Gloucester Park Review Friday 28th October 2022

Jones’ snap decision pays off

Greenbushes trainer Ray Jones went to the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale with his heart set on buying Lot 455, a colt by Alta Christiano.

But he didn’t make a bid because the bidding was too fast and furious until the youngster was sold to Kevin Jeavons for $70,000.

“I didn’t get a chance to bid for him,” said Jones. “He was the one I wanted to buy, but his price went up so quickly and went out of my range.”

The next lot (No. 456) was a Betterthancheddar colt, and Jones, disconsolate, discomposed, disconcerted and totally discombobulated, made a snap decision to purchase him, without studying his breeding or inspecting him.

“He looked like a really nice big colt, and I was able to buy him for $24,000, which I thought was a cheap option,” said Jones, who was somewhat dismayed when he took the colt home to discover that he had bowed front legs.

“A horse is supposed to have straight front legs, but he was bow legged, and I was told he would never race.”

Jones named the youngster Been Scootin and got him ready to race last year as a two-year-old. But Been Scootin failed to flatter and was unplaced at his six starts as a two-year-old.

“He then went sore in one of his fetlocks,” said Jones. “I turned him out and he didn’t race for 13 months.” He reappeared and won first-up in a modest maiden field at Bunbury late in June this year, and he has shown steady improvement since, with his impressive all-the-way victory in the $20,250 Happy Fourth Birthday Noah George Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night taking his record to 20 starts for six wins, five placings and stakes of $49,303.

Jones is now looking forward to Been Scootin getting a start in the $200,000 WA Derby next Friday night. “He is getting better and better all the time,” said Jones, who was disappointed when the gelding was balloted from the Sires and Western Gateway Classic.

This resulted in Been Scootin’s four appearances before Friday night’s race being on country tracks, for a sixth and a third at Bunbury, a second at Collie and a last-start win in the Great Southern Derby at Narrogin.

On Friday night Been Scootin was the $3.70 third favourite from barrier No. 1 when he gave a splendid frontrunning display to score an easy victory over the fast-finishing $126 outsider Ardens Horizon and $17 chance Soho Dow Jones, who fought on determinedly after working hard in the breeze.

Lot 455 at the 2020 sale was named Swingband, who went into Friday night’s event as the $3.40 second fancy with a record of 20 starts for eleven wins, four placings and earnings of $193,637. Swingband was going forward, three wide in fifth position when he broke into a gallop 300m after the start. He was retired from the event and the stewards stood him down for 13 days until the completion of two satisfactory trials.

Kyle Harper, who has driven Been Scootin seven times for two wins, three seconds and two thirds, said: “He did it effortlessly tonight. I bowled along because I thought that if he wants to get a start in the Derby, he needs to show it.

“He is a horse who hasn’t quite learnt how to race. He is doing what he is without knowing he’s doing it, and that’s the impressive part. He has a ton of ability, but he is immature, mentally. He’s on the bit, off the bit. He has some very high speed, but sometimes it’s hard to find the gear stick.

“Sometimes he sprints, but it’s too late; sometimes it is a bit too early. For a horse who was beaten at Collie (when second to Fleur Du Marquis two starts ago) and then come here at Gloucester Park and run away (from the opposition) was quite remarkable.”

Been Scootin is the fifth foal out of the unraced Parsons Den mare Bootscootngirl, who produced Lot Twenty One (141 starts for ten wins, 35 placings and $108,304) and Americanbootscoota (184 starts for 36 wins, 42 placings and $327,351). Americanbootscoota won 15 races in Western Australia before winning another 21 times in America.

Gambit is ready for the Cups

Talented young reinsman Stuart McDonald achieved his biggest success in harness racing when he brought Caviar Star home with a well-timed burst to snatch a head victory over Vampiro in the group 1 Fremantle Cup in January 2020.

