By Adam Hamilton
MIGHTY mare Frith truly is a champion.
The six-year-old added to her greatness winning another major race to his glorious CV from a supposedly “impossible” draw at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
Everyone said beating such a great field of mares from the outside draw (gate nine) over the 1730m sprint trip was like climbing Mount Everest.
But caretaker trainer Michael Brennan and driver Chris Voak had other ideas.
The draw saw Frith drift from $2.60 to start $5, but the race changed when Voak blasted her out from the draw and began so quickly she landed outside the leader within 300m.
Frith did the work outside the heavily-backed Nuala and had her beaten on the final bend.
She then held-off a late surge from Ideal Alice to win by a half-head in a slick 1min54.9sec mile rate .
“She is a true superstar,” an emotional Brennan said as he fought back tears. “They all said she couldn’t do it, but champions break the rules.
“I can’t thank Bernie (Kelly, owner) and Bruce (Harpley, trainer) enough for giving me a chance with her.
“Training her is a privilege beyond words.
“I just hope she draws a bit better next week (Sunday) and gets the chance to do it again in the big Group 1.”
Frith’s win was her 35th from just 48 starts and edged her closer to $1 million in earnings. She’s now at $940,334.
The hardluck story and main danger to Frith in Sunday’s $100,000 Group 1 Mares’ Classic will be Victorian raider Berisari.
The Emma Stewart-trained mare had absolutely no luck last Friday and hit dead-ends everywhere in the home straight to finish a close fourth.
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TOP local trainer Gary Hall Sr left Gloucester Park immensely satisfied last Friday night.
But he also knows the real D-Day comes this Sunday at the same place.
Going into the Perth Inter Dominion series, Hall Sr felt confident he would qualify two runners for the final. Those two, Waylade and My Hard Copy, made it through.
Both needed big runs in last Friday’s final round of heats and delivered.
Not much went right for My Hard Copy, but driver Clint Hall weaved his way through tired horses late to grab valuable points in third spot.
Waylade’s run was enormous to sustain a long three-wide run and finish a close third to Libertybelle Midfrew and Philadelphia Man.
Hall Sr finds it hard to split the pair in the final.
“I’ll wait for the draw to do that,” he said. “I thought Waylade was our best hope, but My Hard Copy has come through it really well.”
Despite those key Inter Dominion runs, Hall Sr’s highlight last Friday was the win of Beaudiene Boaz in the $125,000 Group 1 McInerney Ford 4YO Classic (2130m).
“He’s the heir apparent in my stable. He’s the closest horse I’ve had to Im Themightyquinn and he’s quite similar at the same stage,” he said.
“His greatest asset is his speed, but the style of racing here means we often have to drive him tougher than he’d like. It’s just how things are over here.
“Quinny was vulnerable early in his career when he had to work in his races, but the hard racing strengthened him up as he went on. I hope it does the same thing for this horse.”
Beaudiene Boaz has now won Group 1 races at two, three and four since joining Hall Sr’s stable. He won the Golden Nugget at two, WA Derby last year and now the McInerney.
An even bigger target looms on Sunday with the $200,000 Group 1 Golden Nugget.
Hall Sr wll have two genuine chances in the race after the much-improved Run Oneover produced a massive run in front to go within a whisker of beating Beaudiene Boaz.
“He had the draw, but gee Run Oneover ran a mighty race. He’s getting better all the time,” Hal Sr said.
“The Golden Nugget is our four-year-old Grand Final and it’s great to have my horses right at the their top for it.”
The disappointment of the McInerney was Victorian star Menin Gate, who began well and quickly moved around to sit parked from a back row draw.
He was under pressure at the 450m and weakened to run ninth, beaten 21.5m.
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ANOTHER highlight of last Friday’s Gloucester Park meeting was the International Drivers’ series.
Anthony Butt, flying the Kiwi flag in the series, produced a gem of a drive to score an upset win in the first heat on $13.30 outsider Borntobeanartist.
He narrowly beaten US superstar Tim Tetrick on $31 longshot with Ireland’s John Richardson in third spot.
The second heat went to local star Gary Hall Jr, who led throughout on Fernleigh Rebel
The series concludes at Sunday’s Grand Final meeting.
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IT was almost two years ago when Keayang Steamer looked like being one of the next big things in Australian harness racing.
It was January 5, 2014 when the Marg Lee-trained stayer sat outside and easily beat Smoken Up in the Horsham Cup.
Sadly he was sidelined by injury soon after.
It’s been a battle for Lee to get him back fit, healthy and confident, but it looks to have been worth the effort.
Keayang Steamer made it three wins from four runs this campaign when he travelled from Victoria to NSW to win the $50,000 Group 2 Treuer Memorial (2540m) at Bankstown last Friday night.
They key was the start of the race and driver Glen Craven being able to muster enough pace to hold the front with Keayang Steamer.
The seven-year-old then rolled along in even times before finishing off in 57 and 28.6sec to win by 7.3m from outsiders Beetson and The Dip.
On the strength of that win, there is no doubt Keayang Steamer will be a player in races like the Sam, Victoria and maybe even Hunter Cups in coming months.
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TRAINER David Aiken took time out from Lennytheshark’s Perth Inter Dominion campaign to snare a feature race trifecta back home.
Aiken’s trio Beach Shack, Delightful Lana and Courageousnquick ran first, second and third in the Group 3 Tailamade Lombo at Melton last Friday night.
Beach Shack has been a real story of persistence for Aiken. She has grown from a handy battler into a quality mare.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere paced a sizzling 1min53.9sec mile rate for 1720m to beat former Kiwi mare Delightful Lana by a nose.
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GET ready for young trainer Anton Golino to become a major training force.
Golino, who boasts experience with some of the world’s best horsemen, is now private trainer for Yabby Dam’s Pat Driscoll in his new Victorian base.
After winning with former French trotter Used To Me last week, Golino did it again with My Valerie at Melton last Friday night.
My Valerie, formerly trained by Blake Fitzpatrick, sat parked but zoomed clear to win by 9.3m in a very slick 1min58sec mile rate for 2240m.
Two of Golino’s other exciting prospects, imports Arboe and My Tribeca are also just about to resume racing.
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IMPROVING gelding Desdon Murruffy could be given his chance in the big league.
Connections are looking at next month’s Group 1 South Australian Cup after an impressive Melton win last Friday night.
Desdon Murruffy speared out from an extreme draw (gate seven) and eventually found the lead.
Trained and driven by Matt Craven, Desdon Murruffy found plenty to win by 3.7m and post a sharp 1min55.6sec mile rate for 2240m.
The six-year-old is part-owned by well- known Aussie media presenter Gareth Hall of Sky Racing.
“We’ll have a chat with Matty, but the SA Cup could be a good option because t’s a preferential draw and our horse has the gate speed to use a good draw if he gets one,” he said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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