03 December 2020 | Ken Casellas
Mister Bushido was unsuccessful at his first six starts in Western Australia early in 2019, but trainer Gary Hall Snr and reinsman Gary Hall Jnr are full of confidence that his full-brother Diego will complete a hat-trick at his first three starts in the State by winning the opening event, the $18,000 Mondo Doro Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Diego, a four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, will clash with impressive last-start winners Lawrence and Yes Hes A Ladies Man, and the formidable father-son team expects him to emerge triumphant, even though Diego has scored by only a narrow margin at his first two WA outings.
After racing without cover early, Diego raced three back on the pegs before fighting on gamely from fourth at the bell to gain a last-stride victory over talented stablemate Euphoria over 2185m at Pinjarra last Monday week.
Then, at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night, he settled down in seventh position before racing three wide and into the breeze after 600m in a 2130m event. Diego got to the front by a narrow margin over the pacemaker Doctor Tom and was not extended to win by a neck from that pacer, rating 1.57.2. The final quarters were covered in 28.2sec. and 28.1sec.
Hall Jnr admitted that he was a bit surprised at Diego’s excellent performance, saying: “I hadn’t conceded to Doctor Tom, who I thought would be awfully hard to beat. I thought I would sit on his outside and try to get him over the final stages. And I was surprised how easily he got there.
“He is a great trier. He shouldn’t have got Euphoria at Pinjarra at his previous start. But he did it through sheer will. He is still pretty green. I tested his gate speed tonight (Tuesday) and he felt good enough. So, it will be handlebars down on Friday night (from the No. 3 barrier). If I’m in front, they (Lawrence and Yes Hes A Ladies Man) will have their work cut out, getting around me.”
Hall Snr was even more confident, saying: “I expect Diego to make it three out of three in WA. He is a better horse than Mister Bushido and if he leads it will be impossible for him to be beaten.”
Lawrence, to be driven by Ryan Warwick from barrier four, made an excellent WA debut at Narrogin last Saturday night when he set the pace and won easily from Galante after sprinting over the final 800m in 56.7sec.
Yes Hes A Ladies Man, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old, has impressed at his first three starts in WA for trainer Michael Young, winning comfortably at Gloucester Park, Bunbury and Pinjarra. Lawrence will start from barrier four, with Yes Hes A Ladies Man at No. 5.
Mister Bushido will contest the second event, the Coppa Kabana Pace, on Friday night. He will start from barrier four with Stuart McDonald in the sulky. Hall jnr will drive stablemate Liam Neil from the coveted No. 1 barrier and looks the likely leader who should prove hard to beat.
However, Mister Bushido is no slouch, having earned $164,005 from 12 wins and 22 placings from 77 starts.
Apart from Diego, Liam Neil and Chicago Bull in the WA Pacing Cup, the Hall stable has strong claims in several other events, including American Brave in the Mondo Doro Cup, Sir Galahad (Pastrami Pace), Whozideawasthis (Parliamentarians Cup) and Jumpingjackmac (The Smallgoods Special Pace).
Hall Jnr admitted that the inexperienced Jumpingjackmac faced a stern test against strong opposition, including Lavra Joe, Robbie Rocket, Eldaytona, Sugar Street, El Chema and Our Shelley Beach.
“It’s a tough race for Jumpingjackmac,” said Hall. “Lavra Joe at his latest start (when second to Eldaytona last Friday week) was as good as I’ve seen a two-year-old go. It was amazing. I know he’s really a three-year-old now, but it was as big a run as I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a horse like that flat-footed at the bell when he was trying to make ground and being there at the finish.
“I was following him with Machnificent and couldn’t go with him. If he stays fit and well and progresses, he’ll be the best horse here. If we are ever going to beat him, this week could be the week.”
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