And now the 28-year-old McDonald believes that he has sound prospects of winning the $300,000 Fremantle Cup on January 13 with tough New Zealand-bred stayer Gambit after driving the six-year-old $18.80 chance to a commanding victory over Magnificent Storm ($2.90) and To Fast To Serious ($34) in the $50,000 group 2 Summit Bloodstock Navy Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“Gambit is good enough to win one of the big Cups; he’s as good as Caviar Star,” said McDonald.

Gambit gave Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr a record eighth victory in the Navy Cup, following wins with Abit Rich (1997), Real Life (2009), Hokonui Ben (2012), Beaudiene Boaz (2016) and Chicago Bull (2017, 2018 and 2020).

McDonald was planning to race Gambit (from the No. 3 barrier) with a sit but was delighted to get straight to the front when the polemarker and stablemate Diego (the $1.95 favourite) galloped at the start and dropped back to last.

Gambit easily withstood an early challenge from Lavra Joe ($7.50) and after a modest lead time of 37.9sec. and opening quarters of 30.1sec. and 29.3sec. he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.4sec. and 28.6sec.

“We didn’t expect to be in front,” said McDonald. “We mapped out that Gambit would be racing one-out and one back or one-two, even though we thought that leading would be his best chance.

“Lavra Joe got to the breeze easily enough and Magnificent Storm lobbed one-one. They had their chances but couldn’t get me. When Magnificent Storm came alongside, I knew that Gambit would keep going. He is pretty tough, and he keeps running. He went to the line as good as any of them.

“Gambit knocked off a couple of times, which he can do. He gets a bit lackadaisical; he’s pretty casual, and that’s why he races with the hood on.”

Gambit, who had finished second at five of his seven previous runs, raced 22 times in New Zealand for six wins and six placings, with the best of his wins being in a group 2 City of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park in March 2020.

His 26 starts in Western Australia have produced seven wins, 11 seconds and one third, taking his career record to 48 starts for 13 wins, 18 placings and $262,656 in prizemoney. He is by American stallion Shadow Play and is the eighth and last foal out of the Sands A Flyin mare Whata Breeze, who had 38 starts for four wins, 12 placings and $42,639.

Rascal enhances his claims

Speedy frontrunner Rascal enhanced his prospects of gaining a start in the upcoming rich feature events for four-year-olds when he set a solid pace and scored a decisive victory in the Michael Young Pacing Stables Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His win at $14.50 followed his all-the-way victory over Kimble a fortnight earlier and took his record to 20 starts for ten wins, six placings and stakes of $78,948.

Tenzing Bromac was the $1.90 favourite from barrier No. 2, and he led by a neck from the polemarker Rascal before breaking into a gallop after about ten metres and dropping back through the field.

Part-owner and trainer Katja Warwick attempted to cure Rascal’s bad habit of hanging in by making gear changes, adding a nearside lugging pole and a nearside Murphy blind. The Captaintreacherous gelding still showed an inclination to hang in, but Chris Lewis handled him with great skill to enable him to negotiate the 804m track with in capable fashion.

Tenzing Bromac settled in sixth position and Ryan Warwick sent him forward with a three-wide burst with 700m to travel. He sustained a strong effort to get within a neck of Rascal on the home turn and battle on doggedly to finish just under a length behind Rascal, who rated 1.57.2 over the 2130m.

Warwick also has another contender for the $50,000 Four-Year-Old Championship (November 18), the $125,000 Four-Year-Old Classic (December 2) and the $$200,000 Golden Nugget (December 16) in Machnificent, who started from the outside of the back line in Friday night’s event, raced three back on the pegs in fourth position before charging home, out six wide, to finish an eye-catching fifth after being last 100m from home.

Other four-year-olds Ragazzo Mach and Ima Rockabilly Rebel also impressed with powerful finishing bursts. Ragazzo Mach, having his first start for four months, was badly checked and broke into a gallop at the start, losing six or seven lengths. He was tenth and last at the bell.

