04 November 2021 | Ken Casellas
Major Martini is back in action
Richly talented four-year-old Major Martini has recovered from leg problems and is poised to make a successful return to racing when he contests the 2536m Better Your Bet With TABtouch RWWA Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It’s exciting to have him back,” said champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “We know how good he is and I’m looking forward to driving him this week.”
Major Martini, trained at Boyanup by Justin Prentice, has amassed $267,218 in prizemoney from six wins and seven placings from 14 starts and is certain to prove very hard to beat at his first appearance for 19 months when he begins from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night.
He has been on the sidelines since he covered a lot of extra ground and finished a neck second to Patronus Star in the $200,000 WA Derby early in April 2020. He gave a sample of his class at his two previous outings when he scored effortless victories in the Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings and the Western Gateway Pace.
Highlights of his two-year-old season were wins in two $100,000 group 1 feature events, the Sales Classic and Westbred Classic.
Major Martini showed that he is ready for a first-up win when he worked brilliantly in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra three Wednesdays ago. He raced wide early and then without cover before going to the post hard-held by Hall and a short half-head winner over the pacemaker Im Soxy. He sped over the final 400m in 27.2sec. on a heavy, rain-affected track.
“The track was terrible,” said Hall. “Justin was tossing up whether to send him round or not. He left it up to me, and when I got out there, the track seemed all right, under foot. So, we pressed on, and he went to the line, bolting.”
From barrier two, Major Martini should be able to get to the front in the early stages. His major opposition in the field of seven is likely to come from consistent four-year-old Otis, the in-form five-year-old Bettorstartdreaming, and the polemarker and last-start winner Euphoria.
Top mares to clash
Outstanding four-year-old mares Alta Cinderella and Savvy Bromac will clash in the Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with the rival camps confident of success.
“Alta Cinderella will go forward (from barrier four),” said star reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “She was super last week when she was fairly tractable, which was good.”
Alta Cinderella, who is prepared by Gary Hall snr, notched her ninth win from 15 starts when she set the pace and rated 1.56 in beating Diamond Dove by three lengths last Friday night, and Hall jnr is planning similar tactics this week.
Emily Suvaljko has driven the Nathan Turvey-trained Savvy Bromac as a sit-sprinter at her three runs since resuming from a spell, but Turvey is contemplating a change of tactics, saying: “You never know; we might try to cross (from barrier seven). Savvy is pretty quick out, and I’ll do a bit of homework before determining our tactics.”
Savvy Bromac started from the back line in a 2130m event last Friday week when she raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs. She was eased off the pegs 250m from home before flying home, out wide, to snatch victory from Wainui Creek.
This followed fast-finishing performances at her previous two starts — when fourth behind Born To Boogie and a head second to Delightfull.
“Savvy Bromac seems to go well off a two-week break,” said Turvey. “I’m happy with her, and she’s probably come on a bit better after her last-start win.”
Savvy Bromac, who has had 26 starts for nine wins, nine seconds and two thirds, and Alta Cinderella are both being aimed at the $50,000 Norms Daughter Classic on Friday of next week and the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic two weeks later.
Another quality mare being set for those two feature events is Mandy Joan, who will start out wide at barrier eight in Friday night’s race. She impressed at her most recent outing, three Fridays ago, when she sustained a spirited three-wide burst from ninth at the bell to finish third behind Born To Boogie and Typhoon Banner. She was a fast-finishing winner two starts before that.
“Her past couple of hoppled runs have indicated that she is close to her best, and I’m happy at the way she is tracking towards the two big races for mares,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “I won’t over drive her on Friday night; she will be driven conservatively before running home.”
Other recent winners in My Sweet Deal (barrier five) and Delightfull (barrier six) will have admirers, with their connections anxious for strong showings before the big races.
Smith favours Burning Rubber
Punters face a difficult task when deciding on their selection in the final event, the 2130m Choices Flooring Pace, at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a race in which the likely favourite Dominate The Dojo has a losing sequence of 48.
Dominate The Dojo, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr for Henley Brook trainer Kevin Keys, has not been successful since he led and beat Our Rhythm N Blues over 1730m at Gloucester Park on May 18, 2019.
Dominate The Dojo’s chief asset is his sparkling gate speed, and from barrier three, Hall will be anxious to send the eight-year-old straight to the front.
However, Middle Swan trainer Brett Smith has cast some light on the possible outcome of the race in which he has two runners, Maestro Bellini (barrier No. 1) and Burning Rubber (No. 2), by advising his plans. He will drive Maestro Bellini, and Chris Lewis will handle Burning Rubber.
“Ideally, Burning Rubber jumps to the front and holds the lead,” he said. “And if he does, he should prove pretty hard to beat. Maestro Bellini is also a good frontrunner, but Burning Rubber is going better at the moment.”
