08 June 2020 | Ken Casellas
Howlett celebrates quinella result
Former talented mare Party Date had the rare distinction of having four of her progeny racing at Gloucester Park on Friday night and Dancing With Mach kept up her wonderful standing as a broodmare when she set the pace and won the $30,000 Harry Capararo Westbred Pace for four and five-year-old mares.
A dawdling early pace gave Dancing With Mach’s rivals little chance and Chris Lewis guided the $1.80 favourite to a comfortable victory over $3 second fancy My Prayer to give Busselton trainer and part-owner Barry Howlett a most welcome quinella result in the group 3 feature event.
My Prayer, driven by Chris Voak, started from the inside of the back line and she followed her stablemate (who had drawn perfectly at barrier No. 1) all the way before finishing strongly to be a neck away in second spot.
Party Date, who raced 111 times for 25 wins, 27 placings and $256,003 in stakes, was also represented at the meeting by Pierre Whitby (second), Bettor Party (fourth) and Rocknroll Whitby (tenth).
Dancing With Mach, who ended a losing sequence of ten, now has had 35 starts for eight wins, 12 placings and $71,747.
Bettor Party has earned $317,008 from 38 wins and 52 placings from 199 starts, Pierre Whitby has had 57 starts for eight wins, 19 placings and $71,403 and Rocknroll Whitby has had 104 starts for 14 wins, 13 placings and $162,436.
Lewis, who drove the $1.08 favourite The War Nurse to victory in the Westbred Pace for mares a year ago, was delighted to get away with a slow lead time of 38.1sec. followed by moderate opening quarters of 31.4sec. and 30.4sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.7sec. and 28.4sec.
Pamy June ($13) raced three back on the pegs before finishing solidly along the inside to be third, with Missplay ($13) fighting on to finish fourth after working in the breeze.
Our Jimmy Johnstone is a marvel
Eleven-year-old Our Jimmy Johnstone continues to race with youthful enthusiasm and he was untroubled to set the pace from the prized No. 1 barrier and coast to a one-length victory over stablemate Ocean Ridge in the 2536m $20,000 Rotary Club Fremantle Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Forming an excellent association with the veteran New Zealand-bred gelding is youthful reinsman Bailey McDonough, who has driven him 19 times for three wins and eight placings.
Our Jimmy Johnstone, a credit to the skill of trainers Greg and Skye Bond, dominated betting on the race and went out a hot $1.40 favourite, with Ocean Ridge a clear second fancy at $4.40.
Ocean Ridge began speedily for Ryan Warwick from barrier four and enjoyed a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position soon after the start when Taroona Bromac surged forward to race without cover. Bletchley Park, third favourite at $8, raced in sixth position in the one-wide line before starting a three-wide move 600m from home. This took him into second spot 200m later and he fought on gamely to finish third.
Our Jimmy Johnstone won at each of his first nine starts (between December 2011 and October 2013) and his 19 starts in New Zealand produced those nine wins and five placings. The son of American stallion P Forty Seven now boasts the marvellous record of 139 starts for 32 wins and 50 placings for stakes of $776,401.
What A Card deals a winner
New Zealand-bred mare What A Card was dismal failure on the track in Western Australia earlier this century when she had 57 starts in this State for a solitary win, in a C2-C6 event at Northam in April 2015.
But she has developed into a winner for breeder-owner-trainer Shane Quadrio, with her first foal Black Jack Baby exceeding all expectations by winning at five of her first six starts.
Black Jack Baby, the only filly in the Catalano Truck And Equipment Pace for two-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night, upstaged the one colt and three geldings when she raced in third position in the Indian file affair before unleashing a devastating late sprint to win from the $1.22 favourite Talks Up A Storm.
Talks Up A Storm set a modest pace and it was quite a shock when Chris Voak switched Black Jack Baby (second favourite at $5.60) three wide 300m from home and the filly took the lead 120m from the post before going on to defeat Talks Up A Storm by a head at a 1.59.5 rate over 2130m, with a final 400m section in a sparkling 26.9sec.
This was Black Jack Baby’s first appearance for 11 weeks, following her first defeat when she set the pace and finished a half-length second to Rumour Has It over 1730m at Gloucester Park on March 20.
What A Card won six times from 32 starts in New Zealand before arriving in WA in 2012. Her claim to fame was that she was a half-sister to smart performers Scruncher, Dundee Three and BG Three.
BG Three had 203 starts for 31 wins, 58 placings and stakes of $163,639. The speedy Scruncher and the richly talented Dundee Three performed in fine style in Western Australia, with Scruncher retiring with a record of 69 starts for 20 wins, 18 placings and $137,002 and Dundee Three having 89 starts for 21 wins, 26 placings and $246,018.
