21 March 2022 | Ken Casellas
Vultan Tin on $1m doorstep
Part-time trainer Dan Costello, a full-time worker at the Harvey Beef company, achieved his greatest success in harness racing when indefatigable veteran Vultan Tin scored a thrilling last-stride victory in the $50,000 group 2 Mondo Doro Governor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This gave the 41-year-old Costello his fifth training success, and only his second at Gloucester Park — when he prepared and drove 10/1 chance Our Business to a neck victory over Drought Buster in an M0 event on October 12, 2001.
Fittingly, Vultan Tin broke a 12-month drought and ended a losing sequence of 20, with his previous success being in the Narrogin Cup in March last year.
“Now for the Bunbury Cup next Saturday night,” said Costello. “He will be cherry ripe, and a win will take his earnings past the one million dollar mark.”
Competition will be fierce in the $50,000 Bunbury Cup at Donaldson Park, but Vultan Tin is sure to make a bold bid for victory to join the elite group of West Australian-owned pacers in the millionaire club, which includes such outstanding performers as The Falcon Strike, Washakie, Has The Answers, Lombo Pocket Watch, Im Themightyquinn, David Hercules, My Hard Copy, Chicago Bull and King Of Swing.
Ten-year-old Vultan Tin, bred and owned by Costello’s parents Phil and Denise, has amassed $988,884 in prizemoney from 30 wins and 50 placings. He was driven for only the second time by 27-year-old Mitch Miller, and Vultan Tin’s victory left Chris Voak with mixed emotions.
Voak, one of twelve drivers to have handled Vultan Tin, had enjoyed great success with the hardy gelding, having driven him 93 times for 18 wins, 15 seconds and seven thirds.
Voak drove the $1.16 favourite Papinik on Friday night when the brilliant, lightly-raced pacer set a fast pace when he was inclined to overrace. Vultan Tin, the only runner on the back line in the field of ten, enjoyed the perfect run behind the pacemaker before Miller eased him off the pegs on the home turn.
Vultan Tin, second favourite at $10.60, finished with great determination to get up and beat Papinik in the final desperate stride to snatch victory by a nose, rating 1.54.3 over the 2130m.
This gave Miller his second group success, following his easy all-the-way victory with Flametree in the group 3 Gold Bracelet the previous Friday night.
“From barrier ten it was a good opportunity for Vultan Tin to have a nice easy run for a change,” said Miller. “His run when eighth in the Pinjarra Cup last week didn’t look that great, but he felt terrific. He is usually a bit dour and tough, but he was quite sharp.
“I wasn’t expecting to win tonight. Papinik is a class horse, but the way things worked out, with the leader getting fired up, suited us down to the ground.”
Costello has trained Vultan Tin for only his past four starts — after his father had handed over the reins because he was not fully vaccinated, which prevented him from attending race meetings. Dan Costello’s previous win as a trainer before Friday night came when Stuart McDonald drove Outrider to victory at Pinjarra on May 18, 2020.
Phil and Denise Costello bred Vultan Tin, who is by American sire Dawn Ofa New Day and is the first foal (and only one to have raced) from Ellevarrac, a mare bred by Phil, who won once (by a head at Pinjarra in 2008) from 30 starts. Costello also bred Ellevarrac’s dam Carravelle, who failed to win a race from 17 starts.
A highlight of Vultan Tin’s career was his fourth placing in the 2017 Interdominion championship final behind Lazarus, Chicago Bull and Tiger Tara in December 2017 when he finished ahead of such stars as Soho Tribeca and Lennytheshark.
He also won the WA Pacing Cup in December 2020, beating Chicago Bull, won the Narrogin Cup in 2017 and 2021 and the Pinjarra Cup in 2021.
Currie rejects Brown’s advice
Ace trainer-reinsman Colin Brown disliked Arma Fifty Five, a mare he trained about eight years ago, who wasn’t good enough to race — and he told owner-breeder Jim Currie to get rid of her.
Now he is extremely glad that Currie refused to take any notice of Brown and decided to breed from Arma Fifty Five, whose first two progeny, Fifty Five Reborn and Arma Einstein (both by Renaissance Man) have already won a total of 24 races and earned more than $300,000 in stakes and bonuses under Brown’s expert care.
