08 June 2021 | Ashleigh Paikos
On WA Day, the $10,000 STAWA Trotters Cup headlined the Pinjarra meeting, with the locally trained No Republic taking out the feature for Nathan Turvey and Emily Suvaljko at his first start in the state.
The seven-year-old square gaiter started first up for the new stable and since entering WA just 10 days ago, has now added todays feature to his growing list of wins just 22 days since his last start in Victoria.
“I have known Richard Brosnan for a long time and have bought quite a few horses from him when he was in New Zealand. He (No Republic) is owned by Richard’s daughter Virginia and I think they thought No Republic was on a harder mark in Melbourne, so they we’re happy to see how he would go over here.” Turvey said.
Starting off the 10m handicap, No Republic stepped without fault and settled four back on the pegs. With Suvaljko playing it cool, she saved her run until late, making full use of the sprint lane to win by a half head in 2:04:0 over the 2631m journey.
“I normally wouldn’t race a horse so quickly when arriving from Melbourne by truck, but he was in fantastic order.” Turvey said.
“If they can trot, I enjoy them, if they are not nice going trotters, I don’t have the experience to get them going. I quite enjoy driving them though. That was Emily’s first win on a trotter, I’m not sure she’s a big fan yet though.” He joked.
Maddie Coles with Pinjarra HRC Vice President Mick Rae & Gary Scott for the trophy presentation. Photo Credit: Photography by Jodie Hallows
In the first, Tricky Miki won first up for Justin Prentice and Gary Hall Jnr. The two-year-old westbred gelding is the second foal out of the metro winning mare Harriet Elisabeth and looks to have a promising future. After being inconvenienced early, the youngster settled well back, where he eventually worked his way up three wide 800m from home, to win by 9.7m in 1:56:9.
Next up was the three-year-old fillies, where Jukebox Girl broke through for her maiden win at start 13 for Terry Keenan and Chris Voak at impressive odds. In a mile rate of 2:01:6, the Keenan bred, owned and trained filly found herself first past the post after settling three back on the pegs throughout, winning narrowly in race two.
Baillies Bad Boy is a maiden no more, after the four-year-old gelding saluted for Michael Callegari and Ash Markham in race three. After a hard week for the Callegari stable, since losing their star Smokeys A Bandit, todays win was just what the duo needed. Baillies Bad Boy made his way to the breeze with just over 1000m to go, with the favourite winning by 5.1m in 2:00:1.
After a drop in class from recent efforts in metropolitan company, Aussie Scooter rewarded his connections with a much-deserved victory in the fourth race on the card for Team Bond and driver Ryan Warwick. After working his way to the front early, the three-year-old led throughout to win comfortably in 1:59:2.
Kiwi Jewel NZ added some value in the quaddie, with the $51 shot getting the job done for Amber Sparks and Aldo Cortopassi after knocking on the door at her previous two starts. The narrow win gave the mare her second career victory at start 23, in a mile rate of 1:58:7.
Murray Lindau and Dylan Egerton-Green teamed up in race seven with Talks Up A Storm, with the $14 starter defeating the short-priced favourite by 2.9m. After a short let up, the three-year-old went into the race with winning trial form, recording his fifth win and taking his total stakes to $92,151 for connections.
Extradite NZ returned to country racing in winning fashion at Pinjarra for trainer Kim Prentice and driver Mitchell Miller. The consistent pacer led all the way in the penultimate to win by 5.6m in 1:58:0 over 2185m trip.
The last went the way of the aptly named Double Up NZ, giving Team Bond a training double and stable driver, Ryan Warwick a driving double on the card. Making it three in a row, the four-year-old led all the way from the 10m line, to win by 3.00m in 1:59:9 in the 2116m standing start.
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