23 October 2023 | Ken Casellas
Mister Smartee does it in second gear
Champion trainer Gary Hall senior’s prospects of winning the WA Derby for a record sixth time received a substantial boost when his son Gary Hall Jnr drove Mister Smartee to an effortless victory in the Group 3 Cowden Insurance Western Gateway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He did it in second gear and to do it that easily was pretty good,” said Hall Jnr.
However, Hall Jnr will be driving the Justin Prentice-trained Never Ending in the $200,000 WA Derby on Friday week, proving the gelding, a winner at twelve of his 13 starts, recovers fully from a virus which prevented him from contesting Friday night’s major lead-up event for the Derby.
Last year Prentice and Hall Jnr combined to win the Western Gateway and the WA Derby with Tricky Miki. That gave Hall Jnr his sixth WA Derby win in the space of ten years.
He has mixed emotions going into this year’s Derby, saying: “I wish Mister Smartee was a two-year-old and Never Ending a three-year-old, or vice-versa.
“Mister Smartee mightn’t be there yet as a complete racehorse. But he has the ability to win the Derby.”
Mister Smartee is quite inexperienced but boasts a wonderful record of six starts for five wins and one second (when beaten a head by Da Vinci as a two-year-old at Addington 12 months ago). He has been driven by Hall for brilliant wins at his four starts in Western Australia.
He was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier on Friday night and was beaten out by Mikis Beach, Rocket City and Rolling Fire but was able to muster sufficient speed to defy these challenges and hold up and set the pace.
Rolling Fire raced without cover, and Mikis Beach enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back. Mister Smartee dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.9sec. and 28.4sec. and won by two and a half lengths from Lusaka, who sustained a powerful three-wide burst from the rear at the bell. Mikis Beach was a head away in third place, with Rolling Fire fighting on to be an excellent fourth.
Mister Smartee, a gelding by American stallion Always B Miki, rated 1.56.9 over the 2536m, which is the distance of the Derby.
“Mister Smartee is not used to be driven out like he was tonight (to defy the early challengers), but he handled it all quite well.”
A winning combination
Star reinsman Chris Voak continued his wonderful association with talented four-year-old Taking the Miki when he drove with great confidence to land the mare a narrow winner of the Group 3 $50,000 The Schrader Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Voak has driven the Jemma Hayman-trained Taking The Miki to her past ten wins, and Friday night’s success took the WA-bred mare’s record to 39 starts for eleven wins, 16 placings and $335,061 in prizemoney.
Taking The Miki started from the inside of the back line in the 2130m event in which she represented excellent value as a $8.20 chance on the tote.
The polemarker Stormyskyes ($4.60) set a solid pace, giving Voak an ideal trail, while the $2.30 favourite Cyclone Charlotte raced wide early and then in the breeze before running home with admirable determination to finish a head second. Taking The Miki was eased off the pegs 500m from home and got to the front approaching the home turn.
“We are now looking at the big races for mares (the $100,000 Norms Daughter on Friday week and the Group 1 $150,000 Mares Classic a fortnight later),” said Hayman.
Taking The Miki, winner of the WA Oaks 12 months ago and the Group 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes in May this year, was having her second run after a spell on Friday night, following her excellent first-up third behind Cyclone Charlotte the previous Friday.
“We started her last week without a trial, and she was definitely ready to play a part,” said Hayman. “If she had gained a run a bit sooner than she did she would have had a strong winning chance. The barrier helped tonight, and that combined with her will to win, led to the victory.”
Rock Artist is making a late bid
Victorian-bred pacer Rock Artist is making a late bid to gain a start in the $200,000 WA Derby on Friday week.
At his second appearance after a spell, Rock Artist gave a spirited frontrunning display to win the Western Gateway Consolation over 2356m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier and after a moderate early pace he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28.6sec. to win from the $5 second fancy Soho Firestone.
When prepared by Victorian trainer Emma Stewart, Rock Artist raced twice at Launceston for two wins and six times in Victoria for one win and four seconds. His first six starts in Western Australia have resulted in two wins, two seconds and two fourths.