Brown was lavish in his praise of four-year-old Arma Express after he had produced him in fine fettle and driven him to a dashing victory in the $20,250 Gold Medal Xmas Ham Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Arma Einstein, the $1.60 favourite, set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and withstood some strong pressure from the challenging Power And Grace in the early stages before sprinting over the final 800m in 56.3sec. to beat $10 chance Deeorse by two lengths, rating 1.54.9 over 1730m.
“I didn’t like Arma Fifty Five, but Jim was keen to keep the syndicate going, and that was the only reason we kept her,” said Brown.
“There was nothing about her that I liked. She was unsociable, didn’t want to run, couldn’t run, and was knee-high to a grasshopper. She had nothing going for her, except for the fact that she was by Bettors Delight.
“Arma Einstein’s overall record (46 starts for ten wins, 19 placings and $104,416) is quite impressive. His work on Tuesday was outstanding. He is very, very fast and has run 56sec. halves and 26sec. quarters on Jandakot.
“He is a very quick animal, and when you have that high speed, you are always a danger. He is one of the quickest horses I have sat behind, and to run 56sec. flat around Jandakot, hard held, is quite an effort.”
Brown said that he had been somewhat too easy with Arma Einstein until recently. “We were racing him every week, and three weeks in a row he drew well and was blocked for a run. We were looking after him during the week and were looking after him a bit too well.
“He got too big, really bulked up, so over the past three to four weeks we’ve increased his workload significantly and probably got back to how I was working my horses a fair while ago.”
Brown, Currie and other members of the syndicate which races Fifty Five Reborn and Arma Express are looking forward to a yearling full-sister to those two pacers. “On looks, she is a nicer type than those two, so we’ve got something to look forward to,” said Brown.
Brown said that there were no ambitious plans for Arma Express but did say that he had the potential to contest the rich feature events for four-year-olds in November and December.
“I think that in those top four-year-old races he would be a sniper,” he said. “I don’t think for one minute that he could sit outside them or do a lot of work. He’s either a leader or a sniper.”
Eighteen Carat overcomes her hanging
Eighteen Carat, a recent arrival from New Zealand, gave champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr a tough time at her Australian debut when she hung out for much of the way before winning the 2130m Bringing Home The Bacon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Hall had to work hard to get the Mach Three five-year-old to the front after 900m, and then the mare hung out badly in the home straight before fighting on to win by almost a length from Booraa.
Eighteen Carat, trained by Michael Young, was the $1.40 favourite from barrier four, and Hall did not bustle her early while Newsletter ($21) and All The Bells ($17) began speedily, and the lead time was a solid 36.7sec.
“I didn’t rush her because I knew that the ones inside of her would have a bit of a dispute for the lead,” said Hall. “So, I thought I’d wait and then work across. She had to do a bit more than I thought she would to get to the front. She was a little bit lazy and wanted to hang out all the way. I didn’t pull the plugs, mainly because I couldn’t risk taking a hand off the reins.”
Despite her hanging, Eighteen Carat dashed over the final 400m in 28.6sec. and rated 1.56.4. She certainly has a good share of ability and should develop into a leading contender for the $50,000 Empress Stakes on April 1 and the $30,000 Race For Roses on April 29.
It’s Tricky Ric all the way
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Tricky Ric was on his best behaviour and made the most of a stroke of luck to win the group 2 $30,000 Mondo Doro Smallgoods Trotters Sprint over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting favourite at $2.30, Tricky Ric, prepared by Gary Hall snr, burst straight to the front and set a brisk pace before winning by three lengths from $126 outsider My Medina, with The Male Model ($101) a half-length farther back in third place.
“We got a bit of luck at the start,” said reinsman Gary Hall jnr, referring to Son Of A Whiz ($3.50) galloping badly moments before the start and badly inconveniencing the $3.30 second fancy Beefour Bacardi.
Son Of A Whiz raced at the rear before finishing a well-beaten seventh, while Beefour Bacardi was never in contention and finished in tenth position. The stewards declared Beefour Bacardi a non-runner because he was denied a fair start.
Tricky Ric, who galloped at the start and finished a distant tenth in the 1684m Trotters Free-For-All at Pinjarra 11 days earlier, began smoothly and was never in danger of defeat as he dashed over the quarters of the final mile in 29.8sec., 31.1sec., 28.9sec. and 29.5sec.
