Minstrel stakes his claim
Veteran pacer Minstrel is at the top of his game, and he reinforced his standing as a major player in the $1,250,000 Nullarbor slot race next Friday week when he gave another powerful performance to win the $50,000 Governor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven assertively by Deni Roberts, the seven-year-old New Zealand-bred Minstrel, the $7.10 fourth favourite, raced three wide for the first lap and then in the breeze before finishing with great determination to get up and beat his stablemate and pacemaker Tenzing Bromac ($10) by a head, rating 1.54.6 over the 2130m, with final quarters of 28.4sec. and 27.6sec.
Minstrel, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has had an outstanding lead up to the Nullarbor, with six wins and a half-head second placing from his past seven starts.
Roberts was full of praise for Minstrel, saying: “I didn’t plan to race three wide for the first lap but I expected that it would happen. From barrier six there was plenty of speed beneath me and I knew that I wasn’t going to get to the breeze straight away.
“So, I had to park out there a little bit until they sorted themselves out, and once the speed backed off (after a fast lead time of 35sec.) we got there (to the breeze), and that’s where he does his best work.
“Down the back when Ideal Agent came up (out wide) Minstrel grabbed the bit and balanced up nicely. And when I asked Minstrel for an effort Tenzing Bromac typically went with him, and at the top of the straight I thought he had me, but Minstrel dug deep like he always does.”
It was a brilliant performance at Minstrel’s first run for 32 days. “He has done a fair bit of racing and obviously the way he has to be driven is quite tough, and I don’t think he needs to be backing up every week,” said Roberts. “We have quality horses and the facilities at home to keep our horses fit.”
Minstrel, a Rocknroll Hanover gelding, has amassed $835,938 from 24 wins and 18 placings from 60 starts.
The Ray Jones-trained Lavra Joe also ran a splendid trial for the Nullarbor. He was the $4.20 favourite from barrier No. 5, and he was the smartest to begin but was unable to cross Tenzing Bromac, who forged forward from barrier four.
After a lap Lavra Joe gained a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position but he was blocked for a clear passage until the final 150m when he ran home with a powerful burst to finish third, a neck behind Tenzing Bromac.
Steno is in demand
Brilliant mare Steno will travel to Sydney to contest the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth Mile at Menangle on Saturday, May 4, providing she is not chosen by Jim and Wilma Giumelli’s Swandoo Harness Racing Pty Ltd as that syndicate’s runner in the $1.25 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park next Friday week.
Jocelyn Young, who trains and drives Steno, said that she had received a phone call last Thursday from a Menangle club official informing her that Steno was definitely in line to receive an invitation to contest the Queen Elizabeth Mile.
“I was asked whether we were interested in coming to Sydney,” said Young. “I was told that Steno was on top of the list of the mares to receive an invitation, and so I assume we will get confirmation of that within the next couple of days.
“There is also a possibility of Steno being chosen by a Nullarbor slot holder. If that happens, we will stay in WA for that event. It is a $1.25 million event, and it is only an hour up the road.”
Steno is in dazzling form, having won at her past six starts, taking her record to 39 starts for 19 wins, ten placings and stakes of $363,901.
Marbeechsam’s win a panacea for Beech
Marbeechsam caused an upset as the rank outsider at $118.20 when he finished strongly to win the Vale Terry Gaunt Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night to give his part-owner and trainer Mike Beech a welcome fillip.
The 77-year-old Beech was in a miserable mood as he nursed his painful left leg while he reclined on the couch at home to watch the race on television. His temperament improved vastly when Ryan Warwick took advantage of a dream inside run to drive Marbeechsam to victory over the $3.80 second favourite Sista Sammy.
Beech’s partner Margie Guy revealed that the trainer had been kicked high on the left leg by a frisky young pacer after a track workout on Friday morning. Beech had shooed at a pesky fly, causing the horse to kick out in fright.
Marbeechsam, a winner two starts earlier, following an impressive third behind Vegas Strip two starts before that, was vastly over the odds on Friday night when he began from the No. 3 barrier.
Warwick did not bustle Marbeechsam in the early stages, and the four-year-old raced in seventh position, four back on the pegs while the polemarker and $2.05 favourite Chaco Eagle was setting the pace, with Sista Sammy working in the breeze.
With 300m to travel Marbeechsam was under lock and key, still four back on the pegs, until the two pegs horses in front of him, Loucid Dreams and Adda Spoilt Major, were eased off the inside, providing Marbeechsam with a heaven-sent opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
Loucid Dreams was looming as a strong winning chance until he broke into a gallop approaching the home turn, and Warwick dashed Marbeechsam forward to hit the front 50m from the post and go and on win comfortably from Sista Sammy (who had taken the lead on the home turn) and the fast-finishing $71 outsider Per Ardua Ad Astra.