Trainer-reinsman Chris Voak purchased Rock Artist for $70,000 for a group of stable clients earlier this year with the main objective of contesting the WA Derby.
“I’ll back him up in a race for three-year-olds next Friday because he is still a bit underdone,” said Voak. “The plan has always been to run in the Derby, and that’s why we bought him. Clayton Tonkin has always had a high opinion of him.
“He made his case tonight and put himself in contention for a run in the Derby. He is not only a frontrunner and is a smart sit-sprinter.
“Rock Artist showed his potential with his run in a Group 2 event over 2240m at Melton 12 months ago when the final 400m was covered in 26sec. and he finished second, less than a length behind Petracca.”
Petracca has maintained that form and he won the Victoria Derby earlier this month, with that victory taking his career record to 14 starts for 11 wins and stakes of $310,178.
Rock Artist is closely related to Ideal Tyson, a winner of 22 races in WA and another 11 in America. He is by Yankee Rockstar and is the second foal out of Art Major mare Artistic Angel, who raced ten times for two wins, four placings and $19,220.
Allaglow is bred to succeed
Promising three-year-old filly Allaglow is bred to be a good winner, being closely related to former brilliant pacing filly and mare Amongst Royalty, who amassed $570,820 in stakes from 23 wins and 27 placings from 86 starts.
Allaglow was a $19.30 chance from barrier two on the back line in the 2130m Cowden Established 1972 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she was driven by Shannon Suvaljko and enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-wide line before dashing to the front 450m from home and winning by a metre from $6 chance Castella Dellacqua.
Bred and owned by Bob Fowler, Allaglow is trained by Katja Warwick, who is enjoying a holiday in Penang with her husband Trevor. Mrs Warwick has prepared Allaglow for her past seven starts for two wins and a second placing, taking the filly’s record to 26 starts for five wins and four placings for earnings of $39,211.
Allaglow is by Fly Like An Eagle and is the fifth foal out of Artistic Glow, a younger half-sister to Amongst Royalty, whose most notable victories were in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Tiara in March 2006 and the Group 1 APG final for two-year-old fillies at Ballarat a month later.
Zephyra, the $2.15 favourite in Friday night’s race, had no luck and was forced to cover a lot of extra ground before finishing sixth.
Rocknroll Elliot is on the way up
Speedy WA-bred five-year-old Rocknroll Elliot is poised for a successful campaign, considering the ease in which he won the 2536m Cowden Insurance Solutions Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night at his third appearance after a seven-month absence.
And he is expected to improve, with his trainer Jocelyn Young saying that he is still big in condition and should keep getting better.
Rocknroll Elliot struck himself at Young’s Ravenswood stable early this year and developed a splint in a front leg, an injury which was cured during an enforced spell.
Rocknroll Elliot was the $2.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier on Friday night when he was beaten for early speed by $31 chance Regal Cheval from barrier five. However, driver Madeliene Young was able to keep Regal Cheval at bay, despite Rocknroll Elliot pacing roughly going into the first bend.
“He was able to quickly get back in step and held the lead easily,” said Young, the younger sister of the trainer. “He travelled well in front, and I was confident the whole way.”
Rocknroll Elliot has raced 53 times for 13 wins, 13 placings and $96,316 in stakes.
Valentines Brook breaks through
Consistent performer Valentines Brook, placed at four of his five previous starts, broke through for an overdue win when he stormed home to snatch victory in a thrilling finish to the 1730m Cowden The Insurance Brokers Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The win completed a double for Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young, who had been successful with Rocknroll Elliot an hour earlier. Valentines Brook, a $7.50 chance, was restrained at the start from barrier five and raced in ninth position until Kyle Symington eased the six-year-old three wide 550m from home.
Valentines Brook then was forced four wide, but he sustained a powerful sprint to get up and win narrowly from the pacemaker and $3.30 favourite Blitzembye, with Vampiro and the unlucky Alopony close behind.
