Hall’s emotional Cup triumph
When Gary Hall jnr and Mark Lewis were youngsters in the late 1980s and early 1990s they delighted in each other’s company at Gloucester Park, romping around on the grassy banks as their fathers Gary Hall snr and Chris Lewis drove against each other on the track.
Those were the early days of their friendship which endured and grew stronger over the years, even when Lewis was making a name for himself as a reinsman and a trainer in America for 15 years and Hall jnr was exciting harness racing fans with his magical skills in the sulky in Perth.
It was an emotional Hall who drove at Gloucester Park on Friday night as he struggled to come to terms with the death earlier in the week of his close mate.
Hall felt as though he was in a strange sort of bubble when he went out to drive star Boyanup trainer Justion Prentice’s star pacer Mighty Ronaldo in the group 3 $50,000 Nova Winter Cup.
“Everything just fell into place tonight,” said Hall after guiding Mighty Ronaldo, a $16.20 chance, to a brilliant victory in the 2536m feature event.
“There was like a calm over the whole race during which I didn’t have any concerns at any stages. It all went smoothly for the whole race.”
The 42-year-old Hall dominated the ten-event program, landing five winners, and it was a poignant moment when he went across the line to score with Sweet Pins in the final event as he looked skywards and raised his right thumb in a subdued but heartfelt gesture to Lewis, who he described as a great mate.
This was Hall’s tenth victory as a reinsman in the Winter Cup, and he continues to be a much-admired superstar who has driven 4161 winners in an outstanding career.
Lewis drove one winner in Australia --- Kurt Hanover, on January 5, 1998 --- before travelling to the United States the following year where he made his mark, landing 245 winners from 2217 drives and training 61 winners from 372 starters.
Since returning to WA in 2014 he has owned several smart pacers and has been a wonderful assistant in the stables of his mother Debra and his father, Hall Of Fame champion reinsman Chris Lewis.
Hall said he was surprised that Mighty Ronaldo was a comparative outside in Friday night’s race, in which the evergreen seven-year-old was awkwardly drawn at barrier seven.
“I liked him, and I couldn’t believe his price,” he said. “He went super first-up the previous week when he was blocked for a clear run in finishing seventh behind Gee Heza Sport.”
Prentice, who celebrated his 37TH birthday on Saturday, said that after consultation with Hall it was decided to go forward at the start. “We thought that if we went back at the start, we would be giving the others too big a head start.”
So, Hall drove Mighty Ronaldo out hard, and the gelding raced three wide before getting to the breeze after 550m, and then gaining a perfect sit, one-out and one-back, as Deni Roberts dashed the $1.75 favourite Gee Heza Sport to the breeze with $9 chance Rolling Fire setting the pace.
Mighty Ronaldo finished with a sparkling burst to take the lead 55m from the post before winning by a length from $23 chance Brickies Dream, rating 1.56.9 after the final three 400m sections were run in 28.8sec., 28.4sec. and 28.7sec. Gee Heza Sport was a neck second behind the pacemaker Rolling Fire at the 220m before wilting to finish sixth.
Hall said he was confident when he saw that Gee Heza Sport was under the pump approaching the home turn while Mighty Ronaldo was bolting.
“Mighty Ronaldo won very comfortably,” said Hall. “He has been suspect at times, going forward (at the start), but that was when he was younger.”
Mighty Ronaldo, bred by Trevor Lindsay, was purchased for $22,000 at the 2019 Perth APG yearling sale, and is raced by a syndicate of twenty, including Prentice.
He has now earned $963,842 from 14 wins and 22 placings from 69 starts. His wins have included three at group 1 level --- the Golden Slipper in July 2020, the WA Derby in April 2021, and the Fremantle Cup in January 2023.
He has also won two group 2 races and one at group 3 level, as well as finishing third behind Diego in the WA Pacing Cup in January 2023 and third to Minstrel in the WA Pacing Cup in November 2024.
“This was his first win for 16 months, but he has been so consistent for many years,” said Prentice. “In big races, he’s got to be driven a certain way. If you get luck, you get it; and if you don’t, you don’t get it. He has been unlucky plenty of times.