Marbeechsam, a four-year-old by New Zealand stallion Foreclosure, is the third foal out of the Mach Three mare Generally Outspoken, who raced 26 times for eight wins (including the Gold Bracelet in July 2013), five placings and $69,688.
Beech paid $20,000 for Marbeechsam at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale, and he races the gelding in partnership with Margie Guy, Sam Salamone and his daughter Margaret McKenner. Marbeechsam, who was named after combining the names of his owners, has had 29 starts for five wins, seven placings and $39,433.
Marbeechsam is a half-brother to Chrysoprase (51 starts for six wins, 15 placings and $64,426) and Whataretheodds (19 starts for six wins, six placings and $87,840).
Reinsman Vance Stampalia said that Chaco Eagle was unlucky, explaining that the four-year-old had cast his nearside hind shoe at the start, causing him to be at a disadvantage by getting down on his bumpers.
Empress Stakes is on the agenda
Promising four-year-old mare Turn The Page ran an excellent trial for the $75,000 Empress Stakes next Friday week when she finished strongly from sixth at the bell to win the 2503m Race For Roses at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Turn the Page, trained by Greg and Sky Bond, was the $3.80 second favourite from the inside of the 10m line in the 2503m standing-start event, and Deni Roberts was happy to keep her in the one-wide line.
“She wasn’t very interested for two laps before she got going,” said Roberts.
Roberts switched Turn The Page three wide 650m from home and the mare ran on solidly to take the lead with about 260m to travel and then held on to beat $10 chance Fly To Fame by a head, rating 1.59.7.
Cyclone Charlotte, the $2.75 favourite, finished fourth after working hard in the breeze while Koolbardi Navajo ($7) was setting the pace. Koolbardi Navajo wilted to finish seventh.
Turn The Page makes up for her lack of brilliance with her strength and toughness. She has earned $133,209 from nine wins and four placings from 15 starts. Turn The Page excelled as a three-year-old last year when she won the group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic and finished second to August Moon in the WA Oaks.
It’s no trouble for Water Lou
Star filly Water Lou maintained her dominance of feature events when she was not extended in cruising to victory in the $50,505 APG WA Gold Bullion final for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was the $1.04 favourite from the No. 1 barrier and Shannon Suvaljko enjoyed an armchair drive as he guided her to an all-the-way win by three lengths over $12 second fancy More Sass, who trailed the leader throughout.
Water Lou rated 1.56.9 over the 1730m journey. She ambled through the lead time in 8sec. and the opening quarters in 30.4sec. and 31.2sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 29.1sec. and 27sec.
Trainer Mike Reed said that Water Lou would have a break of two or three weeks. “Then we will keep marching on,” he said. “There are lot of races for three-year-old fillies coming up.
“Water Lou did only what she had to do tonight. Shannon told me that he couldn’t believe that she had just run 27sec. (for the final 400m) because she was jogging all the way to the home bend. Then she only got wound up over the last hundred metres. Shannon said that it took him half a lap to pull her up.”
Water Lou, raced by Jim and Wilma Giumelli’s Swandoo Harness Racing Pty Ltd, has had 17 starts for 13 wins, two placings and $267,090 in stakes.
Suvaljko bides her time
Emily Suvaljko’s plans to set the pace in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night were foiled when veteran pacer Machlani was beaten out by $34 outsider Yankee Lincoln.
But Suvaljko then was happy to bide her time with Machlani, a $14.10 chance, who was shuffled back to three back on the pegs after $21 shot Cowboys N Bandits surged to the front after 350m.
Machlani was still hemmed in until Yankee Lincoln vacated the spot behind the leader 250m from home, after Deni Roberts had sent the $1.75 favourite Lusaka to the front after racing in the breeze. Suvaljko was happy to send Machlani through on the inside before switching the eight-year-old three wide on the home bend. Machlani sprinted solidly to get up and beat Lusaka by a half-length, rating 1.55.3.
Machlani, raced by trainer Giles Inwood and Brian Ridley, has been an honest performer throughout his 126-start career of 13 wins and 34 placings for stakes of $142,214.
Inwood has prepared Machlani for his past twelve starts for two wins and three placings. “This was his second run after a five-week break,” said Inwood. “I gave him two or three weeks off and brought him back slowly.”