Burning Rubber has started from the No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park nine times when he has led and won four times, led and finished second once, and sat behind the pacemaker four times for two seconds, a third and a fourth.
Burning Rubber has started from the No. 2 at headquarters six times for two all-the-way wins over 2536m, a second after leading, a second from the breeze and two unplaced efforts over 2536m when setting the pace.
The Debra Lewis-trained Pierre Whitby is in sound form and should fight out the finish, while Mike Reed’s smart five-year-old mare Arma Indie is certainly capable of causing an upset after being unplaced at her past eight starts since leading and winning from McArdles Gem over 2536m just over 12 months ago.
Youre So Fine set to shine
Inexperienced two-year-old colt Youre So Fine will resume racing after a four-month absence, and he has the class to win first-up and at his second start in Australia when he begins from the No. 4 barrier in the 1730m Team Bond Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He made a sound Australian debut when he raced in the one-out, one-back position and fought on gamely to finish third in the group 1 Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park on June 11.
Before that, he raced three times in New Zealand for a third in a group 3 classic at Wyndham, a win in the group 2 Diamond Creek Classic at Invercargill and a fifth behind the brilliant colt Akuta in the group 1 Emerald at Cambridge.
He is trained by Gary Hall snr and will be driven by Gary Hall jnr, who expects the colt to perform well, saying: “I’m happy enough with him. He seems to have come back a bit better. He was only a baby when he arrived here, and it takes a while for horses from New Zealand to get used to our way of work.
“He was probably at the end of his campaign when he arrived here. He had been racing in group races like the Jewels. This is not an easy race.”
Among his opposition is Floewriter, who led and won twice at Gloucester Park earlier in the year. Trained and driven by Aiden de Campo, Floewriter will be resuming after a spell. His latest run was when he faded to finish seventh behind Rock On Top at Gloucester Park on June 25. He set the pace and finished second to The Miki Taker in the group 1 Pearl at his previous outing.
“I’m happy with his work, but first-up and drawn at barrier seven, it’s going to be pretty hard over the mile,” said de Campo. He will definitely improve from the run.”
Recent winners Paul Edward and Peter Romeo, bred and owned by Steve Johnson and prepared by David Thompson, will start out wide from barriers eight and nine, respectively. They are experienced youngsters by American sire Always B Miki and must come under serious consideration.
Peter Romeo, to be driven by Kyle Harper, led and won convincingly from Loucid Dreams over 2130m last Friday week, while Paul Edward (Dylan Egerton-Green) has impressed with three wins and six placings from 13 starts.
Alta Engen can do better
Up-and-coming four-year-old Alta Engen finished only fifth behind Born To Boogie in a field of seven last Friday night, but he is capable of bouncing back with a strong performance in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I was happy with that fifth,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “The race was dominated by the fence — and Alta Engen was four and five deep and was running on really good. He was first-up for three weeks, and he should take improvement from that run.
“It’s a good, even field, and probably the horse who gets the best run will go close to winning. Thats Perfect is a class dropper and Alta Blues and Alta Intrigue are racing well. If Alta Engen gets the right run, he’ll be thereabouts.”
Alta Engen had impressed with wins at his two outings before finishing fifth to Born To Boogie. He set the pace and beat Alta Intrigue before he settled at the rear, dashed forward in the middle stages and raced in the breeze before winning from Jumpingjackmac.
Gary Hall jnr, who drove five winners last Friday night, will be in action in all ten events this week, and he said that one of his best prospects was Diego in The Running Camel Pace over 2130m.
Diego impressed when he finished third behind Machnificent and Otis in a 2150m trial at Byford on Sunday morning. He raced in sixth position before finishing with a solid burst.
“He had something in reserve, and this is a winnable race,” said Hall. “We have made some gear changes following his first-up failure (when tenth behind Bettorstartdreaming last Friday week). He was actually working right up with Chicago Bull before his first-up run, and he couldn’t get anywhere near him on the track during his previous preparation.”
Hall is also confident of winning with brilliant three-year-old Finvarra in the 2130m Westral Pace. “He has super speed and I think he will be too fast for the opposition,” said Hall.
Champion trainer Gary Hall snr also prepares the talented but enigmatic five-year-old Wildwest, who will reappear after an eight-month absence when he begins off the back mark of 40m in the 2503m Retravision Handicap.
Wildwest, who has recovered from a damaged suspensory ligament, has won at ten of his 16 starts and certainly has the ability to outclass his seven rivals.
“He could be thereabouts in a small field if he gets away and makes up his handicap quickly,” said Hall jnr. “But I would tread very warily with him; he’s probably a 5/1 or 6/1 chance in my eyes.”
