17 April 2023 | Ken Casellas
Betterzippit emerges as a superstar
Five-year-old Betterzippit, a modestly-bred pacer and a moderate performer in New Zealand with five wins and earnings of $52,350 from 28 starts, continued his remarkable rise to fame with a dazzling victory in the $1 million TABtouch Nullarbor Slot race at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His thrilling victory by a head over another New Zealand-bred Sydney pacer Spirit Of St Louis has thrust him into serious contention for the accolade of Australia’s best pacing horse.
Betterzippit went into Friday night’s richest harness event in Western Australia as the lowest earner of the ten starters, with prizemoney of $128,851. The other nine runners had amassed a total of $4,505,553 in stakes — an average of $500,617. Betterzippit also was the least experienced runner in the race, with only 34 starts.
But Betterzippit, who arrived in Australia just 13 weeks ago with little fanfare, defied the odds, proved the master of his rivals and gave further proof that his 29-year-old Menangle trainer Jason Grimson is not only a wonderful preparer of pacers but is also an outstanding judge of horseflesh.
Grimson, who took up training seven years ago after working as a concreter for several years, picked out Betterzippit after watching replays of his races in New Zealand.
“I saw a few of his replays and liked him,” said Grimson. “I had to keep raising the price before I was able to buy him for Mick Boots. He was in the medium price range, and I liked him because I considered he was just going through the motions.”
Betterzippit was purchased for about $70,000, and he has already proved to be an excellent bargain. He is by the fine American stallion Betterthancheddar and is the fifth and final foal out of unraced and undistinguished Mach Three mare Nile Star, whose only other foal to race was Targaryen, who earned $15,605 from two wins and two placings from 23 starts.
Not only was Betterzippit’s victory as the $4 second favourite on Friday night a triumph for Grimson, but it also revealed the undoubted skill of 24-year-old reinsman Cam Hart, the leading driver in New South Wales for the past two years and the leader in this year’s premiership table.
“I was confident coming over here that we had the horse to get the job done,” said Hart. “I saw that there was a bit of speed off the front, so from barrier four I was happy to stay out of the early burn before making a mid-race move to put us into the race.
“Betterzippit has got heaps of speed and is so versatile. And we saw how tough he is when challenged in the home straight by Spirit Of St Louis. He really dug deep in the last 50 metres.”
The race got away to a spectacular start when star 21-year-old Sydney reinsman Jack Callaghan revved up $18 chance Spirit Of St Louis from out wide at barrier No. 8 to burst straight to the front, leaving the three inside runners Typhoon Banner ($71), Magnificent Storm ($1.80 favourite) and Lavra Joe ($8.50) in his wake.
Betterzippit settled down in seventh position in the one-wide line before Hart urged the gelding forward in a lightning move to take the lead 900m after the start.
Callaghan eased Spirit Of St Louis off the pegs 250m from home and he finished powerfully to lose by a head, with the final three 400m sections of the 2536m event being covered in 29.9sec., 27.9sec. and 28.2sec. and the winner rating 1.56.8 on a rain-affected track.
Jumpingjackmac ($9) was eighth at the bell before following Lavra Joe’s three-wide run in the final circuit and running home strongly to be third, with Steel The Show ($19) improving from seventh, four back on the pegs, to be a creditable fourth. Lavra Joe wilted to ninth, and Magnificent Storm finished seventh after enjoying the one-out, one-back trail in the middle stages and then being badly blocked for a clear run in the last lap.
Betterzippit has improved in leaps and bounds and his seven Australian starts have produced six wins and a ninth placing behind Spirit Of St Louis in the group 2 Schweppes Sprint at Menangle in February when he was badly hampered for room.
“We haven’t yet found the bottom of him,” said Grimson. “We have no immediate plans for him. All we have to do now is to make sure he gets back to Sydney fit and healthy.
“My father was into harness racing, and when I was 14, I used to ride gallopers in trackwork before going to school to earn a bit of money. I didn’t mind concreting, but I always enjoyed horses, and I was happy to end my days at that job and have a go at training pacers.”
Hart has enjoyed a splendid association with Grimson over the past couple of years, with their biggest success before Friday night being with the $16 chance I Cast No Shadow in the Interdominion Championship at Melton last December.
