Hall seeks record sixth WA Derby
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr has led in the home straight with Major Martini and Jumpingjackmac in the past two WA Derbies only to be beaten into second place by the fast-finishing Patronus Star and Mighty Ronaldo --- and he has high hopes of better luck and winning the $200,000 Sky Racing WA Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He will be driving brilliant three-year-old Tricky Miki for outstanding trainer Justin Prentice, who trained and drove Mighty Ronaldo to victory last year.
A win by Tricki Miki would give Hall a record of six WA Derbies as a reinsman. He had 11 drives in the Derby (including seconds with Ivory Trader in 2002, Ulrich in 2004 and Macraider in 2008) before driving Alta Christiano to victory in 2013.
His past eight Derby drives have produced five wins (with Alta Christiano, Beaudiene Boaz, Chicago Bull, King Of Swing and Major Trojan), seconds with Major Martini and Jumpingjackmac and a fourth with Im Rockaria in 2017.
“It’s not an easy race to win,” said Hall. “And a lot of that is because of the distance (2536m) for the three-year-olds. This is one of the weakest Derby fields I’ve seen for quite a while.”
Tricky Miki will be a firm favourite on Friday night, but the gelding will have to overcome an awkward draw at barrier six, with the progressive and speedy Machs Bettor at barrier four and appearing the likely leader.
Tricky Miki notched the seventh win from 13 starts when he trailed the pacemaking Machs Bettor and was unable to get into the clear until the home turn before finishing powerfully to get up and snatch a last-stride victory by a head from Machs Bettor in the 2536m group 2 Western Gateway Pace last Friday week.
“Tricky Miki’s past two runs (including leading and winning the South-West Derby at Bunbury by nine lengths from Rellim) have been super,” said Hall. “If we had drawn inside Machs Bettor we could’ve got to the front. Now, I’ll probably do nothing with him out of the gate, and then put him into it when I see fit.”
Ryan Bell, who trains Machs Bettor, is confident that the gelding, who will be driven by Kyle Symington, will take a power of beating, saying: “I think he can turn the tables on Tricky Miki, especially if he finds the front.
“Tricky Miki will be hard to beat, no matter what. However, our bloke is ready to go. I’m not a huge fan of barrier four, but when you study the field, it looks like that Machs Bettor will be able to find his way to the top. He needs to improve on what he did at his latest start, but I think he has. He is well and is ticking over perfectly.”
The New Zealand-bred Street Hawk, unplaced at his three starts as a two-year-old, has blossomed under the care of leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond and has won at seven of his ten starts as a three-year-old, with two wins in New Zealand early this year and then winning at five of his seven starts for the Bond stable.
Street Hawk will start from the inside of the back line, and star reinsman Ryan Warwick declared: “His ability is very good, but the draw makes it a bit awkward. It’s a comfortable spot and not a bad barrier depending on what happens. He is going well, and he is not going to be favourite. But he has a good chance to earn money.”
Greg Bond has won the Derby with Richard Henry (2005), In The Force (2009) and Seel N Print (2011) and he and his wife Skye prepared Patronus Star for his win in 2020. Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri is also seeking his fifth winner of the Derby after scoring with Saab (1998), Talladega (2000), Argent Treasure (2008) and Crombie (2010).
Olivieri is pinning his faith in Taking The Miki, the winner of the group 1 WA Oaks two starts ago. She will be driven by Chris Voak from the prized No. 1 barrier and faces the task of becoming the first filly since Whitbys Miss Penny to win the Derby. Whitbys Miss Penny, trained and driven by Rod Chambers, won the 1991 Derby from The Sleek Byrd and Smooth Business.
Dourado is de Campo’s best
Talented Capel horseman Aiden de Campo, fresh from driving a double with Between Two Thorns ($2.40) and Secret Reaction ($6.50) at his only drives at Gloucester Park on Wednesday, will be far busier at headquarters on Friday night when he will be in action in all eleven events.
He will be popular with punters, with his main chances appearing to be Dominus Factum, Machnificent, Dourado, Sport Sport Sport and Rockstar Rebel.
“If I don’t drive a winner I’ll have a pretty poor strike rate,” he said as he indicated that his best winning prospect was two-year-old Dourado in the $20,250 #Inthegig Pace over 2130m.
“The barrier draw (No. 1) makes Dourado a really good chance,” he said. “He led and won well at Pinjarra at his latest start. And I’ll try to take full advantage of the draw and try to go all the way again.
“He is getting better every time he steps out on to the track. He is only a little colt but the more work we bore into him the more he seems to improve. I was really happy with his track work yesterday (Tuesday) and he’ll run a really good race on Friday.”
Dourado began from barrier six and raced three wide early before dashing to the front in a 1684m event at Pinjarra on Monday of last week. He rated 1.57.9 and won by a half-length from Velocipede.
Velocipede, trained by Gary Hall snr, will start from barrier six in Friday night’s event. Stablemate Hes Never Been Beta will start from the No. 7 barrier, and Gary Hall jnr has given punters a strong lead by choosing to handle him in preference to Velocipede, who will be driven by Stuart McDonald.
Hes Never Been Beta notched his second win from four starts when he made most of the running and defeated Tommy Carta by almost six lengths over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
“There is not much between Velocipede and Hes Never Been Beta,” said Hall jnr. “Velocipede sat outside Dourado at Pinjarra and went down by a half-length. I think Hes Never Been Beta is better equipped to breeze. And I think he can sit outside Dourado and beat him. Velocipede is probably going to sit up as we try to get him to relax.”
