Jones seeks to make history
Low-key Greenbushes farmer Ray Jones is an easy-going casual character from the bush who shuns the limelight but occasionally dares to dream.
He was a contented man after his champion colt Lavra Joe had annihilated the opposition in the $50,000 Pearl Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
With champion reinsman Chris Lewis describing Lavra Joe’s effortless all-the-way victory by just over two lengths from Otis as “a nice easy workout,” Jones said that the colt would have two more runs before going for a well-deserved spell.
Then Jones rubbed his head and said he was now giving some serious thought to setting Lavra Joe for the $200,000 Victoria Derby at Melton on October 9.
“Lavra Joe has done a lot of racing for a young horse and hasn’t shown any ill-effects, so it’s quite possible that I’ll take him to Victoria for the Derby,” he said. “We’re lucky this year to have an extended season, giving him the opportunity to race an extra six months as a three-year-old.”
The 66-year-old Jones owns and trains Lavra Joe, who has all the credentials to be a worthy contender for the Victoria Derby, a classic first run in 2014 and a race won by numerous superstars, including Tactile, Welcome Advice, Paleface Adios, Gundary Flyer, Bag Limit, Westburn Grant, Holmes D G, Courage Under Fire, Lombo Pocket Watch and Lazarus.
Jones, who purchased Lavra Joe as a yearling for $22,500, owns and trains the colt who now has raced 33 times for 20 wins, seven placings and stakes of $290,523, as well as several more thousand of dollars in Westbred bonuses.
Before his win in the Pearl, Lavra Joe had won four other feature events as a three-year-old, the Caduceus Club Classic, the Western Gateway Pace, the Battle of Bunbury and the Country Derby.
If Lavra Joe maintains his outstanding form and travels to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby, Jones will be aiming to create history by being the first West Australian trainer to prepare a WA pacer for victory in the Victoria Derby.
Former star trainer-reinsman Rod Chambers went within a whisker of this achievement when he drove Mon Poppy Day to finish as half-head second to Mark Purdon’s New Zealand star Sharp And Telford in the 1996 Victoria Derby.
Lavra Joe, from the No. 1 barrier on Friday night, was a hot $1.04 favourite and Lewis gave the handsome colt an easy time with a moderate lead time of 37.4sec., followed by opening quarters of the final mile in 31.2sdc. and 29.2sec.
Lavra Joe then was still coasting as he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 27sec. to win at a 1.55.6 rate over 2130m. Otis ($21) trailed him throughout and finished second, a length ahead of the $12 second fancy Mighty Ronaldo, who raced in the one-out, two-back position before finishing solidly, despite a punctured sulky tyre over the final 250m.
Jones said that Lavra Joe would have one more start, probably in a fortnight, before contesting the $100,000 Westbred Classic for three-year-=old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on June 18.
Newsy turns the tables
Smart New Zealand-bred filly Newsy turned the tables on her arch rival Always An Angel when Dylan Egerton-Green drove her to an all-the-way victory over that filly in the $50,000 Diamond Classic final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Newsy, owned by Team Bond and prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, had worked hard in the breeze outside the pacemaker Joelene in a qualifying heat and finished a close second to the fast-finishing Always An Angel.
In the final, Newsy was a hot favourite at $1.40 after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier, with the Justin Prentice-trained Always An Angel the second fancy at $5.50 from the awkward No. 6 barrier.
Newsy was first into stride and was able to amble through the lead time in 38sec. before Gary Hall jnr urged Always An Angel forward, three wide, from sixth early to move to the breeze after 600m.
Hall did not apply pressure on the leader until he issued his strong challenge with 550m to travel. Then the two star fillies were locked together in a titanic struggle over the final 400m, with Newsy prevailing by a half-head.
Our Star Billing ($19) trailed the leader all the way before finishing strongly to be third, a length ahead of the fast-finishing Bettor Beach Belle. The winner rated 1.56.7 over 2130m, after covering the final 800m in 56.4sec.
Newsy, by Bettors Delight, is the third foal out of the unraced Art Major mare Ultimate Art. All of her 12 starts have been in Western Australia for seven wins, three placings and stakes of $71,805.
Injury-plagued Sir Galahad salutes
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Sir Galahad has been plagued by injury and was having on his 22ND start in a race when he lined up as the $2 favourite for the 2130m Mondo Doro Smallgoods Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Washington VC gelding repaid champion trainer Gary Hall snr for his patience and care when Gary Hall jnr drove him to a thrilling victory by a head over his fast-finishing stablemate Nota Bene Denario ($20), with a half-head to $6 chance Rabchenko in third place.
Sir Galahad, having his second start after a spell, raced in fifth position, in the one-out, one-back position, before starting a three-wide move approaching the bell when the polemarker and $4 second favourite Tiffany Rose bowling along in front.
Sir Galahad took the lead with 550m to travel, and he had to be driven out to survive in a three-way photo finish. Nota Bene Denario, driven by Maddison Brown, impressed in surging home from eighth and last at the bell to fall narrowly.
