04 April 2022 | Ken Casellas
Another Empress Stakes for Prentice
Outstanding Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice chalked up his fourth success in the $50,000 Cowden Ltd Empress Stakes in the space of seven years when Gary Hall jnr guided Bettor Get It On to an easy all-the-way victory in the group 2 feature event for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bettor Get It On, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old and third favourite at $7.60, was not extended in beating the $1.95 favourite Savvy Bromac by just over a length, rating 1.57.6 over the 2536m to give Hall his third win in the race.
“She made up for all those seconds (eight at her 21 starts in Western Australia before she began from the prized No. 1 barrier on Friday night),” said Hall. “In most of those seconds Bettor Get It On had drawn outside the main danger, and tonight nothing really attacked us.
“She won pretty comfortably. Savvy Bromac, from the one-one position was the worry, so I got going about the 600m to try to flush her out and get her out of her comfort zone. I didn’t expect that we were able to hold her out as easily as we did.”
Chris Lewis, aiming to win the Empress Stakes for the ninth time, eased Savvy Bromac three wide 400m from home. The mare fought on doggedly but did not seriously challenge the winner, with the final quarters being run in 28sec. and 28.3sec. My Prayer ($31) impressed in finishing fast from tenth at the bell to be third, almost three lengths behind Savvy Bromac.
Prentice, who was in Melbourne to attend a supplementary yearling sale, had won the Empress Stakes with Major Reality (2016), The Parade (2017) and Pick My Pocket (2020). Hall’s previous winners were with Aussie Made Lombo (2013) and The Parade.
Bettor Get It On, who is by Bettors Delight, won twice from 15 New Zealand starts, and her 22 WA starts have produced six wins and eleven placings. She has now earned $104,013 from her eight victories.
She is the first foal out of the Art Major mare Its All On, a winner at two of her 12 starts in New Zealand.
Wonderful To Fly is the exception
One of the most significant axioms in harness racing is that colts and geldings will prove the masters of the fillies.
But astute Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young has a magnificent filly in Wonderful To Fly, who possesses the sheer ability and the speed, strength and determination to prove that the assumption of male invincibility is not all-encompassing.
“It’s generally true that fillies don’t beat colts and geldings,” said Young after driving Wonderful To Fly to a runaway victory in the 2536m The Titanium Man Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“But she seems to be the exception to the rule. She stamped her class a bit more tonight.”
Wonderful To Fly, the $2.90 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of nine, was restrained back to last after $15 chance Hoppys Way began speedily from barrier seven to burst straight to the front. But the pace slackened considerably, leaving Young to make a snap decision and send Wonderful To Fly forward after about 1000m.
Wonderful To Fly made a lightning move to improve from last to first in the space of 200m. She then set a solid pace and the final 400m sections were run in 28.4sec. and 27.9sec. as she won by just over five lengths from Hoppys Way, rating 1.59.3. This took Wonderful To Fly’s record to 22 starts for 12 wins, six placings and $221,185 in prizemoney.
“It was a change of plans,” said Young. “I didn’t want to be using her, but with High Price ($4.40) galloping in the score-up, and with the lead time run in a very slow time I took the option (of charging forward), and luckily enough she was capable of doing it (getting to the front).
“You are never certain, but she showed that she can do it. She is very quick; we’ve always known that. We drove her differently tonight from what we’ve done before, giving her a real crack and giving her, her head. And she was able to peel off some good quarters after that.
“She is going really well, and, hopefully, she will keep in the zone. She will race in an event for three-year-olds next Friday night, if the race holds up, before running in a heat of the APG Gold Bullion the following Tuesday, followed by The $50,000 final of that event ten nights later.”
Sangue Reale set for Narrogin Cup
Six-year-old Sangue Reale bounced back to his best form with a convincing all-the-way win in the $30,000 Cowden Insurance Brokers Free-For-All over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’m happy with his performance after the disappointment in the Bunbury Cup (in which he raced three back the pegs, got clear in plenty of time, but failed to flatter in finishing seventh behind Mighty Ronaldo),” said Hopeland trainer Giles Inwood.
