four-year-olds.”
Maximum Rock is by American sire Rock N Roll World and is the only foal out of Live Or Die mare Life To The Max, who was retired after racing 69 times for six wins, 15 placings and $41,870 in stakes.
Heavenly Gipsy too fast for the boys
Heavenly Gipsy, the only mare in the $31,000 Vale Chris Garrard Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, proved too speedy for her male rivals, including millionaire superstar Magnificent Storm.
Gary Hall jrn set a cracking pace with the $2.65 second fancy Heavenly Gipsy after a solid 36.8sec. lead time and an opening 30sec. quarter before the mare sprinted over the final three 400m sections in 28.6sec., 27.7sec. and 28.7sec. and rated a smart 1.54.7.
Magnificent Storm, reappearing after a 16-week absence, was the $2.25 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Heavenly Gipsy dashed straight to the front from the No. 1 barrier, while Magnificent Storm settled down in ninth position before Deni Roberts switched him three wide after 420m to move to the breeze after a lap.
Magnificent Storm got to within a neck of Heavenly Gipsy with 225m to travel and then moved almost on terms with Heavenly Gipsy 100m from the post. He fought on determinedly to finish third, just a head behind the second placegetter, the $126 outsider Arma Einstein, who raced three back on the pegs before flashing home to finish 2m from the winner.
“Heavenly Gipsy probably will never beat Magnificent Storm again,” said the mare’s trainer Michael Young. “It looked for a fleeting moment that magnificent Storm had her, but she dug in and kicked, which is not always easy for a mare to do.
“Heavenly Gipsy will now go for a little break and will come back for the rich feature events for mares later in the year. And I would say that if she draws to lead in any of those races, she will be awfully hard to beat.”
Seven-year-old Heavenly Gipsy has raced superbly in WA with her six starts in the State resulting in four wins and a second placing, improving her record to 51 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $148,389.
Emotions run high
Emotions at Gloucester Park on Friday night ran high when champion reinsman Chris Lewis drove Petes Honour to victory in the $21,000 Vale Mark Lewis Pace over 2130m.
Mark Lewis, the only son of Chris and Debra Lewis, died the previous week and this race was scheduled to honour him and his outstanding contribution as a reinsman (in the United States) and as a trainer.
Chris Lewis had had tears in his eyes after the Jemma Hayman-trained four-year-old Petes Honour, the $2.20 favourite, had dashed to the front after 200m and then set a solid pace before sprinting over the final 800m 57sec. to win by two lengths from $15 chance Major Freeway.
Lewis raised his whip in a heartfelt salute with 35m to travel and then held it aloft as he passed the post.
Warm applause greeted Lewis after the win, with the Hall Of Fame reinsman saying: “It’s good to have that support under the circumstances. I think he (Petes Honour) had a good push tonight to win.”
Petes Honour has been a consistent performer who has earned $81,234 from eight wins and ten placings from 37 starts. He is by Sweet Lou and is the fifth foal out of Western Terror mare Arousing, who raced 110 times for eleven wins, 32 placings and $119,663.
Run For Mercy, an elder half-sister to Petes Honour, was retired with earnings of 132,581 from 12 wins and 26 placings from 91 starts.
Turvey’s purple patch
Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey has struck a purple patch with three winners from three starters in the space of five days.
The middle leg of his treble came at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Gary Hall jnr drove Tasmanian-bred mare Shes A Tiny Dancer, the $3.10 favourite, to a comfortable win in the $21,000 BOTRA Thanks Nutrimate Pace over 2130m.
The treble began at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when $3.30 chance Beach Captain, driven by Kylah Madden, charged home from eighth and last at the bell to win by three lengths from Tumblin Dice.
And then at Bunbury on Saturday night Hall combined with Turvey to win a heat of the John Higgins memorial with $19.20 chance Major Jay, who beat Onesmartfella and Hunt The Magic in a three-way photo finish.
Turvey, who has prepared 714 winners, made a wise decision earlier this year when he outlaid $12,000 to buy Shes A Tiny Dancer after the A Rocknroll Dance mare was advertised for sale on the internet.
Shes A Tiny Dancer has already more than returned her purchase price. She is raced by Turvey, long-time stable client Gary Mawdesley, Travis Dinsdale and Maddy Coles, and she has earned $17,633 from her first win and four placings from eight WA starts.
Shes A Tiny Dancer began from the outside barrier in the field of eight in Friday night’s race and was left in the breeze, back in sixth place ion the first lap before Cherry On The Cake ($7) moved outside the pacemaker Lady dela Hoya ($6.50) with 1250m to travel, thus enabling Shes A Tiny Dancer to enjoy an ideal sit in the one-out, one-back position.
Cherry On The Cake got to the front approaching the home turn before Shes A Tiny Dancer burst past her 90m from the post to go on and win by a length and a half, rating 1.59 after final quarters of 29.5sec. and 28.3sec.