Finvarra overcomes fierce headwind

There are many and varied obstacles that transpire to thwart pacers from winning. One of the most unusual was the fierce headwind that was blowing up the home straight at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It took every ounce of talent and determination from brilliant four-year-old Finvarra to stretch every sinew to get up and snatch victory from the pacemaker Arma Einstein in the 2130m Aaron Bain Racing Pace.

Maddison Brown kicked away with $3.50 second fancy Arma Einstein on the home turn to make life difficult for the $1.40 favourite Finvarra, who had worked in the breeze in the six-horse field.

“The breeze is a hard place to race on any night, but tonight to do that especially with the headwind howling up the home straight,” said star reinsman Gary Hall jnr.

“I didn’t think that Finvarra was going to get there. I thought that I had let Maddy get away with too much, and when she kicked away on the bend, I thought that Arma Einstein had done enough to hold me out.”

However, Finvarra responded grandly to Hall’s urgings, and he got up in the final couple of strides to beat Arma Einstein by a half-neck after an excellent final 400m in 27.4sec.

“Finvarra hung a bit on the bend, so I tried to get a bit of a break, which I managed to,” said Brown. “But it wasn’t quite enough.”

Hall said that competing in small fields was not easy. “Small fields are difficulty, and horrible at times, unless you’re on the leader, he said. “They don’t usually go hard early, and then you (in the breeze) have one on your back that can go fast.

“The Golden Nugget is the main aim for Finvarra, but he is a bit immature to be a Cups horse yet. I don’t think he is far behind Jumpingjackmac.”

Finvarra, trained by Gary Hall snr, has been remarkably consistent, with ten wins and eight placings from 19 starts for earnings of $175,873.

Whatabro has turned the corner

Five-year-old Whatabro has struck a purple patch, and he followed his easy all-the-way win a week earlier with another stylish frontrunning display to notch a splendid victory in the $20,375 Summit Bloodstock Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Dylan Egerton-Green again took full advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier to win the start and defy early challenges from Theo Aviator and Stamford before dictating terms after a smart lead time of 36.6sec.

This was followed by quarters of 30.8sec. and 30.1sec. before Whatabro gave his rivals little hope by dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.8sec. to win at a 1.56.9 rate over 2130m.

“He is going great,” said trainer Michael Brennan. “Obviously, barrier one helps a bit, but tonight I thought it was a big step up in grade, and he handled it with aplomb.

“He has really turned the corner in the past month or so. The work that the girls have done at home has been phenomenal, and they deserve all the credit.   Whatabro, a winner of 18 races in South Australia, now has won six times from 38 starts in WA for Brennan, and he boasts a fine record of 109 starts for 24 wins, 39 placings and $177,274.

South Australian horseman Darren Billinger sent Whatabro to Brennan after the gelding had graduated to Free-For-All company. In 2018 Billinger sent Whenmechief and Futurist to Brennan when Futurist won an $18,000 Gloucester Park event and Whenmechief won two $22,000 races.

Whatabro is by Canadian sire Four Starzzz Shark and is out of the What’s Next mare Whatacorka, who earned just $7797 from three wins and 11 placings from 28 starts. Whatabro’s half-brother Come On Frank won the group 1 Four-Year-Old Super Sires Series final at Melton in May 2012 and retired with earnings of $404,650 from 61 wins and 38 placings from 130 starts.

Hall’s double century

Master reinsman Gary Hall jnr notched his 200TH winner for the season when he drove Western Arterra to an easy all-the-way victory in the 1730m www.summitbloodstock.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This was his fourth double century season, and he has driven more than one hundred winners in the past 18 seasons.

Western Arterra, trained by Corey Peterson, was the $2.20 favourite and Hall used the six-year-old’s sparkling gate speed to burst straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier. After a slick lead time of 7.6sec. Western Arterra ambled through the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.9sec. and 32.3sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 29.1sec. and 28sec. to win at a 1.59 rate by just over a length from $6 chance Little Bit Of Fun, who trailed the leader throughout.