“After the Bunbury Cup, it was back to the basics with a lot more beach work. I also put the blinkers back on tonight in a bid to sharpen him up. Now, I’ll be nominating him for the $30,000 Narrrogin Cup next Saturday night.”
Michael Grantham got Sangue Reale, the $4.80 equal third favourite, away to a flying start from the No. 1 barrier, and the New South Wales-bred Art Major gelding relished his frontrunning role, and after a slow lead time of 38sec. and moderate opening quarters of 30.4sec. and 29.3sec. he sped over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.7sec. to win by a length and a half from the $3.10 favourite Double Up, who enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before fighting on solidly to be second, a length and a half from the winner, who rated 1.55.8.
Babyface Adda ($4.60) impressed in running home powerfully from last in the six-horse field at the 300m to finish third.
The New South Wales-bred Sangue Reale, who had bone chips removed from his rear fetlocks last year, has had seven starts for Inwood for two wins and two placings to take his record to 56 starts for ten wins, 21 placings and $222,309 in stakes.
He is a full-brother to Miss Sangrial, who was retired after racing 71 times for 19 wins, 21 placings and stakes of $244,748. Her victories included the group 2 Empress Stakes in March 2019 when she was driven by Grantham to a half-head win over Our Alfie Romeo.
Kyle Harper gives Wallrodt a lift
Kyle Harper made the most of a chance drive behind speedy six-year-old Palatino when he drove the Art Major pacer to victory in the 2130m Flowerbed Racing Challenge Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night to boost the spirits of part-owner and trainer-reinsman Cody Wallrodt.
The 28-year-old Wallrodt was in isolation after returning a positive coronavirus test, and he called on Harper to replace him in the sulky.
Palatino, drawn the prized No. 1 barrier, was the $3.30 second favourite, and Harper made every post a winner by driving the horse aggressively in the early stages to hold out a spirited challenge from $20 chance Smart Fortune before rating Palatino perfectly in front after he had fired up following his early duel.
Palatino sped over the final 800m in 57sec. and he won by a length from the $2.80 favourite Will I Rocknroll, who ran home strongly from sixth at the bell.
“Palatino was trained to the minute by Cody, and the horse was on song tonight,” said Harper. “He produced the gate speed that we needed. I wanted to be in front and I sparked him up to make sure he would lead. He travelled a little bit strongly after I fired him up, but he always felt like the winner.
“He finished well, with the plugs still in and pull-downs still up. All credit is due to Cody, who does a great job with his horses.”
The New Zealand-bred Palatino, who has done all his racing in Western Australia for eight wins, 23 placings and stakes of $72,522, ended a losing sequence of eleven. Remarkably, all his eight wins have been when he has set the pace.
Know When To Run is a $13,000 bargain
Six-year-old Know When To Run, purchased for $13,000 at the APG Perth yearling sale, is proving a wonderful bargain for the Trotsynd No. 11 syndicate.
He boosted his earnings to $118,679 when Gary Hall jnr drove him to an effortless victory in the 2536m Vintage Cider Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting favourite at $1.10 from the No. 2 barrier, Know When To Run had an easy time in front for the first 1600m before he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 27sec. He was untroubled to beat Mister Bushido ($15) by two lengths, and this took his record to 27 starts for ten wins and 12 placings.
Know When To Run is now racing in superb form, after he was forced on to the sidelines for 22 months as he recovered from a damaged tendon suffered in the Golden Nugget in December 2019 in which he finished fifth behind Shockwave.
“He won really comfortably, and did it so easily,” said Hall.
Know When To Run is by Art Major and is the second foal out of the unraced mare Heather Mary, who is a half-sister to Fake Embrace, who had 26 starts in Western Australia between 2004 and 2006 for eleven wins before he continued his career in the United States where he won another 28 races.
Booraa is consistent
New Zealand-bred mare Booraa is a model of consistency for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, and she kept up the good work when she set the pace for Ryan Warwick and held on to win by a half neck from the fast-finishing McArdles Gem in the 2130m Bridge Bar Open This Sunday Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Booraa, the hot favourite at $1.10 from the No. 1 barrier, had an easy time in front with a slow lead time of 39.3sec. followed by quarters of 32.7sec., 30.4sec. and 29.9sec. before covering the final 400m in 28.4sec.