Shes A Tiny Dancer is the eighth foal out of Artsplace mare Parfait Bromac, who was retired after two unplaced efforts as a three-year-old in 2011. Before coming to WA Shes A Tiny Dancer had raced nine times in Tasmania for one win and 21 times in Victoria for two wins.
Parfait Bromac’s third foal Tall Poppy won five times from 25 New Zealand starts before being sold to American interests. She won another 21 races in the United States and ended her career with 26 wins, 36 placings and $276,679 in stakes from 131 starts.
Sweet Pins remains undefeated
Highly regarded New Zealand four-year-old Sweet Pins remains unbeaten after his first three appearances in WA. He was not extended in winning the $23,000 BOTRA Past President Warren Robinson Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $1.10 favourite from the No. 3 barrier when Gary Hall jnr did not bustle him when he raced three wide for the first 600m before strolling to the front and then setting a solid pace and beating $14 chance Heez Good As Gold by two lengths, rating 1.57.2.
Sweet Pins, a Sweet Lou horse trained by Gary Hall snr, is in the early stages of what appears certain to be an outstanding career which is in its infancy, with earnings of $30,420 from three wins from three starts.
“He has come a long way since his first-up win and should keep improving,” said Hall jnr. “He is a lot more tractable here than he is at home, which is the opposite to most horses. He comes to the track and turns into a very nice horse.”
Narrow squeak for Chase Me
Star New Zealand-bred three-year-old Chase Me, the $1.10 favourite for the $27,000 BOTRA Thanks Milne Feeds Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, survived a narrow squeak when he held on grimly to gain the verdict in a thrilling four-way photo finish.
Chase Me, prepared by Gary Hall snr and driven by Gary Hall jnr, set the pace after a leisurely lead time of 38.3sec. and a slow opening 400m section of 31sec. After that Hall increased the tempo and Chase Me sped over the final three quarters in 28.7sec., 27.7sec. and 28.8sec.
The photo revealed that Chase Me won by a nose from Mr Fantastic ($16), with Louie Dior ($13) a head away in third place, just a head ahead of the fourth placegetter Hotly Pursued ($17).
“This was a bit of a surprise,” said Hall jnr. “The second, third and fourth horses went huge to get as close as they did. Chase Me wouldn’t have wanted to go much further, that’s for sure.
“The way the (handicapping) system is now you can have a horse like Chase Me up in grade very quickly. We bought him with the WA Derby, Golden Nugget and hopefully the WA Pacing Cup in mind.
“We are happy with the way he is going at home, and tonight it probably was the best he has got around the track, which luckily he did because if he was getting around like he was around a month ago, he probably would’ve run fourth.”
The performances of the three other horse to figure in the photo finish were outstanding. Mr Fantastic began from the back line and raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before finishing powerfully.
Louie Dior began fast from barrier six and raced in the breeze before refusing to give in, while Hotly Pursued, racing first-up for three months, was seventh at the bell before thundering home out four wide.
This was Chase Me’s fourth victory from four starts in WA, all at Gloucester Park, and he now has earned $121,414 from seven wins and three placings from ten starts.
Second city double for Lynn
Up-and-coming young reinsman Toby Lynn completed his second double in metropolitan-class events when he was rewarded for his patience with an exciting fast-finishing win with veteran pacer Joey James in the $21,000 BOTRA Thanks Lovick Fabrication Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
In contrast to his first winner on the night, Candy Apple who set the pace and scored an easy victory, Joey James, a $9.70 chance from the outside of the back line, was handled perfectly by the 24-year-old Lynn, who was able to get the gelding across to race four back on the pegs in seventh position while the $2 favourite and polemarker Our Thunder was setting the pace.
Joey James was under lock and key in the back straight in the final circuit before Lynn was able to ease him off the pegs approaching the home turn. Joey James then was switched three wide on the corner and he surged home to get up and snatch a head victory from Our Thunder, who extended his losing sequence to 64.
The victory was a family affair. Joey James was bred and is owned by Lynn’s mother Katrina and is trained by his father Brad. Joey James has proved to be a wonderful gift horse, who has earned $151,853 from 12 wins and 28 placings from 118 starts.
Mrs Lynn bred Joey James from a free stallion service to unfashionable American sire Heartland Hanover, and the gelding’s dam, the unraced Bettors Delight mare Soho Honolulu, was a gift to the Lynn family when it was decided that she was not good enough to race.
It is in Soho Honolulu’s favour that she is a half-sister to Im Sir Blake, who has amassed $515,026 in prizemoney from 14 Victorian wins and another 20 victories in the United States.
Soho Honolulu’s dam is Jupiters Darling, who won the Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in February 2005 and was retired with earnings of $142,720 from 14 wins and 22 placings from 84 starts.
Candy Apple is a bargain
Paula Petricevich, a prominent veterinary nurse, has no regrets that she paid $7000 to buy a weanling filly by Sweet Lou in New Zealand in 2020.
