The inaugural Nights Of Thunder on January 12, 2007 was won by seven-year-old Tealsby Karita, trained by Gary Hall snr and driven by Gary Hall jnr, and this remarkable combination is poised to win the $48,500 feature 1730m sprint for a record sixth time with the slowest qualifier, Nathan Street, who is awkwardly drawn in barrier six at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Nathan Street, a New South Wales-bred five-year-old by former champion pacer Lazarus, was not extended in setting the pace from the No. 3 barrier and coasting to a two-length victory over Chivalry in a qualifying heat last Friday night when he sped over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28sec.
Hall jnr was delighted with the ease in which Nathan Street won his heat, and he will have options when he lines up in the final on Friday night.
There is little doubt that the fastest beginner in the field of nine is the Colin Brown-trained five-year-old Arma Believer, who will start out wide at barrier No. 7, the same draw he had in his heat when Maddison Brown got the gelding away to a flying start.
Arma Believer had to withstand a strong early challenge from Hugotastic and was under pressure from that pacer in the breeze when the first three 400m sections whizzed by in 28.2sec., 28.6sec. and 28.5sec.
The final quarter was run in a much slower 29.5sec. and Codename Marcus charged home from eighth at the 600m to win by just under a length from Arma Believer, with the winner rating 1.53.7.
In his heat, Nathan Street was crossed by The Wildcard (from barrier seven) before Hall took over with Nathan Street after 400m. In contrast to the heat won by Codename Marcus, the opening quarters in Nathan Street’s heat were run in much more leisurely fashion (29.4sec. and 30.5sec.).
The other heat winner, Thelittle Master was driven patiently in seventh place in the field of eight while Sebastian James (under pressure from Maximum Rock in the breeze) sprinted over the opening quarters in 27.6sec. and 28.5sec. before the final 400m sections were run in 29.2sec. and 29.3sec.
Thelittle Master will begin out wide at barrier eight in the final, and Deni Roberts is sure to restrain the gelding at the start and save him for a late charge. He is trained by Greg and Skye Bond, who were successful with Ocean Ridge in the 2020 Nights Of Thunder. The Bond stable also won this event with Quick Draw McCaw (2008) and Ohokas Bondy (2012).
Tactics will play a most important role in the final, with the leader likely to be in trouble in the late stages if he is subjected to persistent pressure from the breeze horse, thus leaving the gate open for the late swoopers.
Codename Marcus impressed with his fast-finishing heat victory, and his trainer Ash Markham is confident that the seven-year-old and the oldest runner in the race will make a bold bid for victory.
“If he goes the same as he did last week, he can win again,” said Markham. “I hoppled him this morning (Tuesday) and he went well, the same as last week, and if they run a 56sec. half up front and get home in 28.5sec. he will be running over the top of them.”
Markham has already tasted success in the Nights Of Thunder, having driven Smokey The Bandit for trainer Mick Callegari in 2014 when the grey finished strongly to beat the pacemaker and favourite Silent Prowl.
Codename Marcus will be handled by Markham’s 19-year-old son Ajay, who warmed up for Friday night’s assignment with three drives at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night for wins with Striking A Deal and Miki Windermere, and a second placing with Crunch The Numbers.
Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo is happy with Bettor Arcade’s barrier draw. The WA-bred gelding will begin from the No. 1 barrier, providing that there is not a scratching which would enable the first emergency Sebastian James to start from the inside barrier, with Bettor Arcade at No. 2.
Bettor Arcade raced wide early and then enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing fifth behind Codename Marcus last Friday night.
“He wasn’t as good last week as he was at his two previous starts,” said de Campo. “He had a bit of a hiccup which cost him a little bit of work, and now I expect him to improve a fair bit. Barrier one always helps, and I think he will run a lot better race.”
Trainer Jemma Hayman has Lincoln River racing in fine style, and the gelding did well when he ran on from eighth at the bell to finish fourth, out four wide, behind Codename Marcus last week.
Hall snr has won the Nights Of Thunder with Tealsby Karita (2007), Hokonui Ben (2013), Soho Lennon (2015), Mohegan Sun (2016) and Benhope Rulz (2019), while Hall jnr has been successful with Tealsby Karita, Hokonui Ben, Benhope Rulz, Jawsoflincoln (2024) and Spicey Major, who he trained and drove last year when he defeated his stablemate Ventura.