McArdles Gem ($11) raced in third position, three back on the pegs, before charging home with a late burst, with Zazu ($3.70) wilting to finish third, two lengths behind McArdles Gem, after trailing the leader all the way.
Boora is by Mach Three and is the first foal out of the Live Or Die mare My Baby’s Laughing, who won four minor races from 15 starts in New Zealand. Booraa won at three of her 13 New Zealand starts and now has had 17 starts in WA for five wins and seven placings to improve her career record to 30 starts for eight wins, 11 placings and stakes of $70,752.
Power And Grace on the way up
Ross Olivieri, winner of the WA trainers’ premiership eight times, predicted a bright future for five-year-old Power And Grace after the New Zealand-bred horse had won the 2536m The Super Model Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The best is yet to come and there is a lot to look forward to,” said Olivieri. “He is not fully wound up and I think there is quite a bit of improvement in him. He is a nice gentle horse and he’s got more wins in him.
“It wasn’t the ideal preparation for a 2536m race, running in a 1730m event, and then a two-week gap before tonight’s race.”
This was Power And Grace’s third start for Olivieri, following a nine-month absence. “I have had him for about ten weeks, and I think he is the first horse I have trained for Albert Walmsley,” said Olivieri.
Chris Lewis, handling Power And Grace for the first time, dashed the $2.50 favourite straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier and he was not challenged in the lead before he sprinted over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 27.8sec. and won by a half-length from the $3.30 second fancy Hittheroadjack, who fought on gamely after racing in the breeze throughout.
Power And Grace, by Somebeachsomewhere, has done all his racing in Western Australia, having 40 starts for 13 wins, 16 placings and stakes of $106,833. Friday night’s win was his eighth when leading. He is the first foal out of the unraced Art Major Mare Pure Magic, whose half-brother earned $305,000 from 13 wins and eight placings from 59 starts.
Wheeler is a happy substitute
Collie reinsman Trent Wheeler was more than happy to come to Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey’s aid and bring four of his pacers to Gloucester Park on Friday night after Turvey had to isolate after returning a positive test to coronavirus.
“Nathan sent me a message and asked if I would drive Captured Delight, Sports Package and The Tiger Army,” said the 37-year-old Wheeler. “I was thankful for the opportunity and it was definitely a different feeling bringing horses to race at Gloucester Park.”
Wheeler made the most of the opportunity when he drove a patient race to land Sports Package a thrilling last-stride winner by a half-head in the 2130m Stand Out Broking Services Pace.
Polemarker Acuto, attempting to end a 32-month drought, was heavily supported and was the $2.75 second fancy. He won the start, leaving Sports Package, the $2.40 favourite, in the breeze after starting from the No.4 barrier.
Acuto, driven by Ryan Bell, sped over the final 800m in 56.4sec., but he just failed to hold out Sports Package, who ran home with great determination.
“Nathan was pretty sure that Acuto wouldn’t hand up, and he was happy for Sports Package to sit in the breeze and for me to rate her to her strengths,” said Wheeler.
Sports Package, the third foal out of the Northern Luck mare Ultimate Package, has been raced sparingly and she now has earned $149,708 from eight wins and six placings from 31 starts.
Wheeler celebrated Friday’s night’s victory by setting the pace and winning a 2190m event at Northam on Saturday night with trainer Mike Howie’s $23 chance Newsletter, who beat the $1.95 favourite Spy Major by a head.
Filly is the apple of Paula’s eye
Some of the bitter disappointment suffered by Paula Petricevich when her highly-promising young pacer Bettor B Abeliever fractured a bone in a back leg almost three years ago and had to be retired was alleviated when Candy Apple scored a most encouraging victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Candy Apple, a $3.90 chance, owned and trained by Petricevich and having her third start in a race, set the pace from barrier one for star reinsman Gary Hall jnr and won comfortably by a length and a half from the $1.20 favourite Indomitable Symbol in the Bridge Bar Open Pace for two-year-old fillies.
