22 May 2023 | Ken Casellas
Brulee repays Howlett’s faith
Busselton trainer Barry Howlett’s sentimental decision to buy, sight unseen, a weanling filly in New Zealand in 2020 is paying handsome dividends.
The filly by the name of Brulee showed a touch of class when she scored an impressive victory in the $50,000 group 3 Nova 93.7 Diamond Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The only reason we got her is that she is closely related to Jack Mac,” said Howlett, who had purchased that pacer in New Zealand as a weanling in 2015 and then prepared him for 18 starts in Western Australia for 16 wins and one second placing.
Jack Mac’s wins included the group 1 Pearl Classic for two-year-olds and the group 1 Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park in 2017 and the Pearl Classic for three-year-olds the following year before he fractured a pedal bone which cut short his brief but brilliant career with earnings of $285,973.
“I hadn’t seen Brulee, apart from on the internet, and I liked the look of her,” said Howlett. “I bid for her on the internet and was able to but her for $6000.”
Brulee is by the New South Wales-bred star pacer Vincent and is the twelfth foal out of the New Zealand-bred mare Russian Rocket, who managed one placings from six starts before being retired.
Russian Rocket’s claim to fame was that her elder half-brother Marika had 36 starts for eleven wins, eight seconds and two thirds for earnings of $275,155. Marika’s wins included the group 1 Sires Stakes for two-year-olds at Addington in May 2004 and the group 1 New Zealand Two-Year-Old Championship at Alexandra Park a month later.
Jack Mac’s dam Matavutu won once from seven starts. She was out of Russianero, who also produced Rush Machine, whose second foal was Russian Rocket.
Brulee, who was making her fourth appearance at Gloucester Park, was a $19 chance in Friday night’s classic in which she began from the No. 6 barrier and was driven for the first time by Deni Roberts after Chris Lewis, Mitchell Miller and Kyle Symington had opted to drive other fillies in the race.
Polemarker Our Lady Jen, the $2.75 favourite, set the pace and Brulee settled down in eighth position before Roberts sent her forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell. Brulee forged to the front 350m from home after the breeze horse Sweet Vivienne ($4.40) had taken the lead 200m earlier after the hard-pulling pacemaker Our Lady Jen began to weaken.
Brulee held on to win by a half-length from $7 chance Gliding Star, who had enjoyed a perfect passage in the one-out, one-back position. Fly To Fame ($16), who was sixth at the bell in the one-wide line, was badly hampered for room until the final few strides when she finished fast to be fourth.
Flametree, a $15 chance trained by Howlett, impressed in finishing strongly from eleventh at the bell to be third.
“It was a beautiful pick-up drive,” said Roberts. “Brulee is very green; she runs around a lot and doesn’t concentrate. But when I pulled her out, she did concentrate. I didn’t want to hit the front as quick as I did, but she was travelling so well and wanted to do it. Sometimes you need to go with them a bit. It was a tight finish, and I could hear them coming.”
Brulee now has earned $51,852 from three wins and nine placings from 16 starts, and Howlett said that her main mission this year would be contest the $150,000 WA Oaks on October 13.
Howlett will also set Flametree for the Oaks. Flametree has already earned $112,552 from seven wins and six placings from 16 starts.
Hall’s split-second decision
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr went into the Vale Russell Stranger Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the firm intention of restraining Prince Of Pleasure from out wide at barrier eight at the start.
But when he glanced inwards in the late stages of the score-up he saw that the $1.85 favourite Swingband was being restrained from the No. 7 barrier.
“I was planning to go back and drive Prince Of Pleasure for one run,” said Hall. “But when I saw Swingband going back I made a rapid change of tactics. I’ve been going around for too long to let an opportunity like that to slip.”
So, Prince Of Pleasure, the $3.70 second fancy, began like a bullet and burst straight to the front in the 1730m sprint, with Swingband settling down in eleventh position.
After modest opening quarters of 29.3sec. and 29sec. Prince Of Pleasure gave his rivals little chance by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.2sec. Prince Of Pleasure rated 1.53.1 in winning by a length and a half from $15 chance Run For Mercy, with Swingband two lengths farther back in third place after being tenth at the bell and starting a three-wide move 650m from home.
Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr was delighted with Prince Of Pleasure’s splendid performance at his first appearance after a four-month absence.
“I knew he was going to go good,” he said. “He has suffered three bowed tendons but is now nice and sound. He is a star and will be set for the Fremantle Cup, WA Pacing Cup and the second Nullarbor slot race.”
Short break for Wonderful To Fly
Superstar mare Wonderful To Fly waltzed her way to another effortless victory at Gloucester Park when she set the pace and won the $26,000 Perth’s #1 Station Nova 93.7 Pace.
The $1.04 favourite set a modest early pace, with a lead time of 37.5sec. followed by quarters of 31.1sec. and 29.6sec., before Shane Young let her slide with closing 400m sections of 27.4sec. and 27.6sec. She won by five lengths from $6 second fancy Miss Boudica, who trailed the leader throughout.
Wonderful To Fly, who rated 1.55.7, boosted her record to 41 starts for 25 wins, nine placings and stakes of $497,835.
“She will have a break now, about ten days off,” said Young. “She is the best horse I have trained or driven. I haven’t travelled interstate with a horse, and she is good enough to take away.
“But there’s no definite plans about going away. She has to be invited to run in the Rising Sun (a $350,000 event for three and four-year-olds at Brisbane’s Albion Park on July 8). If invited, much will depend on the availability of flights.
“Last week when she won and rated 1.57.4 (over 1730m) she was nice and relaxed. Tonight, I had her on the ball and she ran 55sec. (final 800m) over 2130m.”
New role for James Butt
Rejuvenated eight-year-old James Butt’s two wins for trainer-reinsman Chris Voak since entering his Pinjarra stables have been when he has led all the way earlier this year.
But he was seen in a different role on Friday night when he was a $24.80 chance from a wide barrier at No. 8 in the 2130m Nova 93.7 Celebrates $10K A Day in May Pace.
James Butt appreciated a change in his frequent racing pattern of leading, and he proved an excellent sit-sprinter when he followed the three-wide run of Alcopony in the final lap to burst to the front 25m from the post and win by a length from the pacemaker Rascal ($4.80), with the breeze horse Classic Choice ($7.50) getting to a narrow lead on the home turn.
The $1.95 favourite Watts Up Sunshine raced in the ideal one-out, one-back position but was hopelessly blocked for a clear run in the final circuit when a most unlucky seventh.
“James Butt has come back after a little freshen-up, with a fifth and a second before this win,” said Voak. “He is rewarding us with all the hard work we have put in. His legs are now as good as gold — after being laid low twice with suspensory ligament damage.”
Those leg injuries kept James Butt out of action for 30 months. Voak never lost faith in the New Zealand-bred gelding, and he and his wife Asha patiently nursed him back to full fitness. James Butt has raced 17 times for Voak over the past nine months for three wins and five placings, taking his career record to 54 starts for 12 wins, 18 placings and stakes of $154,961.
After driving James Butt to victory Voak had the unusual achievement of notching five seconds later in the program — with Gliding Star, Miss Boudica, Taking the Miki, Carrera Mach and Carabao.
Then on Saturday night Voak took one stable runner (Half Kidding) to Narrogin where he guided the four-year-old and $1.40 favourite to a nine-length victory over Dukes Empire.
A Tigerish victory
Talented young driver Kyle Symington gave a flawless display in the sulky to guide $6.80 chance Tiger Royal to a smart victory in the 2130m Nathan, Nat and Shaun For Breakfast Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
While Armed Reactor ($8) was first out and led by a half-length but was unable to cross the polemarker Cheer The Major ($6), and the $1.65 favourite Goodfellaz was trapped three wide for the first circuit, Symington had Tiger Royal poised to pounce from the perfect one-out, one-back position.
Symington got Tiger Royal to a narrow lead on the home turn and the Ryan Bell-trained New Zealand-bred five-year-old went on to win by a half-length from the dogged Cheer The Major, with $19 chance Illawong Mustang finishing third after trailing the leader throughout. Tiger Royal rated 1.55.9, with a final quarter of 28.7.
