Mister Smartee is ready
Brilliant five-year-old Mister Smartee, a comparative inexperienced pacer who has contested only 20 events, is fit and ready to take on millionaire superstars Swayzee, Catch A Wave, Minstrel and Magnificent Storm in the $1.25 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park next Friday week.
That’s the optimistic opinion of WA’s Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr, who was delighted with Mister Smartee’s effortless victory in the $50,000 Governor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Racing against those seasoned stars poses no problems,” said Hall. “If Mister Smartee draws to lead in the Nullarbor, nothing will beat him. But it might be different if he can’t lead.”
Mister Smartee has carried all before him in a marvellous career of 20 starts for 16 wins, one second and $585,246 in prizemoney.
Mister Smartee has shown that he has the ability to seriously challenge Swayzee (a winner of 30 races and $2,150,893), Catch A Wave (25 wins and $2,149,478), Minstrel (27 wins and $1,447,208) and Magnificent Storm (37 wins and $1,447,208).
Mister Smartee was the $1.20 favourite in Friday night’s Cup when Gary Hall jnr did not bustle him out from the No. 4 barrier. He settled down in seventh position after the polemarker Otis ($14) was setting the pace from Tricky Miki ($41) and Sangue Reale ($18) in the breeze.
After a smart lead time of 35.9sec. Hall jnr sent Mister Smartee forward after 500m before the New Zealand-bred gelding surged to the front with 1200m to travel.
After comfortable opening quarters of 30.4sec. and 29.6sec. Mister Smartee gave his rivals little chance by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.2sec. and winning by two lengths from Otis, with Tricky Miki in third place. Mister Smartee rated 1.54 over the 2130m.
“That was an easy win,” said Hall snr. “And Junior gave him a good hit-out. I don’t think he is a hundred per cent fit yet, and I’m thinking he might need another start next Friday night before the big race.” The main event next Friday night is the $50,000 Easter Cup. Mister Smartee’s win on Friday night was when he was having his second start after a 15-week absence.
Hall jnr reported that he was happy with the way Mister Smartee performed, saying: “I wasn’t confident I would be able to get to the top when I did, but the lead time of 36sec. suited him.
“I know that Otis loves that role (leading), and I would have been happy to race in the breeze. But after the fast lead time I thought that if I really put it to Otis he probably would have to let me go. I’m happy with the way Mister Smartee went and how it all panned out.
“He is a different horse this time in. He used to have only two speeds --- flat out or off the bit. Now he is more relaxed.”
Magnificent Storm was scratched from Friday night’s Governor’s Cup, suffering from a sore splint in his off-side foreleg.
“He’s good, and the damage is a lot better than I thought,” said trainer Ray Williams. “You have got to be positive, and the Nullarbor is where he is heading. The injury is like a kick in the shin.”
Justcallmemiki makes it five from five
Exciting four-year-old Justcallmemiki remains unbeaten in Australia when he was not extended in winning the $23,000 The Nullarbor @ GP Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory as the $1.10 favourite over the $5.50 second fancy Menemsha took his record at Gloucester Park to five starts for five wins and his career record to 17 starts for nine wins, two placings and $116,033.
Menemsha led easily from the No. 2 barrier and the lead time was covered in a smart 36.6sec., while Deni Roberts was content to let Justcallmemiki to coast forward out three wide before moving to the breeze 500m after the start. Justcallmemiki took a narrow lead on the home turn and won by just under a length, rating 1.55.1 over 2130m after final 400m sections of 28sec. and 28.5sec.
“Every time I ask him to go, he responds,” said Roberts. “He covers the ground so well and I feel like I’m doing one to their two. He has a good engine and does just what he has to do.
“He feels the same if he is in front, in the breeze or sitting. Doing work (in the breeze) doesn’t bother him at all. I wouldn’t say that he always had the leader (Menemsha) covered, but I knew that turning into the back straight he was travelling a lot better than the leader.
“I haven’t pulled the plugs with him yet. I thought that tonight maybe would be the night, but no. I can’t wait when I eventually pull the plugs because I think he will be really flying when I do so.”