“He got away with it with a 63sec. half over a mile, and you don’t get that too often,” said Hall.

Peterson was happy with the gelding’s performance, saying: “He’s at his best over a mile. There’s another 1730m event next Friday night, so I’ll run him again.”

Western Arterra has raced over 1730m three times for two wins and a very close second. He is by American stallion Western terror and is the second foal out of the Falcon Seelster mare Cassidy Franco, who had four unplaced starts in WA in 2011 and 2012 before being retired. Western Arterra has now earned $86,226 from ten wins and 21 placings from 69 starts.

Five in a row for Tricky Ric

Brilliant square gaiter Tricky Ric strengthened his reputation as Western Australia’s best trotter when he scored a runaway victory in the 2130m $20,250 Summit Bloodstock Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It was the New Zealand-bred Tricky Ric’s fifth win in a row and his win completed a successful night for champion trainer Gary Hall snr, a treble for star reinsman Gary Hall jnr and a double for owner Steve Waters, a property developer from the rural town of Clevedon, not far from Auckland.

Hall snr had been successful earlier in the night with Finvarra, Gambit and Euphoria, his son had won earlier with Finvarra and Western Arterra, and Waters was successful with Gambit in the group 2 Navy Cup.

The wins of Gambit and Tricky Ric came as some compensation for Waters, whose outstanding pacer Smart Watch, unbeaten at his three West Australian starts, has been sidelined after suffering an injury that will prevent him from contesting the rich WA Derby at Gloucester Park next Friday night.

Tricky Ric, the $1.10 favourite, began safely from the No. 5 barrier and Hall sent him to the front after 220m. He then was untroubled to bowl along in front and he won by seven lengths from $19 chance Goodtime Pe Rabbit, rating 2.1.7.

Hall jnr said that Tricky Ric would be set for the $50,000 Trotters Cup, a stand over 2503m, at Gloucester Park on February 3.

Tuas Delight a real bargain

Experienced trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko and his wife Amanda have no regrets about outlaying $5000 two years ago to purchase veteran pacer Tuas Delight, who showed that there is plenty of life left in his nine-year-old legs when he set the pace and was untroubled to win the 2536m Summit Bloodstock Thankyou Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His victory improved his record for the Suvaljkos to 45 starts for five wins, eight placings and $60,807 in prizemoney for a career record of 149 starts for 15 wins, 28 placings and $175,425.

And this is despite Tuas Delight damaging his nearside tendon in August 2021, and injury which was expected to end his career. But he responded well to treatment and was able to resume racing after an 11-month absence.

Since his resumption Tuas Delight has had 15 starts for two wins, four placings for $32,161 in stakes.

“When he hurt his leg, I thought that he had no hope of coming back and racing again,” said Suvaljko. “I spelled him, and he is now as good as gold. After he had finished second to Rock Me Over a week ago, I gave him a good chance of winning tonight.”

Tuas Delight, the $5.20 second favourite, was smartest to begin from the No. 2 barrier before he set a solid pace and romped to a 14m victory over $61 outsider La Suleiman, who trailed him throughout. The $1.55 favourite Manning came from the rear in the middle stages to race in the breeze, but just battled on to be a well-beaten third.

Before coming to Western Australia Tuas Delight raced 15 times in New Zealand for five placings and then had seven starts in New South Wales for four wins at Penrith in 2016.

Tuas Delight is a half-brother to Hokuri Handrail, who had 40 starts in WA in 2012-13-14 for 13 wins and five placings. He then travelled to America where he won another 21 times before being retired with 35 wins, 44 placings and stakes of $342,457 from 2011 starts.

Euphoria does his thing

Consistency has been the hallmark of five-year-old Euphoria’s career, and he showed that he has a mind of his own when he scored an easy victory in the 2536m The Nullarbor Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The New Zealand-bred gelding, prepared by Gary Hall snr, was driven by Maddison Brown and was a $14.40 from out wide at barrier No. 7.