“He hasn’t had a winter campaign for a while, but I’ve brought him back this year and have set him for the Winter Cup and the $50,000 August Cup (on August 22) because he is getting older.”
Prentice, who trained and drove Never Ending for his win in the 2024 Winter Cup, said that he was more than happy with Rolling Fire’s fifth placing on Friday night, and that he would also be setting the five-year-old for the August Cup.
Fractures don’t stop Sweet Pins
Twelve months ago, exciting young pacer Sweet Pins made a spectacular debut with a brilliant win at Northam. But he pulled up sore and was found to have fractured a hind leg and his nearside fore knee.
“Vets told us that he was unlikely to race again,” said champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr after driving Sweet Pins to a runaway victory in the $21,000 Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was the New Zealand-bred four-year-old ‘s comeback appearance and his second race start when he was not affected by the screws in his knee that were inserted in an operation after his Northam success.
“They were significant injuries that were expected to prevent him racing again,” said Hall. “It’s a shame that he had those issues. He is a lovely horse who has a really high cruising speed.”
Sweet Pins was the $1.06 favourite on Friday night when he began from barrier three and quickly zoomed to the front, and after a slow lead time of 38.5sec. he cruised through the opening three quarters in 31.3sec., 30sec. before sprinting over the final 400m in 27.3sec. to win by just under four lengths from $13 chance Sheza Sassy Lassy, rating 1.58.2 over the 2130m journey.
He is by boom American stallion Sweet Lou and is the third foal out of unraced American Ideal mare Pretty Pins, whose elder half-sister Carabella (by Bettors Delight) amassed $693,615 from 17 wins and two seconds (both behind the brilliant Bettor Cover Lover). Carabella won six group 1 events, two group 2 races and one at group 3 level.
Friday night’s win completed a double for champion trainer Gary Hall snr, who prepared Chase Me for the gelding’s victory 25 minutes earlier.
Chase Me is improving
Star New Zealand-bred three-year-old Chase Me is showing steady improvement on his path to developing into a leading contender for the $200,000 WA Derby over 2536m on October 31.
He was the $1.10 favourite who began smartly for Gary Hall jnr from the No. 5 barrier to set the pace and stroll to victory over smart four-year-old Mikis Pride and six-year-old mare Betterthan Secret.
Chase Me, trained by Gary Hall snr, is undefeated at his first three appearances in WA, scoring easily over 2130m at Gloucester Park. His six New Zealand starts at Alexandra Park produced three wins, two seconds and a third placing, and he now has earned $105,911 in prizemoney.
After dashing over the final two 400m sections on Friday night in 27.9sec. and 28.4sec. Chase Me rated a smart 1.56.1.
“It is nice to see that he is learning slowly and is steering a lot better because he was horrible in his first couple of starts here,” said Hall jnr. “He has good ability and is a definite Derby prospect.”
Chase Me is by Downbytheseaside and is the fifth foal out of Falcon Seelster mare Delicata, who won twice from 22 starts for stakes of $10,856. Delicata’s first foal Chase Auckland raced 35 times for 14 wins, nine placings and $809,156 in stakes.
Copy Cat Queen is flying
Hopeland trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo has four-year-old Copy Cat Queen racing in dazzling form, and the mare gave further proof of her outstanding sit-sprint capabilities when she was eighth at the bell before flying home to score an easy win in the $23,000 Fresh Hits And Throwbacks On Nova Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Her superb performance was a virtual replica of her fast-finishing easy win the previous Friday night.
Copy Cat Queen was a $4.40 chance from out wide at barrier No. 8, and De Campo was happy to let her settle down at the rear while the polemarker Ekara Navajo ($11) was setting the pace.
Nase Vira, the $3.60 favourite, was last early before surging forward to move to the breeze in the first lap. Copy Cat Queen was eighth at the bell before she began a fast move in the back straight and was forced to travel four wide at the 400m on her way to bursting to the front 180m later on her way to winning by two lengths from the strong-finishing $41 outsider Pushbutton Rock.
The final quarters were run in 28.4sec. and 28.7sec. and Copy Cat Queen rated 1.56.2 without being extended.
“It was the same as last week, but she had to go a bit wider this week,” said a delighted De Campo. “She worked into it well and got the job done.”