“Sir Galahad has had a lot of problems,” said Hall snr. “He paddles out and slices through his pastern all the time.”
Sir Galahad, out of the unraced Falcon Seelster mare Dromsally, boasts a 50 per cent winning record, having had 22 starts for 11 wins and six placings for stakes of 102,365.
Boom Time maintains fine form
Astute Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri has the lightly-raced New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Boom Time racing in splendid form, and the gelding relished his frontrunning role when he fought on determinedly to win the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven for the first time by Chris Lewis, Boom Time was second fancy at $3.20, with To Fast To Serious the $3.10 favourite, and Boom Time’s talented stablemate Papinik at $3.50.
Lewis took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier, and a smart lead time of 36.3sec. kept his rivals at bay in the early stages. Lewis then gave Boom Time a breather with opening quarters of 30.2sec. and 29.9sec. before final 400m sections in 29.3sec. and 28.3sec.
Boom Time held on gamely to win by a neck from $41 outsider Shanway, who raced in seventh position on the pegs before Corey Peterson eased him off the inside 420m from home. The six-year-old then impressed with his powerful finishing burst.
To Fast To Serious, who was having his first start for five months, raced in sixth place, one-out and two-back, before Aldo Cortopassi switched him three wide with 4300m to travel. He did not threaten danger and finished sixth. And he is sure to be improved by the run.
Papinik, who started from the inside of the back line, trailed the pacemaker where he raced fiercely. He got off the inside in the late stages but was hampered for room and finished a disappointing fifth.
Olivieri was delighted with Boom Time’s performance, saying: “It was a very good field, and he ran the time. He’s got a fair bit of speed and a fair bit of guts.”
Boom Time is by Gotta Go Cullect and is the first foal out of the Washington V C mare Potomac, who was unplaced at her three starts, all as a four-year-old in New Zealand in early 2012. Boom Time won twice from five New Zealand starts, and at three of his seven Victorian appearances. He has raced 25 times in WA for seven wins and six placings. Friday’s win was his third from his past four outings.
Tough work for Hall
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr came to Byford trainer Callan Suvaljko’s aid by happily agreeing to drive Rocknroll Whitby in the TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and the veteran gelding ended a losing sequence of 19 when he fought on with grim determination to win the event by a half neck from the $2.10 favourite Crocodile Kid.
But Hall had to pay the price for the victory, according to Suvaljko, who trains Rocknroll Whitby for his wife Amanda, with Suvaljko (unable to drive because of a brief suspension) explaining that Hall had a torrid time to get the pacer across the line in first place.
“Rocknroll Whitby never travelled at any stage and Junior (Hall) was more exhausted than the horse after the race,” said Suvaljko. Rocknroll Whitby ($5.90) raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, while Crocodile Kid was setting the pace, with $41 chance Beach Skipper on his outside.
Hall sent Rocknroll Whitby forward, three wide, at the 600m mark, but the gelding appeared languid, and Hall had to drive him vigorously to get him to respond to his urgings.
Suvaljko, who now works for the Hall stable in Serpentine, said that Rocknroll Whitby had been an honest performer during his 141-start career which has produced 18 wins and 18 placings for stakes of $208,978. “He was bought as a yearling for $20,000 and has paid his way,” he said.
For Hall, this was only his second drive behind Rocknroll Whitby, with his previous drive behind the gelding being 53 starts earlier when he was unplaced from a back mark in a stand at Gloucester Park on December 18, 2018.
Rocknroll Whitby has inherited some of the ability of his dam Party Date, a talented mare who earned $256,003 from her 25 wins, 18 seconds and nine thirds from 111 starts. Party Date has also produced six other winners, including Bettor Party (220 starts for 40 wins, 55 placings and $350,007) and Pierre Whitby (84 starts for 11 wins, 26 placings and $101,782).
Suvaljko is also enjoying success with veteran performers Tuas Delight and Extreme Prince, pacers he purchased last October for $5000 each.
Eight-year-old Tuas Delight finished solidly to win from Im Spiderman at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week to take his record for Suvaljko to 22 starts for two wins, three placings and $20,864, while Extreme Prince’s 22 starts for Suvaljko have produced two wins, six placings and $28,749.
Louie The Horse overcomes tardy start
Louie The Horse, who raced 13 times, all in mobiles, in New Zealand for three wins and four placings, has shown a liking for standing-start racing for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, with his 13 WA starts including nine in stands for four of his five wins in this State.
However, from the No. 2 barrier on the front line in the 2503m Channel 7 Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night he was slightly slow into stride, losing almost two lengths --- and the opportunity to set the pace.
Dylan Egerton-Green did not panic, and he settled Louie The Horse, the $2.30 favourite, into fourth place, one-out and one-back, while the $3.80 third fancy Medieval Man was leading after a brilliant beginning from the 10-metre line.
The polemarker The Stars Above ($3.30) galloped at the start and settled in fourth place on the pegs before Cody Wallrodt eased him off the inside after 650m to move to the breeze where he began to overrace.