Goodfellaz, who was restrained back to last in the field of eight after failing in an early bid to get to the breeze, finished gamely into fourth place. Tiger Royal is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the second foal out of the unraced Elsu mare Tigers Lady.
Tigers Lady’s dam Tigerish was an outstanding performer who amassed $491,957 from 15 wins and 21 placings from 79 starts. She won four group 1 events and two group 2 races in New Zealand.
This win is for Dad
Veteran trainer Kevin Charles was relaxing on holiday in New Zealand when his son Hayden brought Whos The Dad to Gloucester Park on Friday night to contest the final event, the $20,250 Nova 93.7 Pace.
“I hope this will give him some extra spending money,” said Hayden Charles after Shannon Suvaljko had scored a smart win with the $3.80 chance Whos The Dad.
Kevin Charles bred and owns Whos The Dad in partnership with his wife Annette, and the four-year-old has been a good earner for the family, with his 44 starts producing nine wins, 11 placings and $92,397.
Whos the Dad began speedily from barrier five but was unable to cross the flying polemarker Vintage Blu ($7.50) who recorded a scorching lead time of 35.2sec. With Vintage Blu going so fast early, the field was spread out and Suvaljko was able to gain the third spot in the Indian file affair.
Whos the Dad took the lead 240m from home and went on to win by a length from the $3.60 favourite Carabao, who had trailed the leader all the way.
Thirty-five minutes before Whos The Dad’s victory, Harden Charles drove Have Ago Joe (trained by his father), but the six-year-old had to be retired from the race after the off-side hopple connecting strap broke.
Jett Star’s hat-trick
Ultra consistent five-year-old Jett Star maintained his excellent form and brought up a hat-trick of victories when he defied a spirited late challenge from Finvarra to win the 2130m Perth’s Newest Station, Smooth FM Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred Jett Star, raced by Team Bond and trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $2.50 favourite, just ahead of Finvarra ($2.60) who was racing first-up for five months and had the disadvantage of starting from the outside in the field of seven.
The polemarker Ima Fivestar General ($5.50) was smartest into stride, while Jett Star mustered his usual good early pace from barrier four to quickly move to the breeze.
Jett Star dashed past Ima Fivestar General to assume control with 1200m to travel. Finvarra raced at the rear and was last with 430m to travel when Gary Hall jnr sent him forward with a strong three-wide burst. However, Finvarra was unable to wear down Jett Star, who won by a head, rating 1.55.4.
“I was happy in the breeze, but Jett Star got pulling and pulled his way to the front,” said driver Deni Roberts. “I didn’t want to go there but I didn’t have much of a choice.
“He loves a challenge, and when a horse gets up besides him, he fights on.”
Jett Star has been a tremendous performer for the Bond stable, and he has earned $199,397 from 17 wins and eight placings from 33 starts.
Roberts lands a treble
Deni Roberts continued her outstanding form in the sulky when she drove aggressively to land $18.10 chance Beyond Bling a thrilling winner by a nose in the 1730m Freshest Hits And Throwbacks On Nova Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night. The win completed a treble for Roberts, who had been successful with Jett Star and Brulee earlier in the night.
Beyond Bling’s win gave Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop his second success for the week, following the Beaudster’s victory at his Australian debut, at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon.
“Most of the luck we’ve had with the team lately has been bad, but I now think we’ve turned the corner,” said Mellsop.
The New South Wales-bred Beyond Bling began from barrier five, and Roberts made the winning move by getting the four-year-old away speedily to charge straight to the front, thus denying the $2.40 favourite Kimble, who was fast away from the No. 7 barrier but unable to take the lead.
“His gate speed will be an asset, and once in front he tries,” said Mellsop. “He is a lovely little hard-trying horse.”
Beyond Bling, who is raced by Murray Butterworth’s Getting Involved Racing Syndicate and several other stable clients, arrived in Western Australia after winning at two of his seven starts in New South Wales. The Bling It On gelding has raced 22 times for Mellsop for five wins and nine placings. He is the third foal out of the Life Sign mare Abovenbeyond, who earned $55,840 from 16 wins and 20 placings from 70 starts.