Hart, who hails from Junee in the New South Wales Riverina district, began his driving career as a teenager with his uncle Trevor White — and he now has driven 843 winners. It will be a far cry from winning a $1 million race on Friday night to driving at a meeting in Newcastle on Monday when two of his five drives in 1609m $6936 events will be former West Australian pacers, the 11-year-old Highview Sadler (a winner at 15 of his 264 starts) and ten-year-old Twentynine Twelve (a winner at 14 of his 204 starts).
Cups plans for Hector
Lightly-raced five-year-old Hector completed a hat-trick of wins at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he surged home from tenth at the bell to burst to the front with 120m to travel and go on and win by a length from Valentines Brook in the $30,000 Eucla Pace.
His trainer Kim Prentice was delighted with the victory and said that the long-term mission for Hector would be the rich Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup next summer.
“No way did I expect Hector to be able to come around them like that, especially when they hadn’t gone that hard early,” he said. “Each week he keeps coming out and showing us that there is more and more (to come). I have not yet decided on his plans.
“We may put him away for the big Cups; they’re his long-term aim. In the big races, if he’s sitting back, sniping, you never know.”
Hector was the $5.80 second fancy behind the polemarker El Chema, the $2.15 favourite, and Mitch Miller did not bustle Hector at the start was setting the pace after defying an early challenge from Hampton Banner ($6.50).
Miller eased Hector three wide at the 750m, and the New Zealand-bred gelding sustained a strong burst to prove far too good for his ten rivals. He rated a good 1.57.7 on a rain-affected track. Valentines Brook ($18) fought on gamely after racing without cover over the final 1350m. Cordero ($61) ran on strongly from seventh at the bell to finish third, with El Chema wilting to sixth after having a tendency to overrace due to his pull-down blinkers malfunctioning.
Hector has won at three of his four WA starts, taking his career record to 28 starts for ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $128,384.
Run For Mercy set for Breeders Stakes
Consistent mare Run For Mercy will be set for the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes on May 5 following her decisive victory in the 1730m Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The five-year-old gave Oakford trainer Jemma Hayman her first Friday night Gloucester Park double, following her win with Taking The Miki earlier in the program.
Run For Mercy is the first pacer bred by Hayman. She is by the American sire Pet Rock and is the first foal out of the Western Terror mare Arousing, who had 110 starts for 11 wins, 32 placings and $119,663.
Run For Mercy now has earned $122,284 from 12 wins and 22 placings from 79 starts. She is owned by Hayman and Mercedes Xin Yi Ng.
“Mercedes is my best friend,” said Hayman. “We studied together at vet school, and I gifted her ten per cent of the mare who I named Mercy for short after her.
“Run For Mercy is a most perfect horse, who doesn’t do a thing wrong. She has been racing since December in her current campaign and is showing no signs of slowing down.”
Run For Mercy, the $1.90 favourite, was driven patiently by Chris Voak and settled down in seventh position in the field of eight before she was switched three wide 700m from home and dashed to the front 300m later on her way to winning by just over two lengths from the pacemaker Bettorstartdreaming ($7). The winner rated 1.57.1, with final quarters of 29sec. and 28.8sec.
The Mustang loves to lead
Victorian-bred pacer The Mustang is a noted frontrunner, and he was seen in his favourite role when he was a hot $1.20 favourite from the No. 3 barrier in the 2130m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gary Hall jnr enjoyed an armchair drive when he guided the six-year-old to an easy victory over Rock Me Over (who trailed him throughout) and Tiger Royal, who finished solidly from eighth at the bell.
“This was a nice drop in class for him,” said trainer Michael Young. “I don’t think he is ever going to look supremely impressive; he’s not that type of horse.
“I’m hoping he will stack up to be a genuine Free-For-Aller. I think he will and will follow the speed well enough. With his gate speed he is always going to get a good spot. He can win two more city races before going back to Free-For-Alls.”
The Mustang has had nine starts in Western Australia for four wins and two placings, taking his career record to 74 starts for 19 wins, 29 placings and $216,664.
Talks Up A Storm causes an upset
Speedy pacer Talks Up A Storm was a topical tip on a wintry evening at Gloucester Park on Friday when the WA-bred five-year-old caused an upset by scoring an easy win in the 2130m Retravision Pace.