Copy Cat Queen has earned $113,606 from ten wins and six placings and gives every indication of developing into a contender for the rich feature events for mares later in the year.
Slay Queen set for classics
Slay Queen emerged as a leading contender for upcoming rich classic events when she charged home to snatch victory in the $21,000 Nathan, Nat and Shaun For Breakfast Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The filly, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Stuart McDonald, impressed as a $16 chance when she raced in sixth position and was fifth with 220m to travel before sprinting strongly, out three wide, to get up and beat the pacemaker and $2.25 favourite Strong The Striker, a highly-rated gelding.
“She is big and strong and sure to be prominent in the feature events,” said McDonald. “It wasn’t a fluke when she won at her previous start (at Pinjarra), and I knew she would run on good tonight.”
Slay Queen will be aimed at the $$100,000 Diamond Classic on August 8, the $215,000 Westbred Classic (September 5) and the $150,000 Golden Slipper (September 26).
She is by renowned sire American Ideal and was bred and is owned by the Bonds, who raced her dam Starlight Destiny, who earned $78,658 from ten wins and 19 placings from 46 starts. Starlight Destiny finished third behind Dracarys in the group 3 Gold Bracelet in July 2018.
Slay Queen, who defeated her promising stablemate Cocobolo at Pinjarra two starts ago, has earned $17,795 from her two wins and a fourth placing from three starts.
An impressive performance in Friday night’s event came from the Michael Young-trained gelding Cease To React, a $14 chance from the outside barrier on the front line. Cease To React raced wide early and then in the breeze before fighting on with great determination to finish third in a tight three-way photo finish.
Four in a row for Dawson
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Dawson is relishing racing in stands and he notched his fourth win in a row when he began from 10m and raced in sixth position before moving to the breeze in the middle stages, taking the lead with 450m to travel and winning by a half-length from Skylou, the 50m backmarker who finished strongly from tenth at the bell.
Dawson, the $1.60 favourite trained and driven by Gary Hall jnr, defied a challenge by stablemate Bluto, a $11 chance who sustained a strong run from the rear to get on terms with Dawson on the home turn. Bluto fought on to finish a close third.
“Dawson is loving the conditions (in stands) and I’m not sure what his future is,” said Hall. “He has over-achieved in some regard and has gone a bit better than we thought he would.”
Dawson has raced nine times in WA for five wins and four placings. Four of those runs have been in stands for three wins and a second placing. Earlier, he won at three of his eleven starts in New Zealand and was successful at two of his five appearances in Victoria. He now has a record of 25 starts for eight wins, eight placings and $90,061 in prizemoney.
The ups and downs of racing
A full moon was shining on a cold evening at Gloucester Park on Friday when veteran breeder, owner and trainer Kevin Charles experienced the ups and downs of harness racing with his smart four-year-old Manhattan Moon scoring a splendid victory in the $21,000 Perth’s No. 1 Brekky Show On Nova 93.7 Pace over 1730m.
Manhattan Moon is by American stallion Control The Moment and is the second foal out of American Ideal mare Moon Ovr Manhattan.
Two days before Friday night’s win Charles had the misfortune of losing a foal. “Unfortunately, Moon Ovr Manhattan was in foal to Foreclosure, and she slipped the foal,” said Charles.
The 75-year-old Charles purchased Moon Ovr Manhattan as a brood mare from prominent Victorian breeders Bill and Anne Anderson after that pacer had raced 23 times for eight wins, seven placings and $32,710, and Manhattan Moon now boasts a fine record of 31 starts for seven wins, five placings and $81,558.
Manhattan Moon was a $11.10 chance from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line, and Charles’s 42-year-old son Hayden drove a patient race to win by a neck from $3.50 chance Atlantic Gem, who had taken the lead 110m from home.
Manhattan Moon followed the three-wide run of Atlantic Gem, who was eased out by Liam Elliott from the one-out, one-back position 500m from home. The final quarters were run in 28.3sec. and 28.6sec. and Manhattan Moon rated 1.54.5.