Ruby Lou ends losing run of eleven
Three-year-old filly Ruby Lou, who has lived in the shadow of her illustrious four-year-old stablemate Water Lou, ended a losing sequence of eleven when Shannon Suvaljko drove her to an easy win in the $21,000 Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She is a lot calmer than she was earlier in her career, and now she holds her own (on the training track) with Water Lou (a winner of 15 races) and Hoppys Way,” said Suvaljko.
After finishing an encouraging second to Faken It the previous Friday night Ruby Lou was the $2.60 favourite when she began from barrier three and burst straight to the front. She sped over the final quarters in 28.2sec. and 28.1sec. and won by 5m from $41 chance Alfredi, who trailed her all the way.
Ruby Lou, trained by Mike Reed, was purchased for $80,000 at the 2023 Perth APG yearling sale, and she now has earned $62,907 from four wins and four placings from 21 starts.
She is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the third foal out of Bettors Delight mare Betshes Precious, who raced 73 times for nine wins, 16 placings and $66,366. Ruby Lou’s half-brother Lord Titanium is a handy performer who has earned $115,516 from seven wins and 23 placings from 58 starts.
Haveyoumetted makes amends
Victorian-bred pacer Haveyoumetted made amends for a disappointing effort when a well-beaten $2.25 favourite on Tuesday night by setting the pace and holding on to win the $27,000 TABradio Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $2.25 chance from barrier five on Tuesday night when he raced one-out and two back and went four wide 350m from home before finishing sixth, six lengths behind the winner Beyond Bling.
Haveyoumetted, trained and driven by Brett Smith, was much better suited from the No. 1 barrier on Friday night when he was the $3.40 second fancy behind last-start winner Bettor Arcade, who was the $2.15 favourite from the No. 5 barrier.
He held out fast starters Classic Choice and Medieval Man and the lead time was a smart 36.6sec. before Smith got Haveyoumetted to relax through the opening quarter in 31sec. This was followed by 400m sections of 30.3sec., 28.4sec. and 28.5sec. and Haveyoumetted won by a metre from Medieval Man, with Sound Wave ($12) battling on along the inside to be a head away in third place.
The winner rated 1.57 and took his record to 41 starts for seven wins, 12 placings and stakes of $67,536. His 19 WA starts for Smith have produced four wins and six placings.
He is by Guaranteed and is the only foal out of D M Dilinger mare Whateveruwant, who was retired after one third placing at Ballarat in September 2012.
Patched is a great moneyspinner
Veteran square gaiter Patched continues to race enthusiastically for trainer David Young and reinsman Aiden De Campo, and he proved too good for his rivals when he scored an easy victory in the $21,000 TABtouch Place A Same Race Multi Trot over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Patched ($3.40) enjoyed a perfect passage behind the pacemaker Luvaflair ($3.90) before De Campo brought him home with a solid burst to beat the $1.90 favourite Chumani by two lengths, rating 2.0.6.
Chumani, beaten out from the No. 2 barrier by Luvaflair (barrier three), was eased off the pegs and into the breeze after 600m, enabling Patched to get an ideal run in the one-out, one-back position.
Gary Hall jnr sent Chumani to a narrow lead on the home turn, but he was unable to hold out the strong-finishing Patched, who took his record to 88 starts for 25 wins, 32 placings and $280,243in stakes. After four wins in Victoria the eight-year-old Patched has won 21 times, with his victories including the 2023 and 2025 Trotters Cup.
Best has yet to come from Madam Publisher
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Stuart McDonald is forecasting a bright future for four-year-old mare Madam Publisher, who revealed sparkling gate speed before scoring an easy win in the $21,000 Trotsynd Syndication Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Madam Publisher, the $2.10 favourite, sizzled straight to the front from the No. 6 barrier before setting a brisk pace and winning by just under two lengths from fast-finishing $10 chance Thelittle Master, with Ideal Muscle ($6) in third place.
