25 November 2021 | Ken Casellas
Savvy Bromac set to lead
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Savvy Bromac is a brilliant sit-sprinter, but outstanding young driver Emily Suvaljko is planning to take full advantage of her natural gate speed from the prized No. 1 barrier and attempt an all-the-way victory in the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The distance should suit her; she’s got good gate speed, so we should be able to hold up,” said Suvaljko. “And Nathan (trainer Nathan Turvey) thinks she is good enough to cop any pressure that comes her way.
“Disregard Savvy Bromac’s eighth in the Norms Daughter Classic last Friday week when the race wasn’t run to suit.”
Savvy Bromac was restrained from barrier eight and was last at the bell before charging home out six wide to finish three lengths from the winner Born To Boogie.
This will be Savvy Bromac’s first attempt over 2536m, but she showed her staying ability when she started from 20m and sustained a powerful finish when second to Star Of Diamonds in the 2503m Race For Roses last April.
Savvy Bromac has led and won twice, over 2130m at Gloucester Park last October and over 2185m at Pinjarra last January.
“I think the nerves will start kicking in on Friday morning,” said the 21-year-old Suvaljko, who has driven 155 winners this season. She drove the Turvey-trained Royal Essence to an all-the-way win over 2130m last Friday night, and Turvey has engaged Jocelyn Young to handle the three-year-old filly in Friday night’s group 1 event in which she will start from the No. 3 barrier.
Suvaljko said that she rated the Ross Olivieri-trained Born To Boogie as Savvy Bromac’s main danger, and also predicted that Balcatherine, prepared by Gary Hall snr, would prove a formidable rival.
Balcatherine, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr, is poorly drawn out wide at barrier No. 7 for her second appearance after a four-month absence — when she was most impressive in finishing a close second to Born To Boogie in the 2130m Norms Daughter Classic.
She started from barrier three, settled in tenth position and began a fast three-wide move after 500m to move to the breeze outside the pacemaker Wainui Creek. She fought on with great determination to finish a half-length second behind Born To Boogie.
Balcatherine has won at ten of her 25 starts, with the highlight of her career being her victory in the Mares Classic 12 months ago when she started from the outside of the back line, settled in tenth place, started a three-wide burst 1400m from home, moved to the breeze 200m later, took the lead with 470m to travel and won easily from the fast-finishing Somebeachparty, rating 1.56.8.
“She is the best mare and has the best driver,” said Hall snr. “She is going better now than she was when she won this race 12 months ago. Her latest run was outstanding, and she has worked very well since.”
Born To Boogie began from barrier No. 10 (the inside of the back line) when Chris Lewis drove a masterly race to land her a narrow winner over Balcatherine and Wainui Creek in the Norms Daughter Classic.
“It’s uncanny that she has drawn No. 10 again,” said Olivieri. “She is jumping out of her skin, and I’m very pleased with her. Her toughest opponent obviously is Balcatherine, whose first-up run was enormous.”
Born To Boogie, whose nine appearances this year have produced seven wins and two close seconds, will be driven by Chris Lewis, who said: “If she goes as good and gets as much luck as she had at her latest start, we will be happy. She can repeat the dose.”
Reed lauds Five Bangles
Astute trainer Mike Reed was delighted with the stylish first-up victory of Five Bangles at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week and is confident the filly will continue her winning ways when she contests the Westral Meshlock Security Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She hadn’t been to trials, and she won first-up, running home in 56.5sec.,” said Reed. “That run has really brought her on, and she is definitely the horse to beat on Friday night. Last Saturday morning she worked as good as any two-year-old has ever worked for me.”
Five Bangles set the pace and scored easily from Torrevean Amy and Diamond Dance at her first outing for six months when she sprinted over the final quarters in 28.7sec. and 27.8sec. and rated 1.58.7 over the 1730m journey.
Five Bangles, a New Zealand-bred filly by Bettors Delight and to be driven by Reed’s son Mark, is favourably drawn at barrier three on Friday night when one of her chief rivals is likely to be her stablemate Queeninthecorner, who will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko from out wide at barrier seven.
Queeninthecorner is unbeaten at her two starts but has not appeared for four weeks. “She has recovered from a cold and her recent work has been good,” said Reed snr.
In The Spotlight, a winner at three of her six starts for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond and star reinsman Ryan Warwick, impressed last Friday night when she was fifth at the bell before finishing fast to be third in a three-way photo finish behind smart colts Floewriter and Youre So Fine. She will start from the outside barrier (No. 9) but cannot be underestimated.
Jay Elle, a filly by Alta Christiano trained by Justin Prentice and to be driven by Gary Hall jnr, has won twice at Gloucester Park from five starts, and will have admirers, despite her wide draw at No. 8.
Mike Reed also has high hopes for his five-year-old mare Arma Indie, a winner of ten races but unplaced at her past nine starts. She is perfectly drawn at the No. 1 barrier in the 2536m Westral Roller Blinds Pace.
Arma Indie began from the outside barrier, raced wide early and then worked hard in the breeze before wilting to finish ninth behind Tyler Brett over 2130m last Friday night when having her first start for three weeks.