The Murray Lindau-trained gelding set a solid pace and coasted to a one and a half length win over $10 chance The Code Breaker, rating 1.56.6 after final 400m sections of 28.1sec. and 28.5sec.
Most punters considered the polemarker Street Hawk was a certainty after his recent excellent form of two wins and four seconds from his six starts this season, and he was a firm $1.50 favourite.
However, Street Hawk was beaten for early pace by Talks Up A Storm, who began speedily from the No. 4 barrier. About 150m after Street Hawk was crossed his driver Deni Roberts eased him off the pegs and into the breeze, obviously hoping to avoid the possibility of being hemmed in on the inside and unable to obtain a clear run in the final lap.
Street Hawk faded in the final stages when The Code Breaker, who had trailed the leader all the way, ran home gamely, and the $3.20 second fancy Tricky Miki fought on from sixth and last at the bell. Street Hawk was a fading fourth.
Talks Up A Storm, who had finished second to Steel the Show at his previous outing, was great value a$13.90 on the tote and at $21 on the fixed market. He has been an excellent moneyspinner who has raced 50 times for 12 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $195,818.
Change aids Wait For The Bell
A change of gear played an important role in Wait For The Bell’s win in the $20,250 TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trainer-reinsman Aldo Cortopassi was concerned when the WA-bred five-year-old hung out badly on the final corner before finishing fourth behind Arma Einstein.
“So, I changed his bit, and he worked well and raced straight in a hoppled run on Tuesday morning,” said Cortopassi.
“I wasn’t expecting to lead tonight (from barrier three) but when Lamandier galloped from barrier two it gave me the opportunity to dart across and lead. I was expecting to land just handy. He is always a bit sharper when he draws a bit wider than when he draws the pole.
“So, everything worked out in our favour, and we were able to bowl along in front and then hold off the swoopers.”
The quarters were covered in 28.6sec., 29.5sec., 28.2sec. and 29.3sec. and Wait For The Bell rated 1.55 over the 1730m journey.
Wait For The Bell was bred by John Bell and is raced on lease by Amber Sparks. This was his first metropolitan-class win, and it improved his record to 48 starts for nine wins, 16 placings and $82,358 in stakes.
He is by American stallion Hurrikane and is out of Jossies Belle (51 starts for three wins, eight placings and $18,553). Wait For The Bell is a half-brother to Tyler Brett, whose 88 starts produced 18 wins, 26 placings and $201,830, with his most notable victory being in the group 3 Higgins Memorial in July 2018.
Goodfellaz shows good promise
Lightly-raced WA-bred pacer Goodfellaz emerged as an excellent candidate for the rich feature events for four-year-olds at the end of the year when he scored an impressive all-the-way win in the 1730m Bridge Bar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He started from the No. 2 barrier and was the $1.40 favourite who relished his pacemaking role and sped over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 28sec. to win by a half-length from $7.50 chance Jett Star, who fought on grandly after racing in the breeze.
Goodfellaz, prepared by Hopeland trainer Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, rated a slick 1.55.1 and improved his record to 14 starts for eight wins, four placings and stakes of $63,340.
Cheer The Major gets the job done
Cheer The Major is not the most tractable pacer. During his preliminary before the Trotsynd Syndications Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night he attempted to run out of the course gate, and he repeated the misdemeanour after wining the event, keeping his driver Emily Suvaljko on her toes.
It was a change of gear suggested by Suvaljko to trainer Gary Elson which played a major role in the seven-year-old’s success.
“I told Gary I wanted the blocks back on,” explained Suvaljko. “We had taken them off to try to get him to be more genuine. Out in front when he was blocked up, he couldn’t see the other horses and he wasn’t letting me to get him away from them. He is a better rolling type than he is at walking and sprinting.
“We had the pull-downs on him and now we have the pull-ups. I wanted the blocks for the start, and then pull them up. With a lap to go tonight after I got a breather, I pulled them up so he could see the other horses.”
This did the trick and Cheer The Major, the $3.50 second fancy, raced soundly in front and won by 2m from $41 outsider Our Star Watch, who fought on grimly after working hard in the breeze. Dominus Factum, the $2.10 favourite, was smartest to begin from barrier five but was unable to cross to the front. He trailed the pacemaker and battled on to finish a well-beaten third.