Black Jack Baby, who is sure to be one of the fancies for rich classic events for fillies later this month, has earned $37,222 from her five wins and one second placing. Her win on Friday night completed a treble for Voak, who had won earlier on the night with Ultimate Offer and Gangbuster.
Blue Chip Adda in a thriller
A masterly drive by trainer Aiden de Campo paved the way for Blue Chip Adda’s thrilling last-stride victory in the 2130m TABtouch Pace for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Blue Chip Adda, a $10 chance from the inside of the back line, raced three back on the pegs in fifth position before de Campo cleverly eased her into the one-wide line 900m from home. De Campo then bided his time until the 320m mark when he switched Blue Chip Adda three wide. The filly responded strongly, and she got up in the final stride to snatch victory by a short half-head from $9 chance Star of Diamonds, with the $2.60 favourite Double Expresso a neck away in third place.
Star of Diamonds, from barrier three, led for the first 900m before Double Expresso worked her way into the lead after settling in ninth position from the No. 8 barrier and then racing three wide for almost a lap. This was the fourth successive narrow defeat for the unlucky Double Expresso.
Suing You, third favourite at $6, raced without cover before wilting to tenth, while Blockjorg ($9) from the outside of the back line, fought on from eighth at the bell to finish a well-beaten fifth.
Blue Chip Adda, by American stallion Heston Blue Chip, is the first foal out of Adda Rising Star, who earned $184,608 from 16 wins and 27 placings from 84 starts. She finished second to Lucky Joy in the group 1 State Sires Series final for two-year-old fillies in July 2012.
Blue Chip Adda’s effort in rating 1.55 after dashing over the final three 400m sections in 28.6sec., 28.6sec. and 28.3sec. was exceptional.
Kilowatt Kid shoots the lights out
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Kilowatt Kid gave a strong indication that he will be a prolific winner in Western Australia when he sped over the final 400m section in 27.5sec. to score an easy victory in the Perth Plasterboard Centre Handicap, a stand over 2503m, at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, Kilowatt Kid, the $1.30 favourite, began smoothly from the outside of the front line, surged to the front after 400m and went on to amble through the first two quarters of the final mile in 33.2sec. and 31.5sec. before dashing over the final quarters in 29.1sec. and 27.5sec.
He scored by a length from $10 chance Bolta, who finished with a spirited burst from sixth at the bell. Countess Grace, who led early and then trailed the pacemaker, fought on into third place.
Kilowatt Kid, by American Ideal, is the fifth foal out of the Live Or Die mare Wave Runner, who earned $86,011 from eight wins and six placings from 44 starts. Unraced as a two-year-old, he won on debut, as a three-year-old when he ran on from seventh at the bell to win by one and a half lengths over 2400m at Winton in September 2017.
He showed his ability as a stayer and in stands when he won over 2700m at Invercargill in December 2019. Then in the space of nine days in January this year Kilowatt Kid finished third in two group 3 events — behind Heisenberg in a 2400m mobile event at Wyndham and third (from seventh at the 400m) behind Dadndave and Franco Santino in the Invercargill Cup, a 2700m stand.
Kilowatt Kid is a half-brother to Digital Art, who won the group 3 Race For Roses at Gloucester Park in May 2016 for Justin Prentice. He is also a half-brother to Bonnie Joan, who had 28 starts for ten wins, 11 placings and $201,464 in prizemoney.
Kilowatt Kid now has raced five times in WA for four wins and a head second to improve his career record to 30 starts for nine wins, seven placings and $70,906.
Extreme Prince loves to lead
Noted frontrunner Extreme Prince ($4.20) bounced back to his best form when Maddison Brown took full advantage of the favourable No. 2 barrier in the 2130m Mondo Doro Smallgoods Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred eight-year-old prepared by Gary Hall snr, burst straight to the front and set a solid pace after a modest lead time of 37.9sec. The gelding, by Canadian sire Extreme Three and the eleventh foal out of Nuclear Princess, dashed over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 27.8sec. and won by 4m from stablemate Tuas Delight ($7.50) who enjoyed the perfect sit behind the pacemaker throughout.
McArdles Gem ($16) came from fifth on the pegs at the bell with an inside run to finish third, with the $3.40 favourite Jimmy Mack in fourth place. Jimmy Mack raced wide early and then in the breeze for a while before obtaining a good sit, one-out and one-back. He was hampered for room until the home turn and fought on gamely.
Extreme Prince now has raced 75 times for 11 wins, 15 placings and $120,305 in prizemoney. He won once from two starts in New Zealand and four times from 15 starts in New South Wales. He has led in five of his six wins from 58 starts in WA.
