10 October 2022 | Ken Casellas
Magnificent Storm is a shining star
Glamour pacer Magnificent Storm enhanced his glowing reputation with a commanding victory in the $50,000 Mount Eden Sprint at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he recorded the equal second fastest time in the 67-year history of this prestigious group 2 feature event which was originally known as the State Sprint Championship.
Magnificent Storm, the $1.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, was not fully extended in setting the pace and winning by more than a length from Gambit when he rated 1.53.2 over the 1730m. The only faster time was the scorching 1.51.6 set by superstar Chicago Bull when he stormed home to snatch a last-stride head victory over Soho Tribeca in October 2017.
Chicago Bull also rated 1.53.2 when he led and won the 2020 Mount Eden Sprint, beating Shockwave by two lengths.
Veteran Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams was delighted with Magnificent Storm’s win when the New Zealand-bred five-year-old, skilfully handled by Aldo Cortopassi, defied strong early challenges for the lead from Jumpingjackmac and Lavra Joe.
Lavra Joe, the second fancy at $4.80, was the smartest into stride from barrier four but he was unable to cross to the front and then had to work in the breeze for the rest of the race, in which the final 400m sections were covered in 28.1sec. and 27.3sec. Lavra Joe fought on solidly to finish third, with Gambit, who trailed Magnificent Storm throughout, finishing on to be second, with his stablemate Jumpingjackmac ($11) in fourth place.
Williams, whose son Grant trained and drove Keyonymous when the seven-year-old gelding won the 2001 Mount Eden Sprint, produced Magnificent Storm in superb condition for his first-up assignment after an eleven-week absence. The exciting American Ideal gelding now has amassed $474,242 from 24 wins and four placings from 32 starts.
Magnificent Storm has been entered for the Interdominion Championship series in Victoria in November and December, but a decision has yet to be made regarding his racing program.
“He will keep going around,” said Williams. “We’ll see how he pulls up. He works easier here (in races) than he does at home, so if he pulls up good, he will go around next week.
“There is nothing set in concrete for him. We will leave it up to the horse. We don’t actually need to go there (to Victoria). But if he puts his hand up, we will go to Melbourne if the horse tells me to go. Tonight, was a step in the right direction.
“Maybe this could be my last chance (to have a runner at the Inters). It’s in the balance. I’ve never been a hundred per cent about going. There are good races here, the Fremantle Cup and the WA Pacing Cup. They’re more important to me than the Inters.”
Hall’s 7716 days between drinks
It was pretty much a typical day in the office for champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr on Friday when he drove a treble at Bunbury in the afternoon and another treble at Gloucester Park in the evening, during which a dashing victory by Finvarra boosted the speedy stallion’s prospects in the upcoming rich feature events for four-year-olds.
But Friday was a significant red letter occasion for the 40-year-old maestro, who landed his second win as a trainer — 21 years after his initial success — a mere 7716 days earlier when he prepared and drove 6/4 favourite The Postie to a half-length win over Golden Guru in a minor 2600m event at Northam on August 22, 2001.
The 40-year-old Hall has concentrated on driving throughout his fabulous career, and it was only recently that he took over the training of the lowly-regarded Comnharry, a seven-year-old gelding whose only win in 46 starts for four trainers was at Bunbury in September 2019.
After a first-up fifth at Gloucester Park on September 27 Comnharry was having his second start for Hall at Bunbury on Friday afternoon when he was the $2.80 favourite in a 1609m event of modest performers. Comnharry began from the back line, and he trailed the pacemaker Captain Dandi before he finished strongly to beat that pacer easily, rating 1.57.5.
“The win pulled me out of a 21-year drought, and Russell Betts out of a 27-year drought as an owner,” said an excited Hall as he celebrated the victory with his 22ND starter as a trainer.
Betts recently paid $2000 to buy Comnharry, whose win gave him his first success since Stylish Hooker won a 2900m standing-start event at Gloucester Park on November 17, 1995, when he beat Lobengula and Pure Symbol.
While Comnharry now boasts just two wins from 48 starts, he is certainly bred to be a good winner. He is the seventh and last foal out of the Classic Garry mare Raca Pacer, who had 52 starts for trainer-reinsman Steve Burton for 11 wins, 18 placings and $58,327. Her most notable victory was in the Race For Roses at Gloucester Park in May 1997.
Raca Pacer also produced talented pacers Phar From A Fake (101 starts for 27 wins, 26 placings and $170,716) and Gee Whiz Fizz (129 starts for 35 wins, 38 placings and $408,496). Phar From A Fake won the 2004 Easter Cup at Gloucester Park, and Gee Whiz Fizz won the group 1 Golden Nugget in December 2005 when he defeated Precious Dylan by a nose, as well as winning the group 2 McInerney Ford Classic in 2005, the group 2 Four And Five-Year-Old Championship and the group 3 Harvey Cup in February 2007.