Petricevich, a 43-year-old veterinary nurse, bought the New Zealand-bred Bettor B Abeliever, who showed considerable early promise and caught the eye when he finished third behind Jack Mac and Cott Beach in the Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park in July 201.
Bettor B Abeliever fractured his leg as a four-year-old not long after he won at what was to be his final start, rating 1.56.7 over 2536m. He had raced 33 times for eight wins, 14 placings and $78,735 in stakes.
Petricevich was so impressed with Bettor B Abeliever’s ability that she purchased the next four foals out of his dam, the Mach Three mare Rearmachable — J P Got Faith, Penelope Garcia, Delightable and Candy Apple.
J P Got Faith has had 23 starts for five wins, four placings and $23,970; Penelope Garcia has had two unplaced runs and Delightable has managed a third placing at Pinjarra last November from three starts.
Candy Apple was not an expensive buy at $7000, and she has already earned $13,891 from a win and a second from three starts.
Candy Apple, a big, attractive filly, will soon have a brief spell before being prepared for the $100,000 Diamond on August 19. Petricevich also plans to start another of her fillies, Sweet Vivienne, in the rich classic. Sweet Vivienne has been placed at two of her four starts. Both fillies are by the American stallion Sweet Lou.
Despite her commanding appearance, Candy Apple is somewhat shy and reclusive, and in an attempt to keep her as relaxed as possible Petricevich has given her a stable companion, a 19-year-old palomino pony named Blue Eyes, who travels with Candy Apple on the float trips to the trots and then occupies an adjoining stall in the birdcage.
Hall predicts that Candy Apple will continue to improve, saying: “She is a little bit lazy, but she gets a bit better every time she goes around. At her first start (when last in a field of five at Pinjarra) she looked non-competitive and you would have said that she would have no chance of winning as a two-year-old.
“At her second start she was crossed at the start but held all the others quite easily (when second to Pocketful Of Opals). Tonight, she switched on and off three times over the final 400m.”
Hancock breaks the ice
Twenty-four-year-old Hayden Hancock produced a flawless drive to land his first Friday night metropolitan-class winner when $56.30 outsider Euston Flyer finished full of running to beat the $1.90 favourite Armed Reactor in the 2130m Classic Legendary Broking Pace.
Eight-year-old Euston Flyer, raced on lease and trained by Matt Scott, began from the No. 3 barrier and Hancock restrained him to settle in sixth place in the one-wide line. But when Kyle Harper eased Hotfoot It off the inside 350m after the start Hancock quickly angled Euston Flyer him across to race three back on the pegs.
Major Artist ($26) was setting a solid pace, with Armed Reactor bringing up the rear in the first lap before Gary Hall jnr set him alight with a three-wide burst at the 1400m to move to the breeze at the 1100m mark.
Hancock eased Euston Flyer off the inside with 300m to travel and the oldtimer went three wide on the home turn and finished determinedly to hit the front 45m from home and win by 4m from Armed Reactor who had taken the lead at the 100m.
“I have had about 30 drives on a Friday night, and given the circumstances with COVID and having a few drivers out, I probably wouldn’t have had the drive, otherwise,” said Hancock.
“This is the first time I have driven Euston Flyer, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity. My previous best at Gloucester Park was when Clarenden Hustler finished third behind Delightfulreaction in September 2020.
“I am getting close to 60 winners after three years. I started pretty slowly , but I have had more opportunities in the past year. I was happy with the early burn in tonight’s race, and when I was able to get out I thought I was definitely a top two chance.
“Winning the race came as a little bit of relief. It was like getting the monkey off my back. I graduate as a High School PE teacher in three months, so it’s getting towards the time when I will have to decide what I want to do. At the moment I’m leaning towards the horses.”
Hancock was the 19TH driver to have handled the New South Wales-bred Euston Flyer in a race and the win improved the gelding’s record to 106 starts for 15 wins, 30 placings and $91,071 in prizemoney.
Hancock continued on his merry way at the Northam meeting on Saturday night when he scored a narrow victory with trainer Mario Condipodero’s $34 outsider Follow The Dragon. This gave Hancock his 53RD winner in a burgeoning career.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