She named her Candy Apple, who is developing into a smart pacer who boosted her earnings to $64,493 (from five wins and five placings from 24 starts) when she led and scored an easy win in the $21,000 BOTRA Season Membership Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Five-year-old Candy Apple, trained by Michael Munro and driven by Toby Lynn, was the $2.90 favourite who set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and won by two lengths from Sweet Vivienne, another Sweet Lou five-year mare, bred and owned by Petricevich.
Candy Apple gave her rivals little chance when she dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.7sec. and 28.4sec. She rated a smart 1.57.5.
Sweet Vivienne, trained and driven by Chris Voak, was a $26 outsider from out wide at barrier eight, and she produced a splendid performance to fight on gamely after racing three wide early and then in the breeze.
Petricevich bought Candy Apple because she was a half-sister to Bettor B Believer, a pacer she had purchased from New Zealand who showed great promise in WA when one of his best performances was his third behind Jack Mac and Cott Beach in the group 1 Golden Slipper in July 2017.
Bettor B Believer fractured a leg as a four-year-old and was unable to continue racing after his 33 starts had produced eight wins, 14 placings and $78,735. Bettor B Believer and Candy Apple are out of the unraced Mach Three mare Rearmachable.
“Candy Apple has been a good horse for me, but she has made me earn it,” said Munro. “She suffers from horse asthma. She has allergies and is no good in the summer with all the dust when she gets hay fever and wheezes.
“She is starting to get up in grade, and we will see how she goes.”
A formidable combination
Breeder and owner Rob Watson, trainer Kim Prentice and reinsman Mitch Miller are proving to be a highly successful combination in WA pacing, and they combined to win the $27,000 BOTRA Thanks Garrard’s Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park with Soho Moonraker on Friday night.
A night after Soho Moonraker’s win, Watson rejoiced with the victory of that gelding’s close relation Soho Americano in the group 1 $150,000 group 1 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park.
Soho Moonraker’s elder half-sister Soho Interceptor is the dam of Soho Americano, who was a $6.50 chance who beat Cool And Classy by a head in the Oaks.
Soho Moonraker is by Sweet Lou and is out of former star mare Aussie Made Lombo, who was retired with earnings of $578,456 from 22 wins and 26 placings from 62 starts.
Soho Moonraker has raced 12 times in WA for three wins and five placings, taking his career record to 29 starts for seven wins and eight placings for stakes of $87,009.
Soho Moonraker ($4.20) began from the No. 5 barrier and Miller dashed him past $91 outsider Cloud Nine to take up the running after 400m, while the $2.65 favourite Blaze On settled down at the rear after starting from the outside of the back line.
Blaze On began a three-wide move with 1250mto travel and he finished determinedly to be second, a length behind the winner, who rated 1.56.4 after final quarters of 28sec. and 28.1sec.
“I was pretty confident Soho Moonraker could win, and we got it a bit easier than I expected,” said Miller. “Once in front we were able to control the race. Now I’m looking forward to Soho Moonraker stepping up in grade and following some of the better ones.”
Sheza Sassy Lassy overcomes mishap
Inexperienced mare Sheza Sassy Lassy was the $1.90 favourite from barrier seven in the $21,000 BOTRA Past President Mike Reed Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night --- and her supporters were dismayed when she galloped at the start and lost 50 metres.
Groans of disappointment were replaced with some sighs of hope when reinsman Ryan Bell quickly got Sheza Sassy Lassy back into a pacing gait and the four-year-old was able to tack on to the rest of the field of twelve but was still last with about 1200m to travel.
Sheza Sassy Lassy moved to ninth at the bell, following the three-wide runs of Heartofahlia ($4.40) and The Swindler ($9). Her winning prospects appeared remote when she was switched five wide by Bell with 500m to travel and with most of her rivals in front of her.
The Swindler took a narrow lead 220m from home, but she was swamped by Sheza Sassy Lassy, who burst to the front 120m from the post and won, quite remarkably, by two lengths, rating a modest 2.1.3.
Bell explained that it wasn’t the fault of Sheza Sassy Lassy that she broke into a gallop at the start. “The off-side hopple shortening pin came out in the score-up and as I lent down in an attempt to release the other pin right on release point, she panicked a bit and broke,” said Bell.
Sheza Sassy Lassy was bred and is owned by Gloucester Park’s head track curator Michael Daniel Blakemore and his mother Maryanne Dorothy Blakemore. The four-year-old is by former star pacer Vincent.
“We bought Sheza Sassy Lassy’s dam Miss Tivoli (by American Ideal) as a weanling at home in Auckland, and after she had been unplaced at three appearances in New Zealand I brought her over when I came to settle in Western Australia,” said Blakemore, who has enjoyed good success in the past few years with Goodealhmaddie (seven wins), Tommy Cruise (six) and Cullen Star (five).
Miss Tivoli, trained and driven by Blakemore, raced 18 times in WA for wins at Northam, Narrogin and Wagin before she broke down and had to be retired.
The 31-year-old Blakemore has high hopes that Sheza Sassy Lassy will develop into a good winner. The mare is still learning all about racing, having had just eight starts for four wins, two placings and earning $30,753.