Finvarra, trained by Gary Hall snr, was the $2 favourite in the Jerry Fraser Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he trailed the runaway hard-pulling Always Fast before dashing to the front 380m from home and winning by just under two lengths from the fast-finishing Know When To Run, rating 1.57.4 over the 2130m.
This took Finvarra’s record to 18 starts for nine wins, eight placings and $162,098 in prizemoney. The American Ideal four-year-old is the first foal out of the smart Changeover mare Nuala, who raced 19 times for Hall snr for 14 wins, two placings and $132,449.
Finvarra’s win was Hall junior’s second leg of his Gloucester Park treble which included Vivere Damore and The Mustang. His three winners at Bunbury in the afternoon were Comnharry, Tricky Miki (in the South-West Derby) and El Chema.
Unconditional gives Warwick an anxious time
Unconditional is bred in the purple and has untapped potential, but the four-year-old mare is far from star reinsman Ryan Warwick’s favourite pacer.
“She is the hardest horse I have ever driven,” said Warwick after guiding her to a splendid all-the-way victory in the 2130m Barbagallo Luxury Cars Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Once the mobile takes off, she seems to be good. But it is just getting her on to the track and doing the preliminary that’s the problem. I’ll be going at three-quarter pace, and she will try to run off the track and out the gate. As a two-year-old she ran through the fence at Gloucester Park. She gives you anxiety.
“I need to chase a horse to follow, and you have got to have a shepherd because otherwise she will veer out. Once you’ve got a shepherd, she’s okay. She has plenty of gate speed. She takes 30to 40 metres to muster, but once she musters, she is probably too quick. She is also strong, and if a horse tries to hold her out, she can do a bit extra.
“Unconditional and Dodolicious are the hardest horses I’ve had to drive. Dodolicious was just hard work (but she earned $501,041 from 18 wins and 18 placings from 54 starts which included wins in the two and three-year-old Westbred Classics and the WA Oaks and Daintys Daughter Classic in 2016).
“Unconditional is good; she won a heat of the Oaks last year. She goes good but is not yet at the top of her game. She could definitely run in the big races for mares this year. She probably needs to find a length from what she’s doing at the moment. She is a lot better than what she is showing at the moment.”
Unconditional, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has raced 27 times for nine wins, eight placings and $64,260. She is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the eleventh foal out of Dream Offer and is a full-sister to Cant Refuse (113 starts for 16 wins, 34 placings and $301,661), Delightful Offer (99 starts for 27 wins, 28 placings and $336,928), Bettor Offer (50 starts for 15 wins, 14 placings and $207,614) and Bettor Dream (68 starts for 13 wins, 24 placings and $224,334).
Unconditional, the $1.30 favourite, was untroubled to set the pace and beat the strong-finishing $18 chance Ideal Whitby by just over a length, rating 1.58.6, with final 800m of 57sec.
Arma Einstein flies home
Consistent four-year-old Arma Einstein maintained his brilliant recent form with a dazzling victory in the 2130m Italian Fireworks Night Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he came from a seemingly impossible position approaching the home turn.
Talented driver Maddison again proved that patience is a virtue when she was content to keep Arma Einstein, a $10.50 chance, at the rear in the field of seven after starting from the outside barrier.
Arma Einstein was still last, on the pegs and under lock and key, with 400m to travel. But Brown did not panic and eventually was able to manoeuvre Arma Einstein off the inside and into the clear 220m from home. The Renaissance Man gelding charged home, out four and five wide, with a brilliant burst to get up in the final couple of strides to beat $3.10 chance Stamford by a half-length.
The pacemaker Mirragon, the $2.25 favourite, wilted in the closing stages and finished a close fourth after dashing over the final quarters in 29.6sec., 28.4sec. and 28.6sec.
The win completed a double for Brown, who was successful earlier in the night with $7.60 chance Im Themightylucy. Arma Einstein is prepared by Brown’s father Colin, and the gelding is part-owned by her mother Lyn, who bred the pacer along with his other seven part-owners.
Arma Einstein has now had 70 starts for 14 wins (seven in metro-class events) and 31 placings for earnings of $189,558.
The Code Breaker is bred to succeed
Victorian-bred five-year-old The Code Breaker notched his first metropolitan-class victory when he gave an impressive frontrunning display to score a decisive win over the fast-finishing Pontevivo in the $30,000 group 3 Westerntrilogy.com.au Spring Feature at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The American Ideal gelding is certainly bred to succeed. He is the ninth foal out of the Caprock mare Alldatglittersisgold, who has produced star pacers Bling It On, Baby Bling and Bletchley Park.