Carrera Mach ($4.20) raced in the breeze throughout and fought on determinedly to finish a nose behind Beyond Bling, who rated 1.57.9 after final quarters of 28.1sec. and 29.1sec. Name In Lights ($61) was seventh early and then enjoyed the one-out, one-back trail before finishing gamely to be third.
Arma Einstein breaks through
Arma Einstein, a speedy five-year-old prepared by Banjup trainer Colin Brown, has always been regarded as a short-course specialist and susceptible over middle distances.
However, punters were quite happy to support him, and he went out as the $2.10 favourite from the outside barrier in a field of five in the $30,000 Perth’s Kate Mac For Breakfast Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Arma Einstein had contested 2536m events seven times without winning — and he made a significant breakthrough when Maddison Brown brought him home with a spirited burst to win by a head from $19 chance Babyface Adda, with the pacemaker Blitzembye ($4.60) a neck away in third place.
Blitzembye ambled through the opening quarter of the final mile in 32.1sec. before the next 400m sections were covered in 29.4sec., 27.9sec. and 28.3sec.
The race quickly developed into an Indian file affair, with Arma Einstein racing in fourth spot. Whatabro raced fiercely in the middle stages, and when Chris Voak eased him off the pegs and took him from last approaching the bell Brown followed that pacer before switching Arma Einstein three wide 300m from home — and he got up in the final couple of strides to gain the verdict in a photo finish.
“Indian file races are difficult,” said Maddison Brown. “Arma Einstein got a bit fierce early when Whatabro was going back in the one-wide line. And then he settled quite well before he fired up again when Voaky made his move. When there are horses around him Arma Einstein wants to go.”
Arma Einstein, who has won twelve times over 2130m and twice over 1730m, has been a great moneyspinner. He has raced 85 times for 18 wins, 37 placings and $285,851 in prizemoney.
Otis returns in great style
Lightly-raced five-year-old Otis bungled the start in his first appearance in a stand before producing a superb performance to win the $20,250 Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a triumph for Banjup trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green, who produced Otis in splendid condition for his comeback race after an 18-month absence during which he recovered from a fractured pedal bone in his nearside front leg, an injury he sustained in a track workout at Byford.
Otis was bred by Steve Johnson, who races him in partnership with his daughter Charlotte, who has a special bond with the gelding and feeds him apples every Sunday.
The family was devasted when Otis was injured, with Steve Johnson saying that he took the horse straight to hospital “when I basically had to carry him, a 500-kilogram horse, on my shoulder.”
Johnson describes Otis as a lovely horse and a beautiful kind horse. But he became unhappy when he was cooped up as he recovered from his hoof injury, and it was then decided to geld him.
“We gave him plenty of time off to recover,” said Johnson, who bred his dam Janet Gai and her dam Endless Journey.
The win on Friday night helped the Johnson family to overcome the extreme disappointment of two-year-old Rushie, a full-brother of Otis who fractured a bone in a knee after winning a seven-horse Byford trial on April 16 by 53 metres, rating 1.57.2 after a final quarter of 28.4sec.
“Rushie was unbelievable in the trial,” said Johnson. “He is now in the nursery at home and hopefully he will be fully recovered in 12 months. Trevor Lindsay did a great job in screwing the knee back together.”
Otis now has had 31 starts for ten wins, 13 placings and $108,063 in prizemoney.
He was an $8 chance on the fixed market and $7 on the tote when he lined up on the 10m line in Friday’s event. He galloped badly and settled down about 60m behind the early leader Deeorse.
His task looked almost impossible after the $1.90 favourite Taking the Miki surged to the front 600m after the start, with Otis in tenth position and many lengths behind the frontrunner. However, Egerton-Green did not panic, and he sent Otis forward with a strong three-wide burst at the bell to move to the breeze with 500m to travel.
Otis led narrowly at the 250m and went on to beaty Taking the Miki by a half-neck after final quarters of 28.7sec. and 29.1sec.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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