Cheer The Major has had 53 starts for six wins, 21 placings and $64,321. He is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Cheer The Lady, who won the group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Addington in May 2012 and the group 1 Breeders Crown for three-year-old fillies at Melton later that year.
Race For The Roses is the aim
Talented mare Taking the Miki is on target to make a bold bid for victory in the $30,000 Race For Roses, a 2503m standing-start event at Gloucester Park next Friday week, after a stylish win in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The Race For The Roses is a race I have always wanted to win,” said managing part-owner and trainer Jemma Hayman. “In my opinion, we don’t have enough feature stands, and this is the only premier stand for mares. The winner is adorned with roses, and I love that spectacle.”
Taking The Miki was the $2.60 favourite on Friday night when she began out wide at barrier No. 7 and settled at the rear while Let It Linga ($6.50) was setting a modest early pace. Chris Voak then seized the initiative and sent Taking The Miki forward to work in the breeze.
Taking The Miki forged to the front 450m from home, and after a third 400m section of 28.3sec., she dashed away and won by a length and a half from $31 chance Shehadi, who finished solidly after trailing the leader. The final quarter was run in a leisurely 30sec. and the winner rated 1.58.
“It wasn’t the plan to zip round early,” said Hayman. “It was an astute decision by Voaky to send her around when he detected a slight drop in pace and knowing that he had the strongly fancied Machs Legacy ($2.80) behind him.
“Taking the Miki is not big but has a big heart and is tough.”
Taking The Miki, the WA Oaks winner last year, has earned $250,853 from eight wins and 14 placings from 31 starts.
Posseidon overcomes bad habits
Nine-year-old trotter Posseidon has been an unruly performer for most of his career which has been seriously marred by his habit of breaking in his races.
But veteran trainer John Ellis is now quite happy that he spent $1000 a couple of years ago to buy the temperamental square gaiter.
Ellis was at his wit’s end trying to cure Posseidon of his bad habits, and finally sent him to trainer Treacy Reay to be prepared at her Pinjarra property. Remarkably, Posseidon has been on his best behaviour for Reay and has won at his first three starts for her after resuming following an eight-month absence.
Posseidon has been handled by champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr at his past three outings for easy wins, the latest being in the TABtouch Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the old gelding was the $3.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier.
Posseidon was smartest into stride and was untroubled to set the pace and win by just under a length from $9.50 chance Chumani, who trailed the leader all the way. Line The Starzzz ($4.60) was four lengths farther back in third place after enjoying the ideal one-out, one-back position.
The South Australian-bred Posseidon raced 13 times in Victoria for two wins and three placings. He broke in eight of those 13 starts. Then he came to WA and was prepared by Matt Scott, who won three times from 20 starts for the stable when he broke in seven of those races.
It was then, on a whim and being well aware of the gelding’s potential, that Ellis was able to buy the horse for a mere thousand dollars.
“Posseidon had hoof abscesses when I got him,” said Ellis. “I treated him and had him for 18 months when I was able to give him three starts last year. He broke in all three of those races, including a second placing at Pinjarra when he went into a pace for about three strides before he got back into stride.
“I just couldn’t get him going and I decided to send him to Treacy to be trained. I knew that John Jelf (Treacy’s partner) had always wanted Posseidon, but I had already put my hand up for him when he was on the market.”
Posseidon is a bit sore all the time,” said Jelf. “He is sore in the back and his front feet get bruised. He races with pads under his shoes and Treacy does a lot of work on him, including constant massages.”
Friday night’s win helped to relieve the angst of Reay’s loss of her smart trotter Birthday Suit, who suffered an attack of colic and died last Thursday. Birthday Suit raced 22 times for Reay last year for two wins, two seconds, three thirds, a fourth and a sixth.
Posseidon, who showed early promise when second in the group 1 Breeders Crown in Melbourne in March 2017, is at last repaying Ellis for his belief I the gelding, with his first six starts for him producing three wins and a second for stakes of $23,381.
He is by American sire Fling It and is the 13TH foal out of Maori Acacia, whose older half-brother Noopy Kiosk was a star trotter who won the Victoria Trotters Derby at Moonee Valley in June 1996 and was retired with a record of 103 starts for 34 wins, 121 placings and $320,999 in prizemoney.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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