Talented young reinsman Kyle Symington, who drove a confident race with the $2.40 favourite after defying a strong early challenge from the highly-regarded Firerockfireroll, predicted many more wins for owners Albert and Julie Walmsley.
“I have quite a big opinion of him,” he said. “We just need him to settle a bit more, but he is improving with every start. He came out quick tonight, and I was holding him (Firerockfireroll) easy. So, I wasn’t expecting Firerockfireroll to keep going (challenging) for that long. But The Code Breaker handled it well.
“I gave him a couple out of the gate, and he got a bit keen. I saw Pontevivo flying down the outside in the home straight, and I was also wary of the horses on my back. I was watching because I knew there were a few sit-sprinters behind me, and I didn’t want to make the mistake of letting Firerockfireroll out.”
The Code Breaker, who was having his fifth start for Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell, has had 53 starts for 12 wins, 17 placings and $94,823. His full-brothers Bling It On and Bletchley Park have been wonderful performers.
Bling It On won five group 1 events, seven group 2 races and six group 3 features in a remarkable career of 100 starts for 49 wins and 24 placings for earnings of $1,882,957, while Bletchley Park has earned $417,028 from 20 wins and 24 placings from 74 starts. Bling It On finished fourth behind Smolda in the Interdominion Championship final at Gloucester Park in December 2016.
Baby Bling, a half-sister to Bling It On, Bletchley Park and The Code Breaker, raced 55 times for 21 wins, ten placings and stakes of $854,490. She appeared twice at Gloucester Park in November and December 2012 when she won the group 1 Mares Classic and finished second to Lucie Boshier in the group 3 Norms Daughter Classic.
Vivere Damore set for $50,000 event
Byford trainer Peter Tilbrook is looking forward for his experienced mare Vivere Damore contesting the $50,000 Schrader Pace next Friday week after she had produced a splendid first-up performance to win the $26,000 The Nullarbor Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Her work had been very good, and I was confident she would win tonight, especially from barrier one,” said Tilbrook, who purchased Vivere Damore for $10,000 at the 2016 Gloucester Standardbred Sale and now races her in partnership with seven others.
Vivere Damore is proving an excellent buy, and she now has earned $227,054 from 14 wins and 30 placings from 108 starts. Three of her wins have been at Pinjarra and the other eleven have been at Gloucester Park. She is by the New Zealand-bred stallion Lincoln Royal and is the fourth and last foal out of the Village Jasper mare Living On Love, who managed one placing from her seven starts in 2009.
“She is sound and I’m looking forward to another good campaign,” said Tilbrook after Gary Hall jnr had driven Vivere Damore to a comfortable all-the-way win. Vivere Damore, the $2.25 favourite, sped over the third quarter of the final mile in 27.9sec. and covered the final 400m in 29.3sec. as she beat Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice’s two runners Platinum Sparkle ($10) and Bettor Get It On ($26). Bettor Get It On impressed in sustaining a strong three-wide burst from eighth at the bell to finish third.
Simply a stroll for The Mustang
Five-year-old Changeover gelding The Mustang simply had a leisurely stroll in the park when he made an auspicious West Australian debut when he scored an effortless victory in the 2130m The Nullarbor Slot Race In April ace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The win completed a treble for reinsman Gary Hall jnr, who had been successful earlier in the program with Vivere Damore and Finvarra. And it gave Mundijong trainer Michael Young a double, following the win of Im Themightylucy in race one.
The Mustang, favourite at $1.30, revealed sparkling gate speed from the No. 7 barrier to burst straight to the front. After a modest lead time of 37.5sec. and slow opening quarters of 32.7sec. and 31.4sec. The Mustang sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28sec. on his way to his 5m victory over the $14 third fancy The Kraken, who had trailed the leader throughout.
“The plan is for The Mustang to keep racing until the Fremantle and WAS Pacing Cups in January,” said Young. “He will have to win a few more races to prove his worth.
“He is very lazy, and he will probably win a few races in similar fashion until he gets up in class. He needs a decent horse outside of him to push him. He doesn’t concentrate until he has something to race.”
The Mustang, who was having his first start for four months, has raced 66 times for 16 wins and 27 placings for stakes of $168,1673.
Awaitinginstructions overcomes checks
Victorian-bred five-year-old Awaitinginstructions overcame two checks in running before finishing with a strong burst to win the 2503m Steelos Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Courage Under Fire gelding, prepared by Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, gave reinsman Mitch Miller the second leg of a double, following his win with Soho Firestone earlier in the night.
Awaitinginstructions, unplaced at his nine previous starts, including his previous five races in mobiles, lived up to his reputation as a standing-start specialist, with 12 of his 14 wins in a 36-start career being in stands.