Mr Fantastic resumes in style
It’s been a long time between drinks for experienced seven-year-old pacer Mr Fantastic, who resumed after a five-month absence in fine style with a smart all-the-way victory in the $25,000 Don’t Think, Just Nova Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was the New Zealand-bred pacer’s first win since he set the pace and beat Lucca at Gloucester Park on November 24, 2023.
Trained and driven by Ryan Bell, Mr Fantastic was a well-supported $2 favourite when he took advantage of the No. 1 barrier by dictating terms in front, with a moderate lead time of 37.5sec. being followed by modest opening quarters of 31.5sec. and 29.4sec. before fast final 400m sections of 28.2sec. and 28.3sec.
He rated 1.57.1 and beat $11 chnace Starlight Dream by a length and a half, with Im Lightning Banner ($7.50) finishing a close-up third after running on from fifth at the bell.
“I haven’t had Mr Fantastic for long, and he is a serious horse,” said Bell. “We’ve just got to get in his head a bit to give him confidence. He has had a few health issues, and tonight’s win was a good confidence boost. A good thing is that he is on allow grade with the national ratings.”
Mr Fantastic is by Bettors Delight and is the second foal out of Art Major mare Its All On, a winner at two of her twelve starts in New Zealand.
Mr Fantastic had 12 starts in New Zealand for four wins, two placings and $46,090. His record now stands at 52 starts for 15 wins, eight placings and $170,062.
His elder full-sister Bettor Get It On was retired after racing 51 times for eleven wins, 19 placings and $191,675, with her best performance was winning the 2022 Empress Stakes.
Mr Fantastic’s younger half-brother Hugotastic is unbeaten at four starts in WA and has a record of 18 starts for seven wins, seven placings and $89,282.
A winning combination
Donald Harper continued his splendid association with veteran square gaiter Luvaflair by driving her to victory in the $21,000 Nova Boy Jamz On Nova Trot over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Harper now has handled the Nigel Johns trained Luvaflair 63 times for twelve wins, eight seconds, 13 thirds and 11 fourths. The seven-year-old has been a star for Johns, and she has amassed $261,868 from 25 wins and 43 placings from 134 starts.
Harper wisely opted out of the early speed battle, settling down Luvaflair, the third favourite at $16.70, in the one-out, one-back position as Nickys Son ($11) and the $1.90 favourite Aldebaran Boyd battled for the early lead, with the lead time a fast 36.5sec. before Nickys Son got to the front and was able to cover the opening quarter in a more comfortable 31.6sec.
Yankee Lover, the $3.20 second fancy from the outside barrier, raced at the rear before he began a three-wide move approaching the bell and took the lead at the 400m. But he was unable to hold out Luvaflair and finished second, three lengths from the winner.
“The quicker they go suite Luvaflair,” said Harper. “She travelled well, and I expected her to be in the mix.”
Blaze On set for American career
Five-year-old Blaze On, an up-and-coming star of WA harness racing, is destined to be given the opportunity to display his talent in America, according to his trainer Michael Young.
The New Zealand-bred Blaze On gave another powerful performance to win the $23,000 Vale Pat Duncan Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with his most recent eight starts producing four wins and three seconds.
“His long-term future looks to be in America,” said Young. “We will be looking to sell him to America at some stage, and it could be pretty soon.
“But we will keep him racing while he is in good form. But you can’t keep sending him around from a wide barrier every week. Under the pref.-draw conditions he keeps drawing out wide, and if you keep racing him from wide barriers you will finish up with no horse left.
“He is pretty strong, and the American style of racing should suit him. We should get reasonable money for him.”
Blaze On won once from four starts in New Zealand, and his WA record of eleven wins and eight placings from 33 starts has improved his record to 37 starts for 12 wins, eight placings and $111,601 in prizemoney.
He is by boom sire Sweet Lou and is out of Victors Delight, who earned $132,023 from 14 wins and 13 placings from 61 starts.
Blaze On, the $1.60 favourite from the outside barrier on the front line, was sent forward, three wide, soon after the start by Gary Hall jnr to race in the breeze outside the pacemaker Pocket The Change ($9.50). He surged to the front with about 400m to travel and won by a length from Soho Moonraker, rating 1.56.6 after a final 400m of 27.9sec.
“It took longer than we wanted to get to the breeze, but he relaxed and did a good job,” said Hall.