“She has the gate speed to lead from barrier one here, and hopefully she will dictate and get the money,” said Reed. “The run in the breeze was a good, hard hit-out and would have helped her. She is ready to win, and this is her field.”
Arma Indie’s chief rival is likely to be the Ross Olivieri-trained Double Expresso, who will be driven by Chris Lewis from the inside of the back line.
Reed is also expecting good efforts from Blitzembye in the Westral Roller Shutters Pace and Our Shelley Beach in the Westral Window Blinds Pace.
Blitzembye, a three-year-old gelding by Bettors Delight, has won at six of his 13 starts, including frontrunning efforts at Northam at his past two outings when he strolled to victory by more than six lengths in both events.
“I think Blitzembye will work his way to the front from barrier four and give his rivals something to chase,” said Reed. “Usually, he does only what he needs to do, but the other night at Northam I was quite surprised with the way he got away from them. Usually, he waits for them.”
Blitzembye is sure to be tested strongly by the Gary Hall senior-trained pair of Jumpingjackmac (barrier No. 7 in the field of seven) and Finvarra (barrier six). Finvarra caused an upset when he dashed to the front in the first lap and set a fast pace before winning from Jumpingjackmac over 2130m last Friday week.
“There’s not much between them, but I’m leaning towards Jumpingjackmac,” said Hall snr.
Adding interest to the race will be Star Of Willoughby, who will be driven by Emily Suvaljko from barrier three. He caught the eye last Friday week when he was last in a field of nine with 220m to travel before finishing strongly to be third behind Finvarra and Jumpingjackmac.
“He is going really good,” said Suvaljko. “He is the type of horse who has to be driven for luck. So, I will probably duck to the pegs.”
Lewis favours Mirragon
“Mirragon likes to lead, and he should give a good sight,” said champion reinsman Chris Lewis when assessing the prospects of the four-year-old in the 2536m Westral Meshlock Security Doors And Screens Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The former Victorian pacer has drawn ideally at barrier one, and Lewis declared that this was a winnable race.
Mirragon, who is prepared by Debra Lewis, the wife of the reinsman, and he should be close to peak form after three solid performances in his current preparation — thirds behind Born To Boogie and Al Guerrero and a last-start strong-finishing fourth behind Back In Twenty.
Lewis chose to drive Mirragon ahead of the Nathan Turvey-trained The White Rabbit, who will start from the No. 2 barrier. He drove The White Rabbit when he set the pace and dashed over the final 800m in 56.5sec. and won by more than five lengths from Beat City over 2536m on Tuesday of last week.
“The White Rabbit went very well over 2536m,” said Lewis. “But this time he won’t be leading.”
Lewis will also have plenty of supporters when he handles Mirragon’s stablemate Hampton Banner in the 2130m Westral Shadetrack Outdoor Blinds Free-For-All in which he is awkwardly drawn at barrier No. 6.
Hampton Banner has won at each of his past six starts, including his two outings after a spell. He is a dashing frontrunner who is sure to be tested this week by Perfect Major from the No. 1 barrier, and Wildwest from barrier five.
“Hampton Banner doesn’t have to lead to win,” said Lewis. “He’s got good speed on the way home as well. We will consider our options at the start. He’s quick enough to lead. Perfect Major is racing well and barrier one is a big help for him.”
Trainer Ross Olivieri is expecting a strong performance from Perfect Major (to be driven by Chris Voak), saying: “He’s back in form, is feeling enormous and I expect a strong effort.”
Majestic Courtney out to make amends
Former Victorian trotter Majestic Courtney was poised to make a successful West Australian debut four Fridays ago before he hit the off-side wheel of No Republic’s sulky 420m from home and broke into a gallop and dropped back to finish last.
He is one of Wundowie trainer Bruce Stanley’s five runners in the field of eight to contest the Westral Timber Shutters Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and despite drawing the outside barrier (No. 8) in the 2130m mobile event, he is clearly the best of Stanley’s team and looks extremely hard to beat.
Stanley will handle the New Zealand-bred six-year-old who has raced 49 times for 17 wins and four placings.
Majestic Courtney began smartly from the back mark of 50m at his WA debut and Stanley manoeuvred the gelding into the one-out, one-back position in the first lap, following No Republic. Majestic Courtney was about to start a three-wide move leaving the back straight in the final circuit when he struck No Republic’s wheel and broke.
This week No Republic, trained by Nathan Turvey and driven by Emily Suvaljko, will start from barrier six and looks one of the main chances.
Stanley’s other runners are Hammers Law (Dylan Egerton-Green), My Mdina (Deni Roberts), The Male Model (Mark Reed) and Lightning Calder (Colin Brown). The Male Model, a $46.70 outsider, finished strongly to win the race three Fridays ago when he defeated the pacemaker Tears Of Joy.
Soho Bollinger, a Bettors Delight three-year-old, will make his WA debut in the opening event, the 1730m Go One Better With Westral Pace. He raced 25 times in Victoria for ten wins, six seconds and one third, and entered the Serpentine stables of Gary Hall snr last month.