Medieval Man set a brisk pace, but was unable to hold out Louie The Horse, who was switched three wide at the 250m mark and surged home to hit the front with 70m to travel. Medieval Man was second, with Manofthepeople (who trailed the pacemaker) finishing third.
Jaspervellabeach relishes setting the pace
Former star two-year-old Jaspervellabeach is still performing with admirable enthusiasm as a four-year-old, and he delighted his owner-trainer Kristy Elson when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He’s been working well and doing well at home,” said Elson. “It’s a great advantage to draw a good barrier.”
He was a short-priced $1.16 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier on Friday night when Emily Suvaljko got him away to a flying start before he made all the running and was untroubled to beat the $9.50 second favourite The Black Cardinal by more than a length at a 1.58.1 rate.
The 11-year-old The Black Cardinal is racing in wonderful form for owner-trainer Tommy Sheehy. The oldtimer trailed Jaspervellabeach all the way and was hampered for room in the final stages. He will pay to follow. Major Stare ($34) worked in the breeze and battled on to finish third.
Jaspervellabeach is out of the unraced Falcon Seelster mare Aldebaran Bromac, who also produced Aldebaran Macha, who was retired after his 126 starts produced 17 wins and 25 placings for stakes of $134,722.
Jaspervellabeach shone as a two-year-old, winning the group 2 Champagne Classic and the group 1 Golden Slipper. He now has raced 33 times for ten wins, seven placings and $171,833.
Spell for Jumpingjackmac
Rising star Jumpingjackmac will be sent for a beneficial spell after giving another sample of his class with an easy victory in the 2130m in the Allwood Stud Farm Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting favourite at $1.40 from out wide at barrier No. 8, Jumpingjackmac settled in last position before Gary Hall jnr sent him forward with a sweeping three-wide burst after 600m. He charged to the front with 1300m to go and went on and beat the fast-finishing Caveman ($17) by just under three lengths, rating 1.57.1 after final quarters of 28.8sec. and 28.3sec.
The Watch Maker ($23) caught the eye when he rattled home from seventh at the bell to be third.
“Jumpingjackmac has been up for a while and he was just a little bit lack-lustre, and I think he is starting to feel the pinch a bit,” said champion trainer Gary Hall snr. “However, I couldn’t fault his performance.
“He will go for a spell now and depending on how he goes when he comes back from a break, I’ll decide whether to set him for the Victoria Derby at Melton in October.”
The New Zealand-bred Jumpingjackmac is by Mach Three out of the Bettors Delight mare Jumpforjoy, who had 21 starts for seven wins, seven placings and stakes of $94,654. Her major success was in the group 2 Southland Oaks at Invercargill in April 2011.
Don’t write off Chicago Bull
It was an eerie feeling watching superstar pacing phenomenon Chicago Bull battling up the home straight to finish sixth behind his veteran stablemate Whozideawasthis in the 2536m Christmas In July at the Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a rare sight indeed, with the champion eight-year-old finishing outside the top four for the first time in 77 memorable appearances at the track.
His previous 76 starts on the track had produced 55 victories, twelve seconds, seven thirds and two fourths.
Chicago Bull was resuming after a spell and having his first start for 18 weeks. He was the $2.05 favourite from out wide at the No. 8 barrier. Gary Hall jnr launched the star off the gate with a sizzling three-wide burst in a bid to either get to the front or to the breeze.
Chicago Bull challenged hard but was unable to cross the $4.60 second fancy Vultan Tin, when Emily Suvaljko made her intentions clear that she was in no mood to surrender the breeze position on the outside of the polemarker Whozideawasthis.
Hall jnr then wisely abandoned his tactics and restrained Chicago Bull back to the rear of the field of ten. After the early speed battle, the pace slackened and Maddison Brown, driving with wonderful assurance, was able to dictate terms.
She gave the ten-year-old Whozideawasthis a comfortable time in the lead with the first quarters of the final mile in 31sec. and 29.9sec. before increasing the tempo with final 400m sections of 28.1sec. and 28.9sec.
Whozideawasthis scored in fine style, beating stablemate and $9.50 chance Eloquent Mach by just under a length, with Vultan Tin a head away in third place. Eloquent Mach had enjoyed the perfect trail behind the leader all the way.
Hall eased Chicago Bull three wide 900m from home and the old champion gradually worked his way forward to move into fourth place on the home turn. But he was left with a finishing burst and finished sixth.
Brown praised Whozideawasthis, saying: “He has had a few setbacks during his career, was able to come back and now is doing a great job for a ten-year-old. He showed a couple of starts ago that he can lead and beat Vultan Tin, so why not tonight. He has been ticking all the boxes, so there’s no reason why he needs a break yet.”
Trainer Gary hall snr said that Whozideawasthis had bowed a tendon twice and was currently trouble free. “He is an on-pace horse, and when you drive him on the fence or in front, he’s a good horse. When he follows them and gets pushed wide, he’s no good.
“Chicago Bull has pulled up well, and it was worth a try, going forward, tonight. They will all write him off now. But it will be at their peril. I did warn everybody that I had trouble finding him the company to work with. He will be back.”