Machlani is by Mach Three and is out of former smart mare Leilani Lombo, who earned $224,595 from ten wins and five placings from 23 starts. Her major success was in the group 1 APG Classic for two-year-old fillies at Albion Park in April 2010.
Queeninthecorner loves to lead
“Any horse with gate speed has an advantage at Gloucester Park,” said Kyle Symington after driving Queeninthecorner to an easy all-the-way win in the 2130m Download The TABtouch App Pace on Friday night.
Queeninthecorner, a noted frontrunner, was the $1.20 favourite from barrier three, and Symington dashed her straight to the front and was able to get the five-year-old mare to relax and coast through the lead time in 38.5sec. and the opening 400m sections in 31.4sec. and 30.2sec. before increasing the tempo with final quarters of 28sec. and 28.6sec.
Queeninthecorner, having her second start for trainer Ryan Bell, won comfortably by just over two lengths from $21 chance Name In Lights, rating 1.58.4. This took her career record to 37 starts for eight wins, eight placings and $73,250 in prizemoney.
Queeninthecorner is by American sire Sportswriter and is the second foal out of the American Ideal mare Ace Of Cards, who raced 67 times for five wins, 24 placings and $54,499. Queeninthecorner’s elder half-brother Feeling Aces has earned $109,812 from 14 wins and 18 placings from 91 starts.
Full Swing Denario set for classics
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green admitted that there were no big wraps on Full Swing Denario after the New Zealand-bred gelding had won the 1730m APG Harness Racing Is Our Focus Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But he said that Full Swing Denario would be set for the rich feature events for two-year-olds later this year, the Pearl Classic and the Golden Slipper.
Full Swing Denario was the $1.03 favourite from barrier No. 2 in the field of four, and Egerton-Green drove the Rocknroll Hanover gelding to an easy all-the-way win over In The Future ($14) and Do It My Way ($34). Full Swing Denario’s win followed his splendid debut victory at Pinjarra eleven days earlier.
“He was a bit green tonight, hanging around the corners and was looking around a fair bit,” said Egerton-Green. “It was the first time at Gloucester Park and the first time under lights.
“He has a lot to learn but is going to be a nice horse when we get him spot on.”
Hall chalks up win No. 50
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr notched his 50TH win for the season when he drove Im The Black Flash to victory in the Countryman Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It gave Hall his third win for the night, and it completed a double for master trainer Gary Hall Snr, who had combined with his son to win the Cowden Pace with Mister Smartee 30 minutes earlier.
Im The Black Flash, the $1.20 favourite, began safely off the front line in the 2503m stand, and he dashed to the front after 550m and went on to set the pace and win easily from the early pacemaker The Wildcard ($23) and the 30m co-backmarker Ardens Horizon ($31).
“Im The Black Flash can lead in middle class races but when he gets up to the very top, he will have to be driven with a sit, like a sniper,” said Hall Jnr.
Im The Black Flash was placed once from two starts as a two-year-old in New Zealand, and his 18 starts in Western Australia have produced nine wins and four placings, taking his earnings to $149,246.
Hall admires Mister Smartee
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has a high opinion of four-year-old Mister Smartee, who outclassed his rivals in the 2130m Cowden Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has a huge motor and a massive tank,” said Hall after Mister Smartee, the $1.10 favourite, had beaten $101 outsider Louie Lebeau by six lengths, rating 1.55.6.
Mister Smartee began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, and he settled down in last place in the field of eleven, ten lengths behind the early pacemaker Bettor Move Along. Louie Lebeau took over as the leader after 300m, while Hall switched Mister Smartee three wide after 700m. The New Zealand-bred four-year-old revealed sparkling speed to burst to the front 250m later.
“You never find the bottom of him,” said Hall. “You never know how much is left; every time you ask him for an effort there is always something there. He is very fast when he wants to be, and he has all the makings of a genuine Free-For-Aller.”
Mister Smartee, an early fancy for the rich Golden Nugget late this year, has won at seven of his nine starts for earnings of $96,463.
Lavar is back after 40-year break
Retired businessman Steve Lavar has happy memories of when he trained a couple of pacers in WA in the mid-1980s, and now he is enjoying great success as an owner after almost 40 years away from harness racing.
Now 80, Lavar owned and trained Sir Eric when he won races with him at Richmond Raceway, Northam and Pinjarra. He now is the proud owner of up-and-coming star pacer Miki Jet, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old he races in partnership with his son Steve.
Miki Jet, trained and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, notched his fifth win from seven starts in Western Australia when as the $1.70 favourite he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He did that well within himself,” said Hall. “He travels well in front, and when they come at him, he always has something to offer. He has a good attitude and performs well under pressure.”