He will start out wide at barrier eight and will be driven by Gary Hall junior, who chose to handle him ahead of stablemate The Ideal Touch, a four-year-old who impressed last Friday night when Hall drove him confidently in the breeze before winning from Typhoon Banner and Leosabi, rating 1.57.4 over the 2130m after covering the final 800m in 55.9sec. The Ideal Touch will start from the No. 5 barrier with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
“Soho Bollinger is a nice horse, and he definitely would’ve been a winning chance if he had drawn to lead,” said Hall snr. “Both Soho Bollinger and The Ideal Touch could have won if they had drawn inside Machnificent (barrier one), but now it’s going to be hard.
Machnificent finished with a strong sustained burst to win narrowly from stablemate Heez Our Perseus over 2130m last Friday night. This week Shannon Suvaljko will be attempting an all-the-way win.
Star’s brother makes winning WA debut
Early this year hobby trainer Graeme Collins decided to quit the sport of harness racing. But a spur of the moment decision in May has rekindled his interest in the sport.
The 60-year-old Collins, his wife Pauline and their son Ben are now the proud owners of four-year-old Art Major gelding Forsure, who at his first appearance for 14 months, made a striking West Australian debut when he unwound a spirited finishing burst to win a 2130m event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday afternoon at the handsome odds of $21.10.
The win revived memories of former champion millionaire pacer My Field Marshal, who won the $300,000 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park in January 2019 when he defeated Galactic Star and Vultan Tin.
Forsure is a full-brother to My Field Marshal, who earned $1,493,182 from 29 wins and 25 placings from 76 starts. His other WA victory was in the Village Kid Sprint in December 2018. One of his other major feature race victories was in the $450,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle in February 2018 when he won by a head from Jilliby Kung Fu, and left Soho Tribeca and three Interdominion champions Lennytheshark, Tiger Tara and Lazarus in his wake.
Collins and his family are not looking for similar riches from Forsure. All they want is some enjoyment, with Graeme Collins saying: “This is only for fun. We just want a horse who is competitive; it doesn’t matter whether it is on a Tuesday or a Friday night.
Collins, a compliance officer with Western Power, is the only harness racing trainer from Muchea, a small town about 45km north-east of Perth.
He says that he became interested in harness racing about twenty years ago when his son Ben was keen to drive in races. One of his early winners was Danmelben, who had 34 starts for five wins, seven placings and $37,093 in stakes. Danmelben’s first foal was Kamendable Lass, who had 98 starts for seven wins, 21 placings and $67,816, with the highlight of her career being her third placing behind Highest Royalty in the group 1 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in June 2013.
“I had just about given the game away early this year,” said Collins. “I sold most of my horses and my truck. I was going to get out, and then I saw that this horse (Forsure) was advertised for sale in Victoria.
“I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. I got on the phone and we negotiated a price, and that was it. I had seen a video of him in a trial at Melton on May 25 and liked the look of him.”
For the record, Forsure finished fourth in the six-horse trial, five lengths behind the winner Sahara Sirocco who rated 1.55.6 over 1720m.
Forsure, who raced 12 times in New Zealand for three wins and two placings, was brought to Australia by noted New Zealand trainer Tim Butt, and he made his Australian debut at Menangle on September 29, 2020 when he finished seventh in a field of eight, eight lengths from the winner Held To Ransom.
Collins said that Forsure was suffering from a virus when he raced at Menangle, and that the gelding was then given five or six months off, during which time Butt relocated to Melton in Victoria.
Due to Covid travel restrictions, Forsure did not arrive in WA until July, and he has been given a slow and careful preparation by Collins, who engaged Ryan Bell to drive the pacer at his WA debut, mainly due to the fact that Bell had driven Kamendable Lass many times on country tracks in 2018 and 2019, including a win at Busselton in January 2019.
Forsure began from barrier six in Tuesday’s race at Gloucester Park and Bell had the gelding pacing strongly in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before sending him forward, three wide, with 250m to travel. Forsure finished full of running to win by a half-length from Rock On The Beach, rating 1.566.8 over 2130m.
Bell was delighted with the win for the Collins family, although he still had sad memories of when Danmelben, a 14/1 chance driven by Morgan Woodley, finished strongly to get up and beat Schinzig Buller (9/1) by a half-length at Gloucester Park on January 18, 2008. “That prevented me from training my first winner,” explained Bell.
If breeding is any criterion, Forsure is destined for bigger and better things. His dam Foreal, a mare by the American stallion Washington VC, amassed $664,800 from 18 wins and 19 placings from 57 starts.
Her wins included the group 2 Ladyship Stakes over 2200m, the 1700m group 2 Sires Stakes Championship and the group 1 Great Northern Oaks, all at Alexandra Park in the month of November 2004 for trainer Tim Butt and reinsman Anthony Butt.
In Australia, Foreal won the New South Wales Oaks at Harold Park in February 2005, and the Ladyship Mile at Harold Park in November 2005. She also finished third behind Blacks A Fake in the Interdominion championship final at Adelaide’s Globe Derby Park in January 2007.
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