“The plan was not to lead from barrier seven,” said Brown. “I thought that there would be a bit of speed on, so we were just going to settle back and stay out of it early and then mosey on around to the breeze mid-race.

“Junior (Gary Hall jnr) told me that he would be keen on the gate and to watch him. I had my whip under my arm and didn’t have it over my shoulder, but he just came out pretty quick and I actually tried to restrain him.

“Then I saw Junior coming forward with Firerockfireroll, and I looked to my inside to see if I could find a spot when I realised that I was three-quarters of a length in front of Master Publisher. So, I went to the front where he loves to be.”

Firerockfireroll ($5) had a tough run in the breeze before wilting to finish fifth, and Euphoria dashed over the final 400m in 28.5sec. to beat the $2.90 favourite Mister Fortunia by 5m, rating a modest 2.0.6.

Mister Fortunia trailed Euphoria all the way and was blocked for a clear run until the final 100m before he finished strongly.

Euphoria, who managed two seconds from eights starts in New Zealand, has blossomed under the care of Hall snr, and his 53 starts in WA have produced 12 wins, 24 placings and $145,185 in prizemoney.

The Amber Hare revives fond memories

The Amber Hare continued her rapid rise to stardom with a superb victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night when her performance revived wonderful memories of the brilliant Frith, one of the best fillies and mares to have raced in Western Australia this century.

The New South Wales-bred The Amber Hare is following the golden footsteps of her close relation Frith. After one win (at Penrith in August 2021) and a third placing from five starts in NSW The Amber Hare has excited WA pacing pundits, with her 12 starts in the State producing eight wins, three seconds and one seventh placing for trainer-driver Jocelyn Young.

The Amber Hare, a four-year-old by former star pacer For A Reason, is the seventh foal out of the unraced Blissfull Hall mare Amber Bliss, whose dam Jackie Kelly also produced Frith (by Four Starzzz Shark).

Frith had 63 starts for 39 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $1,180,345. Frith, who won eight group 1 events, made two trips to WA where she raced four times for three wins, succeeding in the group 1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park in May 2013 and winning the group 3 Brennan Memorial and the group 2 Norms Daughter Classic in November and December 2015.

The Amber Hare now is firmly on target to emulate the deeds of Frith by winning the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on Friday week, with Young saying that she was setting her mare for that race and the $150,000 Mares Classic on November 25.

“I think The Amber Hare is capable of running against the State’s top mares in the big races,” said Young after she had driven the $3 favourite to a stylish victory over the recent WA Oaks winner Taking The Miki ($9) and the strong-finishing Lady Jadore ($31).

The Amber Hare started from the outside (barrier three) on the back line and got her away speedily and dashed her forward, three wide, as the polemarker Taking The Miki assumed control from barrier one after defying a strong challenge from the $3.80 chance Sovrana, who led by three-quarters of a length in the early stages but was unable to cross to the front.

“I expected that Sovrana would lead, and I thought that my best chance would be to punch up and hopefully find my way to the front or sitting outside of Sovrana. It wasn’t Sovrana who was in front, but I got there.

“The first time I sat behind The Amber Hare I thought she was going to be quite good. And she is progressive.”

The Amber Hare, who rated 1.56.7 over the 2130m, is also related to another NSW-bred pacer McRaes Mate, who raced successful at Gloucester Park when he won at eight of his 26 starts, including the group 3 Christmas Gift in December 2007.

McRaes Mate, who earned $482,053 from 30 wins and 29 placings from 120 starts, was out of Miss Paula, a daughter of Jackie Kelly. Miss Paula (64 starts for 22 wins, 16 placings and $159,395) was the dam of 12 winners, including McRaes Mate, Albert Kelly (72 starts for 32 wins, 14 placings and $322,320), Greg Kelly (18 starts for 17 wins and $345,150) and Macca Kelly (162 starts for 26 wins, 50 placings and $311,397).