Ultimate Offer bred to win
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Ultimate Offer is bred to be a prolific winner. And he kept up the good work with a smart victory in the Simmonds Steel Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ultimate Offer, part-owned and trained at Boyanup by Dennis Roche, is making a wonderful start to his career, with his first 33 starts producing ten wins and nine seconds for stakes of $59,187.
Making only his fourth appearance at Gloucester Park, Ultimate Offer ($2.80) enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before starting a three-wide move 250m from home, hitting the front in the final 30m and winning by 2m from Alta Rhett, who trailed the pacemaker Tellmetoattack before finishing solidly. Mandy Joan ($34) impressed in finishing powerfully from eighth at the bell to be third.
Ultimate Offer was driven confidently by Chris Voak, who has now handled the Bettors Delight gelding six times for five wins.
Ultimate Offer is out of the American-bred Dream Away mare Dream Offer and is a full-brother to six pacers who have won 76 races and earned a total of $1,095,443 in prizemoney.
His siblings are Bettor Dream (13 wins, 24 placings and $224,334), Bettor Offer (15 wins, 14 placings and $207,614), Delightful Offer (27 wins, 28 placings and $336,928), Can’t Refuse (14 wins, 24 placings and $255,736), Acceptance (two wins, one placing and $16,790) and Some Do (five wins, three placings and $54,041).
Runaway Three excels
Young trainer-reinsman Corey Peterson has Runaway Three firing on all cylinders and the New Zealand-bred six-year-old maintained his excellent form and again revealed great toughness to win the Vili’s Family Bakery Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Runaway Three, the $2.60 favourite from barrier three, was rated perfectly in the breeze by Peterson before getting to the front in the final 50 metres and then holding on to win by a half-head from $26 chance, the fast-finishing Parisian Partygirl, with Baylan Jett ($51) surging home from the rear to be a neck away in third place.
Runaway Three now has had ten starts for Peterson for three wins and three placings to take his career record to 78 starts for 17 wins, 17 placings and $149,991 in stakes.
Runaway Three, by Mach Three, is the twelfth foal out of American mare No Paba. He has inherited some of the ability of his half-brother Nearea Franco, who amassed $441,405 from 11 wins and 11 placings from just 34 starts.
Nearea Franco was successful in two group 1 feature events, when she led in the 1609m $200,000 Diamond for four-year-old mares at Cambridge in May 2008 and when she won the Queen of Hearts Classic at Alexandra Park in December 2008.
Bonds land a treble
The all-conquering Greg and Skye Bond stable again was the dominating force at Gloucester Park on Friday night when it landed a treble with Our Jimmy Johnstone, Mighty Santana and Kilowatt Kid.
Mighty Santana, driven by Ryan Warwick, was the middle leg of the treble when he impressed with the ease of his victory in the 2130m Etch Coatings Pace in which he was favourite at $2.60.
Mighty Santana, equal fancy at $3 with Bettor Be Oscar on the fixed market, was not bustled early after starting out wide at barrier seven. He settled down in seventh position before sustaining a strong three-wide burst from seventh at the bell to surge to the front with 570m to travel. He went on to win by just over two lengths from Bettor Be Oscar, who finished strongly from ninth at the bell. He covered the final 800m in 57.3sec. and rated a smart 1.55.1.
The fifth foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Kitty Cat Anvil, Mighty Santana has had 28 starts in Western Australia for seven wins and ten placings — after his 17 starts in New Zealand produced five wins and three placings.
Gangbuster repeats the dose
Hopeland owner-trainer Giles Inwood has weaved his magic to get seven-year-old Gangbuster back on track — after the WA-bred gelding had chalked up a losing sequence of 29.
Now, the experienced gelding has set the pace and won twice at Gloucester Park in the space of eight days. Gangbuster led all the way and scored easily by more than two lengths over 2130m last Friday week, and he repeated the dose on Friday night when again took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier to lead and win the 2536m Direct Trades Supply Pace by a neck from the strong finishing Pierre Whitby ($7.50), with a further neck to dead-heaters Miracle Moose ($1.65) and Hoiho ($26).
Pierre Whitby, driven by Jocelyn Young, was rather unlucky after receiving a punctured sulky wheel tyre 600m from home.
Miracle Moose, an effortless winner at his previous outing, raced in eighth position in the one-wide line. He was still eighth at the 550m mark when Emily Suvaljko sent him forward with a strong three and then four-wide burst.
Gangbuster now has had 101 starts for 11 wins, 19 placings and $93,893 in stakes. By Jeremes Jet, he is out of the Crouch mare Hello Boys, a handy performer who earned $89,541 from 12 wins and 17 placings from 55 starts.
He is a half-brother to five winners, including Kiss Chasey (59 starts for 16 wins, 15 placings and $146,358), Carte Blanche (34 starts for nine wins, eight placings and $58,321) and Play The Boys (six starts for five wins, one placing and $78,233).
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