And here are de Campo’s thoughts on his other main chances:
Machnificent: Barrier five; race six: I drove him for the first time last week (when he was blocked for a run until late and then charged home, six wide, to finish fifth behind Rascal) and I thought he was super. He really impressed me. He didn’t have much luck and he hit the line strongly. He will need some luck from the barrier, but his final 400m is deadly, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he finishes close up.
Dominus Factum: Barrier seven; race two: He is down in grade and can improve quite a lot. His trackwork has been good and I expect him to run a really good race. The mile (1730m) suits him; the gate speed inside him doesn’t, so I’ll have to play it by ear.”
Sport Sport Sport: Barrier three; race ten: It’s an even field and I think she’s up to them. She has raced a lot better at her past four starts (for two wins and two placings).
Rockstar Rebel: Barrier ten; race 11: A perfect draw for him, and if he gets the splits, he’ll be a good chance.
Egerton-Green likes Typhoon Banner
Banjup trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green is enjoying another highly successful season and he declares that Typhoon Banner is his best winning prospects among his eight drives at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Typhoon Banner, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old and a winner at 14 of his 41 starts, will resume racing after a spell when he begins from the No. 4 barrier in the Sky Racing Replays Pace over 2130m.
“His work has been good, and he should go good,” said Egerton-Green, who has driven 107 winners this season and is in fifth place on the WA drivers’ premiership table.
“He will probably need a bit of match practice, but I’m confident he will run a forward race. Obviously, the draw is a bit tricky to overcome. He has a great turn of foot and I’m sure he will show it.”
Egerton-Green is also bullish about the prospects of his three-year-old filly Champagne Everyone, who will start from barrier two in the 2130m Follow Sky Racing On Facebook Pace. She won for the fourth time from 20 starts when she set the pace from barrier three and beat Let It Linga over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
“She has been racing very well but hasn’t had a lot of luck in a few of the big races,” he said. “It is a nice draw to play a part in this race. She has a good turn of foot and with the right run she can be dangerous.”
The Barry Howlett-trained Little Darling is racing enthusiastically and looks set to fight out the finish. She will start from barrier six, with Chris Lewis in the sulky.
Her five outings since resuming from a spell have been full of merit --- seconds to Wonderful To Fly in the group 1 Westbred Classic, behind Im Themightylucy and then behind Taking The Miki in the group 1 WA Oaks. At her latest appearance, in the Great Southern Derby at Narrogin, she finished third behind Been Scootin and Dontbesillychilli.
Egerton-Green is also looking for forward showings from Seeryanfly in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace and Livy Jay in the 2130m In The Gig Pace.
Four-year-old Seeryanfly will be making his first appearance for four months when he begins from barrier four. He won four races in a row in May and June before disappointing in finishing at the rear in two Gloucester Park events.
“He had a good start to his prep and then went off a little bit when he had a few problems,” said Egerton-Green. “He went out and had a spell and he has come back better and stronger. His work has been pretty nice and I’m sure he will run a nice race. And whatever he does I’m sure he will improve on.”
Five-year-old Livy Jay will start from barrier five in the 2130m In The Gig On Sky Pace in which she will clash with the outstanding mare Eighteen Carat. “She will run a good race,” said Egerton-Green.
Star pacers to resume
Group 1 winners Mighty Conqueror and Patronus Star will attract considerable attention when they resume after spells and clash in the $30,000 Sky Racing Active Free-For-All over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
They are prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who will be aiming them for the $300,000 Fremantle Cup and the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup in January.
Ryan Warwick, who will drive Mighty Conqueror from the No. 3 barrier on Friday night, said: “They are both good enough to come to the races, but they’re going to need racing. I wouldn’t expect too much from them, first-up; they will improve in the next month.”
Seven-year-old Mighty Conqueror will be racing first-up for eight months, while five-year-old Patronus Star, an excellent frontrunner, will be having his first start for 15 weeks. He will start from the No. 4 barrier, with Deni Roberts in the sulky.
Brilliant five-year-old Magnificent Storm will start from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, and he should make amends for his second placing behind Gambit over 2130m last Friday night by overcoming the wide barrier and notching his 26TH win at his 35TH start.
The Bond stable will have many admirers, with the stable having nine runners. Five of the stablemates ---- Vulcan Star, Ideal Agent, Street Hawk, Aussie Scooter and Ima Rockabilly Rebel --- have strong winning prospects.
Vulcan Star is favourably drawn at barrier two in the opening event, the 2130m Sky Racing Pace, and Warwick said: “He’s going quite well and is capable of leading.”
Outstanding trainer Michael Young and star reinsman Gary Hall jnr should continue their highly successful association by winning the In The Gig Pace with the brilliant mare Eighteen Carat, who looks set to lead from the coveted No. 1 barrier.
“I think she is the best horse in the race, and she has come up with the best gate,” said Young. “The barrier has only made it easier for her.”
Young and Hall also have excellent prospects with the consistent Doc Holliday in the 2130m #SkyHarness Pace, in which the five-year-old has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of barrier No. 7. “He is always each-way in these types of fields,” said Young.
Doc Holliday has been unlucky at his past two starts when finishing third behind The Code Breaker and third behind Whatabro. “He would have won either of his past two if he had got out in time,” said Hall. “He went to the line, travelling, both times.”