The New Zealand-bred Madam Publisher gave her rivals little chance by sustaining a strong pace, with quarters of 29.2sec., 28.9sec., 28.4sec. and 29.3sec. She rated 1.55.5 and took her record to 17 starts for nine wins, four placings and $145,063.
“She is a high-speed horse who hasn’t had a whole lot of starts,” said McDonald. “She has been up in grade early in her career because she won a big race (the group 1 WA Oaks last October), and I think, mentally, she is a long way off racing against the top mares.
“I think she has the speed to go with them, but I don’t think she is quite seasoned enough yet. I’ll see how she goes after this win before deciding whether to throw her in the deep end in the Empress Stakes next Friday night.
“It’s more than likely that I will give the Empress Stakes a miss and set her for the big races for mares at the end of the season. When I saw the lead time (37sec.) tonight I knew she would be comfortable.
“She had plenty left, and I only pulled the plugs because she is pretty hopeless by herself (out in front). I expect her to get better.”
Madam Publisher is by Rock N Roll Heaven and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare Hot Off The Press, who raced 23 times for three wins, six placings and $22,860.
Madam Publisher’s younger three-year-old half-brother Its Electrifying rated 1.52.2 when he won a 1660m event at Brisbane’s Albion Park by five lengths on Friday afternoon. That was Its Electrifying’s fourth win from four Australian starts after winning once from ten appearances in New Zealand.
Hot Off The Press is out of former star mare Classical, who earned $294,416 from five wins and ten placings from 23 starts. She won three feature events at Alexandra Park in 2002, including two at group 1 level before winning a $177,000 feature at Addington as a three-year-old.
Nullarbor Navajo is a giant killer
Eight-year-old mare Nullarbor Navajo is earning the reputation as a giant killer.
Following her victory at $11 over the brilliant Steno in the Golden Girls Mile at Pinjarra two starts before Friday night’s $25,000 Go One Better With Westral Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, she was a $13.40 chance when she caused an upset by beat top-flight mares Penny Black and Water Lou.
Water Lou ($7) burst to the front from barrier five after Penny Black, the $1.45 favourite from barrier three, broke into a gallop and lost about eight lengths.
The lead time was a slow 38.9sec. followed by a casual opening quarter of 31.6sec. as the field of six raced in Indian file. Stuart McDonald made a decision to ease Nullarbor Navajo off the pegs and into the breeze with 1350m to travel.
Nullarbor Navajo‘s run was followed by Penny Black, and she got to the front 120m from the post and held on to win by a head from Penny Black, who finished with great determination. Water Lou finished third.
Nullarbor Navajo rated 1.57.2 after final 400m sections of 27.5sec. and 27.6sec. She now has earned $196,035 from 14 wins and 19 placings from 59 starts.
She is owned by Ken Davies and his daughter Cheyenna King-Davies. She is by Betterthancheddar and is the fifth and last foal out of Courage Under Fire mare Teen Dreams, who raced 34 times for three wins, two placings and $15,525.
Nullarbor Navajo completed a driving double for McDonald, who maintained his excellent form in the sulky with a long-priced treble at Kellerberrin on Sunday when he scored with Tempt The Stars ($13.90), Mister Kopa ($14.80) and Dee Jays Big Boy ($22.80).
Peterson also was to the fore at Bunbury on Saturday night when he trained and drove Chillin to victory in the Oakford Stockfeeds Pace over 2100m. Chillin, having his first start for Peterson, was a $24.80 outsider who raced three back on the pegs before finishing strongly along the sprint lane to beat Callmewhatuwant by a neck.
Vanderbilt is an athlete
New Zealand-bred pacer Vanderbilt has struck a rich vein of form, and he notched his fourth win from his past five starts when he revealed wonderful courage and strength to win the $27,000 Catalano Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“This time in, at his past seven starts, he has changed his physique,” said Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams. “He used to be fat, and now he looks like an athlete. And the more they put it to him in his races, the more he loves it. He just keeps trying.
“He is immature. He should have been a good four-year-old, but he wasn’t ready. Before, on race day, when you took the float around, you couldn’t catch him. Now, at home he is completely different, more relaxed and composed. And he seems to be getting better.