“His recent runs in mobiles have been because there has been only one standing-start race at Gloucester Park every fortnight,” said Scott. “And he hasn’t had a lot of luck in mobile races in which he hasn’t had a lot of luck and still has been running good sectionals.
“Tonight, he was checked twice, when Sippinonjack went roughly on the first bend, and then when Troopingofthecolor broke in front of him about 1550m from home.
“The win will be a good fillip for owner Tim Blee, whose brother Ian is not too well. Another of Tim’s horses Miss Taken was ready to trial but broke down again a week ago and had to be retired.”
Miss Taken, whose ten WA starts produced four wins and three places, including wins at her final two starts, at Wagin and Northam in June and July of last year, fractured a pedal bone 15 months ago. She damaged the pedal bone again last week.
Awaitinginstructions, a $10.40 chance, was seventh with two laps to go, and after being checked and losing a length when Troopingofthecolor, the $6 favourite, broke in front of him, then slotted in the ideal one-out, one-back position before finishing strongly to win by a half-length from the fast-finishing $13 chance Deeorse.
Awaitinginstructions is the twelfth foal out of the Armbro Operative mare Indigenous, who earned $112,245 from 14 wins and three placings from 21 starts.
Unwanted colt shows class
Two-year-old colt Soho Firestone, who failed to attract a bid at a Victorian yearling sale last year, produced a sample of his ability when he romped to an easy victory in the Taste Of WA In The Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $1.95 favourite from barrier two and gave Mitch Miller an armchair drive as he set a solid pace before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.4sec. and 27.6sec. to win by just under four lengths from $15 chance Fess Up, rating a slick 1.56.2 rate over 1730m.
This was Soho Firestone’s second win from eight starts and took his earnings to $24,285.
Trainer Kim Prentice said that he planned to geld Soho Firestone about a month ago, but he changed his mind when the colt’s attitude changed.
“He has really turned the corner in the past three to four weeks,” said Prentice. “He was laid back and very relaxed, and he didn’t give a damn about anything. But his attitude has really changed, and he had no luck when seventh in the Golden Slipper last Friday. His run was very good, and we were very confident tonight.
“He will either go to the paddock this week or have one more run in a fortnight before being spelled.”
Rob Watson bred Soho Firestone, who is by American stallion and is the third foal out of the unraced Art Major mare Soho Margaux, who is a half-sister to the American-bred pacer Westernator, who did the bulk of his racing in WA before being retired after his 64 starts produced nine wins, 22 placings and $88,748.
Prentice drove Westernator eight times, including his debut victory in a C0 event at Gloucester Park in November 2013.
“Robert tried to sell Soho Firestone at a Victorian yearling sale last year, and he did not get a bid for him,” said Prentice. “I said to Robert that I would take him home and break him in, and we’ll go 50-50.
“He has always shown ability but had a poor attitude. However, the penny has dropped in the past month, and I think he will develop into a very nice three-year-old.”
Im Themightylucy’s fine Oaks trial
Tiny black New Zealand-bred filly Im Themightylucy emerged as a leading contender for the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday night when she unwound a sparkling late burst of speed to win the $20,250 NYE Bookings Now Open at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was a $7.60 chance from the inside of the back line and was handled brilliantly by Maddison Brown, who was driving her for the first time.
Brown retained her composure as she kept Im Themightylucy at the rear while the $2.50 favourite Wonderful To Fly was setting a strong pace after starting from the outside of the front line and racing three wide for the first 420m before taking the lead 130m later.
Im Themightylucy was in eighth position, four back on the pegs, with 350m to travel before Brown got her into the clear. The diminutive filly followed the three-wide run of the $3.70 second favourite Little Darling before switching four wide on the home turn and sprinting fast to hit the front in the final 30 metres.
She won by a length from Little Darling, rating 1.56.2 over 2130m. This gave Im Themightylucy her seventh win from 12 starts. After a win from three New Zealand starts and an unplaced run in South Australia Im Themightylucy joined the Mundijong stables of Michael Young and her eight starts under his care have produced six wins, one second and one unplaced effort.
Im Themightylucy is by American stallion Sweet Lou and is the third foal out of the New Zealand mare Vegas Delight, who raced 36 times for five wins, 14 placings and $48,071. She is a half-sister to Double Up, who travelled to America in July this year after earning $186,494 from 15 wins and 15 placings. Double Up won at two of his 14 New Zealand starts before shining for trainers Greg and Skye Bond in WA with his 30 starts produced 13 wins and ten placings.
“I was very pleased with the run and the way she sprinted home tonight,” said Young. “She is definitely a contender for the Oaks next week.
“She is not as versatile as some of the others but what she’s got with her speed probably makes up for the lack of versatility. She also has a bit of heart, and I don’t know whether we’ve seen the bottom of her, strength wise, as yet.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