Wundowie trainer Bruce Stanley was prominent with his three runners, My Medina, The Male Model and Majestic Courtney ($8.50) finishing in the top five.
Alta Rhett ends losing run of 20
Smart six-year-old Alta Rhett appreciated a considerable drop in class when Nathan Turvey drove him to an easy all-the-way victory in the 2536m Mondo Doro Family Business Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This ended a losing sequence of 20 for the consistent gelding who is trained in Bunbury by Sarah Wall. Alta Rhett’s previous win was at Gloucester Park 13 months ago when he started at $23 and defeated Bettor Be Oscar.
Alta Rhett, who is raced by Wall’s husband Chris and breeder Dave Stringer, has now earned $125,813 from 11 wins and 22 placings from 72 starts.
Alta Rhett, third favourite at $6.20, was rated perfectly by Turvey and won comfortably by 8m from $51 chance Crocodile Kid, who enjoyed a perfect sit behind the pacemaker throughout.
Manning ($3.30) raced without cover for much of the way and finished a commendable third, with the $1.95 favourite Valentines Brook finished fast to be fourth after being hampered for room until late and running on, four wide, from sixth on the home turn.
Lesser light Lawrence in the limelight
Seven-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Lawrence is certainly not a star pacer in the powerful Greg and Skye Bond stable, but he is certainly a model of consistency.
Driven by Ryan Warwick and starting the $1.40 favourite in the 2130m Coppa Kabana Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, Lawrence was not fully extended in setting the pace and winning by just under a length from the $5.50 second fancy Know When To Run, who had a tough run in the breeze before fighting on determinedly.
Lawrence, who is by the American stallion Shadow Play, has delivered the goods in fine style in Western Australia, with his 22 starts in the State producing nine wins, seven seconds and one third placing to take his overall record to 50 starts for 14 wins, 18 placings and $141,772 in stakes.
His win came a week after he started off the back mark of 30 metres and had little opportunity to get involved in the action with a solid pace being set all the way. He was last in the field of ten before fighting on to finish seventh behind Caveman. At his previous start he led and won over 2185m at Pinjarra, with a final quarter of 27.2sec.
“People thought he was disappointing when unplaced in the stand last week, but he wasn’t,” said Warwick. “Tonight, I was hoping we would get an easy lead time, and if he repeated his effort of the previous week none of the others should be able to beat him.”
Warwick was able to guide Lawrence through the lead time in a comfortable 38.5sec., and then after a second quarter of 30sec. Lawrence sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 28.3sec.
Our Sequel bounces back
Seven-year-old pacer Our Sequel ended a losing streak of eight unplaced efforts when he relished his pacemaking role in the 2536m Salami Too Hot To Trot Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Our Sequel, trained by Colin Joss, was the $1.70 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier, and Ryan Warwick rated him to perfection on his way to a comfortable 4m victory over the $3.80 second fancy Black Jack Zac, who fought on gamely after trailing the leader all the way.
Warwick said that Joss had been disillusioned with Our Sequel’s form before he decided to change his training routine. “Jossy has gone back to basics and is training the way he used to, and is getting rewarded,” said Warwick.
The 72-year-old Joss bought Our Sequel for $15,000 last August and the Mach Three gelding who is raced by Joss’s wife Pauline, Craig Bradshaw, Mark Roberts and Rex Gray has earned $25,777 from his two wins from 15 starts for his new connections.
Spell for The Miki Taker
Outstanding three-year-old The Miki Taker maintained his superb form when his trainer Aiden de Campo drove him to an impressive victory over Wonderful To Fly and High price in the 2130m Pastrami Pacing Special Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting third favourite at $3.50 from barrier two, The Miki Taker trailed the pacemaker and $2.25 favourite High Price before getting off the pegs 650m from home and finishing strongly to score at a 1.56.9 rate over the 2130m journey.
De Campo eased The Miki Taker back one length to enable the gelding to get into the clear. Wonderful To Fly ($2.80) was in the breeze and The Miki Taker had to race three wide to issue his challenge. Shane Young sent Wonderful To Fly to the lead with 300m to travel, but the filly was unable to hold off Taking the Miki, who sprinted fast to hit the front in the final 15 metres.