Lavar said that when he was training pacers in the 1980s his son was a youngster who started calling the trials at Byford before calling at the trots and gallops.
“After a while he decided to go to Singapore where he bought a business, publishing a magazine with all the form from all around the world,” said Lavar Snr.
“He sold the business recently and plans to return to live in Perth next year. It was a big surprise when he rang me and said he had a horse with Gary, and I was able to join him in the ownership of Miki Jet.
“He was following the form of New Zealand races and picked out Miki Jet. He made an offer, and the owners accepted it. He has also just bought another horse from New Zealand, Mandown, who arrived at Hall’s stable a couple of weeks ago.”
Mandown is a four-year-old by Vincent who has had 16 starts for two wins, six placings and $30,014. At his final start in New Zealand Mandown finished second to Lou Baby at Cambridge on January 29 this year.
At his debut at Alexander Park on December 31, 2022, Mandown finished third behind Sooner The Bettor in a three-way photo finish. Sooner The Bettor went on to finish third behind Merlin in the New Zealand Derby at Addington, and in March this year he showed his class when he finished second to Leap Of Fame in the Miracle Mile and second to Frankie Ferocious in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.
Bet The House repays Huston’s faith
Byford trainer Ron Huston visited the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale with the firm intention of buying a Sunshine Beach colt out of Falcons Gem. But after a keen duel he was resigned to being the under bidder, with the colt, now named Menemsha, being purchased for $47,500 by Aiden De Campo.
“I wanted to buy him, but I didn’t have enough money,” said Huston. “Trevor Lindsay, the breeder, knew that I was keen on him, and he knew that I was disappointed on missing out on the yearling I wanted.
“He then recommended that I took a look at a colt by the American sire Betting Line. The colt was a bit small, but I liked his conformation, and I was able to get him fairly cheaply for $20,000, and now I have to thank Trevor for steering us this way.”
Huston named the colt, now a gelding, Bet The House, who he owns with Patrick O’Boyle and his brother Jamie, Lou Zecca and his son Justin, and Busselton breeder and trainer Reece Kaptein.
Menemsha, the winner of the Group 1 Westbred Classic and the Group 2 Pearl Classic as a two-year-old last year, and with earnings of $189,758, was the $1.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the $50,505 WA Gold Bullion for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with Bet The House the sole runner on the back line and the third favourite at $6.40.
Menemsha was smartest to begin before being crossed by $26 chance Heez A Vibe 200m after the start. This left Bet The House three back on the pegs with $9.50 chance Opal Hunter in the breeze and Ten To The Dozen ($6) in the one-out, one-back position, leaving Bet The House firmly hemmed in on the inside.
However, Chris Voak was able to ease Bet The House off the pegs and forced Ten To The Dozen three wide about 870m from home. Voak then sent Bet The House three wide with 270m to travel and the gelding sprinted strongly to burst to the front at the 100m on the way to winning by just over a length from the De Campo-trained $19 chance Grevis, who ran home strongly for reinsman Trent Wheeler from sixth on the inside at the bell.
Menemsha was badly blocked for a clear run in the closing stages and finished a half-head away from Grevis in third position.
“It certainly was a funny story how I bought Bet The House,” said Huston. Bet The House went into Friday night’s race as the most inexperienced runner in the field, with three wins, a third and a fourth placing from five starts.
“Maybe that was a concern because Bet The House hadn’t had a lot of hard racing. He has had a few health issues, nothing major, a few stomach issues and some ulcers.
“About six to eight weeks ago we were struggling with him. It was a matter of trial and error before we found the key to him, and since then it has been onwards and upwards.
“Bet The House will run in the Caduceus Club Classic in three weeks, and then will have a short break before being prepared for the Pearl, the Westbred and other classics.”
Bet The House now has earned $72,730 from four wins and a third placing from six starts. He is the sixth foal out of the unheralded mare Katesplace, who managed one win and four thirds from nine starts for stakes of $6828. Katesplace’s dam Kates First was a star whose 65 starts resulted in 19 wins and 19 placings for earnings of $624,023.
Bet The House gives every indication of developing into a top-flight pacer. The quarters in Friday night’s event were covered in 27.9sec., 29.2sec., 27.9sec. and 28.7sec., with Bet The House rating a sparkling 1.52.8 which was a race record and also the course record for a two-year-old over 1730m, with the previous record rate of 1.53 being held by Howard Hughes (September 4, 2020) and Machnificent (November 26, 2021).