Major Martini is back in action
Richly talented four-year-old Major Martini has recovered from leg problems and is poised to make a successful return to racing when he contests the 2536m Better Your Bet With TABtouch RWWA Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It’s exciting to have him back,” said champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “We know how good he is and I’m looking forward to driving him this week.”
Major Martini, trained at Boyanup by Justin Prentice, has amassed $267,218 in prizemoney from six wins and seven placings from 14 starts and is certain to prove very hard to beat at his first appearance for 19 months when he begins from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night.
He has been on the sidelines since he covered a lot of extra ground and finished a neck second to Patronus Star in the $200,000 WA Derby early in April 2020. He gave a sample of his class at his two previous outings when he scored effortless victories in the Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings and the Western Gateway Pace.
Highlights of his two-year-old season were wins in two $100,000 group 1 feature events, the Sales Classic and Westbred Classic.
Major Martini showed that he is ready for a first-up win when he worked brilliantly in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra three Wednesdays ago. He raced wide early and then without cover before going to the post hard-held by Hall and a short half-head winner over the pacemaker Im Soxy. He sped over the final 400m in 27.2sec. on a heavy, rain-affected track.
“The track was terrible,” said Hall. “Justin was tossing up whether to send him round or not. He left it up to me, and when I got out there, the track seemed all right, under foot. So, we pressed on, and he went to the line, bolting.”
From barrier two, Major Martini should be able to get to the front in the early stages. His major opposition in the field of seven is likely to come from consistent four-year-old Otis, the in-form five-year-old Bettorstartdreaming, and the polemarker and last-start winner Euphoria.
Top mares to clash
Outstanding four-year-old mares Alta Cinderella and Savvy Bromac will clash in the Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with the rival camps confident of success.
“Alta Cinderella will go forward (from barrier four),” said star reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “She was super last week when she was fairly tractable, which was good.”
Alta Cinderella, who is prepared by Gary Hall snr, notched her ninth win from 15 starts when she set the pace and rated 1.56 in beating Diamond Dove by three lengths last Friday night, and Hall jnr is planning similar tactics this week.
Emily Suvaljko has driven the Nathan Turvey-trained Savvy Bromac as a sit-sprinter at her three runs since resuming from a spell, but Turvey is contemplating a change of tactics, saying: “You never know; we might try to cross (from barrier seven). Savvy is pretty quick out, and I’ll do a bit of homework before determining our tactics.”
Savvy Bromac started from the back line in a 2130m event last Friday week when she raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs. She was eased off the pegs 250m from home before flying home, out wide, to snatch victory from Wainui Creek.
This followed fast-finishing performances at her previous two starts — when fourth behind Born To Boogie and a head second to Delightfull.
“Savvy Bromac seems to go well off a two-week break,” said Turvey. “I’m happy with her, and she’s probably come on a bit better after her last-start win.”
Savvy Bromac, who has had 26 starts for nine wins, nine seconds and two thirds, and Alta Cinderella are both being aimed at the $50,000 Norms Daughter Classic on Friday of next week and the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic two weeks later.
Another quality mare being set for those two feature events is Mandy Joan, who will start out wide at barrier eight in Friday night’s race. She impressed at her most recent outing, three Fridays ago, when she sustained a spirited three-wide burst from ninth at the bell to finish third behind Born To Boogie and Typhoon Banner. She was a fast-finishing winner two starts before that.
“Her past couple of hoppled runs have indicated that she is close to her best, and I’m happy at the way she is tracking towards the two big races for mares,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “I won’t over drive her on Friday night; she will be driven conservatively before running home.”
Other recent winners in My Sweet Deal (barrier five) and Delightfull (barrier six) will have admirers, with their connections anxious for strong showings before the big races.
Smith favours Burning Rubber
Punters face a difficult task when deciding on their selection in the final event, the 2130m Choices Flooring Pace, at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a race in which the likely favourite Dominate The Dojo has a losing sequence of 48.
Dominate The Dojo, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr for Henley Brook trainer Kevin Keys, has not been successful since he led and beat Our Rhythm N Blues over 1730m at Gloucester Park on May 18, 2019.
Dominate The Dojo’s chief asset is his sparkling gate speed, and from barrier three, Hall will be anxious to send the eight-year-old straight to the front.
However, Middle Swan trainer Brett Smith has cast some light on the possible outcome of the race in which he has two runners, Maestro Bellini (barrier No. 1) and Burning Rubber (No. 2), by advising his plans. He will drive Maestro Bellini, and Chris Lewis will handle Burning Rubber.
“Ideally, Burning Rubber jumps to the front and holds the lead,” he said. “And if he does, he should prove pretty hard to beat. Maestro Bellini is also a good frontrunner, but Burning Rubber is going better at the moment.”