After a 28.4sec. third quarter of the final mile, The Miki Taker sprinted over the final 400m in 27.4sec. The son of American sire Always B Miki now has raced 15 times for seven wins, six placings and stakes of $132,918.
“He will go to the paddock now for a couple of months,” said de Campo. “He will miss the Pearl (May 13) and I will bring him back for the big races towards the end of the year. He has done a good job this time in, and I will be aiming to get him back to race in the Westbred Classic (a $100,000 event on September 9).
“I’d rather give him a decent break and miss the $50,000 Pearl, and then have him primed for the bigger races (the Westbred Classic and $200,000 WA Derby on November 4).”
De Campo said that he was a little bit worried when The Miki Taker was tucked away on the pegs. “But I managed to get out and get the job done,” he said. “He laboured a bit around the last corner, but as soon as he straightened up, he paced strongly. He’s got so much fight in him, and that’s his best asset. He fought really well up the straight and went to the line well.”
Dont Bother Me None on the way up
“He will measure up for the four-year-old classics late in the year; he’s one of our better ones,” declared star reinsman Ryan Warwick after driving Dont Bother Me None to victory in the 2536m The Mondo Streaky Bacon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Dont Bother Me None, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $1.20 favourite who gave Warwick an armchair drive when he led and sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.9sec. and 27.9sec. to win by more than a length from the $6.50 second fancy McArdles Gem, who trailed the pacemaker throughout.
The New Zealand-bred Dont Bother Me None’s 20 starts have all been in Western Australia, resulting in one win from four starts as a two-year-old and nine wins and a second from 11 starts as a three-year-old and five starts for Friday night’s win and two placings.
“That was better,” said Warwick. “When he’s good, he is really good, and when he’s not quite right he is a little bit off. Tonight, he was good. McArdles Gem is quite quick, and he dropped him off on the corner pretty easily. He felt good and he will be a chance in the four-year-old classics in November and December.”
Dont Bother Me None is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the fourth foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Corbell, who managed just one minor win from 18 starts in New Zealand.
Dont Bother Me None is a full brother to New Zealand winners Micky Gee and Anytime, both of whom are now racing in the United States.
Tricky Styx’s daughter in a nostalgic win
The distinctive colours of gold, maroon diamond and sleeves carried to victory in the Mondo Spanish Chorizo Pace for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park revived memories of the brilliant mare Tricky Styx.
Zephyra, the first foal out of Tricky Styx, was driven by Dylan Egerton-Green to a thrilling victory over August Moon, much to the delight of 77-year-old Northam trainer Jesse Moore, who owned and trained Tricky Styx, who was retired after an outstanding career of 79 starts for 22 wins, 16 placings and $460,548 in prizemoney.
It was also a nostalgic win for Egerton-Green, who drove Tricky Styx four times for one win, at Gloucester Park in June 2017.
Tricky Styx was an outstanding two-year-old in 2014 when she was successful in the Champagne Classic and Diamond Classic before going on to finish second to Beaudiene Boaz in the 2015 WA Derby and won the Pinjarra and Narrogin Cups the following year.
Moore and his wife Maree bred and own Zephyra, who, like Tricky Styx was successful at her second start in a race.
Moore still enjoys a low-key involvement in harness racing, preparing a small team at his Northam property — a far cry from his days as a high-profile trainer of many smart pacers, including Tricky Styx, Trunkey Maseratti, Wirrpunda, The Jobs On, Multibet, Fidelius Charm, Jupiters Darling, Rich Yankee, Rich Babe and Forty Two Grand.
Zephyra, who finished second on debut to Major Overs at Northam in the first week of March, was the third favourite at $6 in Friday night’s field of five, with the polemarker American Monarch the favourite at $1.26.
August Moon, second fancy at $5, began brilliantly from the outside barrier and led by a length in the early stages but was unable to cross American Monarch, with Egerton-Green content to position Zephyra in fourth place in the Indian file affair after Luke Edwards had restrained August Moon and taken the sit behind American Monarch.
Egerton-Green eased Zephyra off the pegs at the bell, and August Moon also moved off the inside at the 600m before surging to the front 200m later. Zephyra ran on determinedly to gain the upper hand in the final couple of strides and won by a neck from August Moon.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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