“He has won eleven races (from 26 starts for stakes of $100,109) and he reminds me of Pacific Warrior (who raced 89 times for 28 wins, 21 placings and $343,419).”
Vanderbilt was a $4.80 chance on Friday night when he was driven with great aggression and assurance by Aldo Cortopassi. The five-year-old gelding began speedily from the No. 5 barrier, took the lead after 250m and then withstood a strong challenge from the $2.50 favourite Blameitonthenight.
Then, in the final circuit Vanderbilt showed considerable strength to defy a spirited challenge from $34 chance Hes Never Been Beta before winning by a half-length from $10 chance Maungatahi, who finished strongly after trailing him throughout. Hes Never Been Beta finished third.
Vanderbilt, who rated 1.55.4 after final quarters of 28.7sec. and 28.6sec., is by Always B Miki and is the fifth foal out of Bettors Delight mare Traceys Delight, who was retired after four placings from 14 starts.
Lion Queen comes from last
Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed produced four-year-old mare Lion Queen in excellent shape for her first-up run after an absence of five months when she gave a sample of her class with a dashing last-to-first victory in the $21,000 Racing Good Friday Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Reinsman Shannon Suvaljko admitted that he was concerned about Lion Queen’s fitness and her task from starting out wide at barrier seven.
“It was the barrier draw which worried me, and I was concerned that she was underdone a bit,” he said. “On the track she can round anything up, and I thought her class would enable her to win.
“She always goes to the line really good, and I didn’t pull the plugs. She had plenty left. She has always shown that she is up to Water Lou.”
Lion Queen was the $1.80 favourite and Suvaljko was quite content to let her drop back and settle down in last position in the field of nine while Madam Maggie was racing keenly in the lead from Acushla Machree ($7) in the breeze.
Lion Queen was still last at the bell when Suvaljko was more than happy to follow the three-wide run of $14 chance World Secret. Acushla Machree got to the front with about 400m to travel before the $4.60 second fancy Sweet Vivienne took a narrow lead on the home turn but was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Lion Queen.
The final quarters were run in 28.2sec. and 28.7sec. and Lion Queen rated 1.56.3 and took her record to twelve starts for six wins and four thirds for stakes of $71,389.
She is by Control The Moment and is the eighth foal out of Walton Hanover mare Lilianna Beauty, who raced 134 times for ten wins, 41 placings and $135,274. Lilianna also produced Tenniele Erin, who won the group 1 Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in April 2017 and was retired with earnings of $88,180 from five wins and seven placings from 14 starts.
Cyclone Jordy rates highly
High-priced New Zealand-bred gelding Cyclone Jordy earns rapturous praise from his trainer Gary Hall snr after Gary Hall jnr had driven him to an effortless victory in the $21,000 Caduceus Club Classic Prelude over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’ve had the equal of him as a three-year-old with horses like Alta Christiano, The Falcon Strike and Chicago Bull,” said Hall snr. “But they weren’t any better than Cyclone Jordy.
“He will now run in the Caduceus Club Classic next month, and after that I’ll get him ready for the WA Derby later in the year.”
Cyclone Jordy, who was purchased for $400,000, has won at his past eight starts. He made his final New Zealand appearance when he won the group 1 Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park on May 3, 2024, and is unbeaten at his seven runs in WA, taking his record to twelve starts for ten wins, one second placings and stakes of $237,907.
“He has come with a high price tag and is a really nice horse,” said Hall jnr after Cyclone Jordy, the $1.04 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, had a stroll in the park, leading and winning, unextended, by four metres from the $7.50 second fancy Belly Up, who trailed the pacemaker throughout and fought on solidly.
“He seems to be getting better all the time, and he wanted to race when the other horse (Captain Stirling) came up on his outside in the last lap.”
Cyclone Jordy is by Art Major and is the third foal out of the Mach Three mare Cyclone Katie, who was a brilliant performer who had 60 starts for 21 wins, 18 placings and $341,723 in prizemoney.