Burning Rubber has started from the No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park nine times when he has led and won four times, led and finished second once, and sat behind the pacemaker four times for two seconds, a third and a fourth.
Burning Rubber has started from the No. 2 at headquarters six times for two all-the-way wins over 2536m, a second after leading, a second from the breeze and two unplaced efforts over 2536m when setting the pace.
The Debra Lewis-trained Pierre Whitby is in sound form and should fight out the finish, while Mike Reed’s smart five-year-old mare Arma Indie is certainly capable of causing an upset after being unplaced at her past eight starts since leading and winning from McArdles Gem over 2536m just over 12 months ago.
Youre So Fine set to shine
Inexperienced two-year-old colt Youre So Fine will resume racing after a four-month absence, and he has the class to win first-up and at his second start in Australia when he begins from the No. 4 barrier in the 1730m Team Bond Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He made a sound Australian debut when he raced in the one-out, one-back position and fought on gamely to finish third in the group 1 Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park on June 11.
Before that, he raced three times in New Zealand for a third in a group 3 classic at Wyndham, a win in the group 2 Diamond Creek Classic at Invercargill and a fifth behind the brilliant colt Akuta in the group 1 Emerald at Cambridge.
He is trained by Gary Hall snr and will be driven by Gary Hall jnr, who expects the colt to perform well, saying: “I’m happy enough with him. He seems to have come back a bit better. He was only a baby when he arrived here, and it takes a while for horses from New Zealand to get used to our way of work.
“He was probably at the end of his campaign when he arrived here. He had been racing in group races like the Jewels. This is not an easy race.”
Among his opposition is Floewriter, who led and won twice at Gloucester Park earlier in the year. Trained and driven by Aiden de Campo, Floewriter will be resuming after a spell. His latest run was when he faded to finish seventh behind Rock On Top at Gloucester Park on June 25. He set the pace and finished second to The Miki Taker in the group 1 Pearl at his previous outing.
“I’m happy with his work, but first-up and drawn at barrier seven, it’s going to be pretty hard over the mile,” said de Campo. He will definitely improve from the run.”
Recent winners Paul Edward and Peter Romeo, bred and owned by Steve Johnson and prepared by David Thompson, will start out wide from barriers eight and nine, respectively. They are experienced youngsters by American sire Always B Miki and must come under serious consideration.
Peter Romeo, to be driven by Kyle Harper, led and won convincingly from Loucid Dreams over 2130m last Friday week, while Paul Edward (Dylan Egerton-Green) has impressed with three wins and six placings from 13 starts.
Alta Engen can do better
Up-and-coming four-year-old Alta Engen finished only fifth behind Born To Boogie in a field of seven last Friday night, but he is capable of bouncing back with a strong performance in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I was happy with that fifth,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “The race was dominated by the fence — and Alta Engen was four and five deep and was running on really good. He was first-up for three weeks, and he should take improvement from that run.
“It’s a good, even field, and probably the horse who gets the best run will go close to winning. Thats Perfect is a class dropper and Alta Blues and Alta Intrigue are racing well. If Alta Engen gets the right run, he’ll be thereabouts.”
Alta Engen had impressed with wins at his two outings before finishing fifth to Born To Boogie. He set the pace and beat Alta Intrigue before he settled at the rear, dashed forward in the middle stages and raced in the breeze before winning from Jumpingjackmac.
Gary Hall jnr, who drove five winners last Friday night, will be in action in all ten events this week, and he said that one of his best prospects was Diego in The Running Camel Pace over 2130m.
Diego impressed when he finished third behind Machnificent and Otis in a 2150m trial at Byford on Sunday morning. He raced in sixth position before finishing with a solid burst.
“He had something in reserve, and this is a winnable race,” said Hall. “We have made some gear changes following his first-up failure (when tenth behind Bettorstartdreaming last Friday week). He was actually working right up with Chicago Bull before his first-up run, and he couldn’t get anywhere near him on the track during his previous preparation.”
Hall is also confident of winning with brilliant three-year-old Finvarra in the 2130m Westral Pace. “He has super speed and I think he will be too fast for the opposition,” said Hall.
Champion trainer Gary Hall snr also prepares the talented but enigmatic five-year-old Wildwest, who will reappear after an eight-month absence when he begins off the back mark of 40m in the 2503m Retravision Handicap.
Wildwest, who has recovered from a damaged suspensory ligament, has won at ten of his 16 starts and certainly has the ability to outclass his seven rivals.
“He could be thereabouts in a small field if he gets away and makes up his handicap quickly,” said Hall jnr. “But I would tread very warily with him; he’s probably a 5/1 or 6/1 chance in my eyes.”
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