This was Valentines Brook’s first win from eight starts in his current preparation, following his outstanding effort for Young at his previous campaign which resulted in six wins and seven seconds from 15 starts.
“Valentines Brook had three or four months off after his previous preparation and he carries plenty of weight,” said Young. “So, it always takes a couple of runs to get him to his top. He is still very big, and I don’t think he is there yet.”
The Victorian-bred Valentines Brook has earned $237,916 from 18 wins, 22 seconds and nine thirds from 81 starts.
Carana survives early scare
Standing-start specialist Carana, the $1.40 favourite in the Cowden Insurance Brokers Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night, gave his supporters quite a scare when he scrambled into his gear, veered inwards and bumped into Major Artist at the beginning of the standing-start event.
However, their worries were short-lived when Deni Roberts quickly had the six-year-old down and pacing and bursting into the lead after 25 metres. Carana then bowled along in front and won by two lengths from the $2.90 second fancy Youre So Fine.
“We just ran into each other and got hooked up together,” said Roberts. “Carana is so green; he hasn’t done that much racing for his age, and he is still learning what it’s all about. Towards the end of his races, he looks like he hasn’t much left. But he always gives you more when you ask him.”
The New Zealand-bred Carana has raced only 16 times for eight wins and four placings for earnings of $64,945. His two wins from nine starts in New Zealand were in stands and he has had seven starts in WA (all in stands) for six wins.
Youre So Fine started from 20m and Gary Hall Jnr sent him forward after a lap to race in the breeze. He issued a strong challenge for the lead approaching the home turn, but Carana easily held him at bay. The final quarters were run in 28.6sec. and 27.3sec.
Im The Black Flash impresses
New Zealand-bred gelding Im The Black Flash ran an impressive trial for the rich WA Derby in a fortnight when he outclassed the opposition in the 2130m Cowden The Insurance Brokers Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It was a super run, and he could win a race like the Derby if he drew to lob three or four back on the fence, if they went silly,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. “He has the speed and ability to win. The way he went tonight was the Black Flash we know.”
Hall restrained Im The Black Flash (the $1.50 favourite) from out wide at barrier seven, and Vintage Blu took the lead after 500m. Meanwhile, Fess Up, the $3.80 second favourite, dashed forward from his back line draw to move to the breeze in the first lap.
Im The Black Flash was tenth with 900m to travel before he began a powerful three-wide burst. Fess Up got his nose in front 600m from home but was unable to defy Im The Black Flash, who took the lead with 520m to travel and won by just under two lengths from five-year-old Bellezza Nera, a $71 outsider who followed the run of the winner in the final circuit. Fess Up was a half-head away in third place.
Im The Black Flash, a gelding by Bettors Delight trained by Gary Hall Snr, has earned $97,905 from seven wins and three placings from 16 starts. He was placed once from two New Zealand starts before arriving in WA.
Thomson Bay is a $1000 bargain
Coolup trainer Hayden Reeves has always had a keen eye for a bargain, and he has hit the jackpot with Thomson Bay, who is racing in sparkling form and kept up the good work with a splendid all-the-way victory in the $21,000 Cowden First For Insurance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Six-year-old Thomson Bay has certainly progressed in fine style since his inauspicious debut as a two-year-old when he was a $126 outsider and finished eleventh, 80 metres behind the winner Caveman in a race at Pinjarra in June 2019.
It was a miserable effort which left his breeder and owner Peter King deeply disappointed and quite willing to sell the youngster to Reeves for just $1000.
Thomson Bay then had his first start for Reeves at Pinjarra in December 2020, 18 months after his feeble debut performance and he was a $10 chance for Reeves and driver Dylan Egerton-Green when he finished strongly from sixth at the bell to win by seven lengths from Hes Thunder.
Thomson Bay was a $3.30 chance on Friday night when he began from the No. 1 barrier and set the pace before winning from Ima Fivestar General and Lamandier, rating 1.56 over the 2130m journey, and giving reinsman Stuart McDonald a well-deserved 29TH birthday present.
This was Thomson Bay’s fifth start in his current campaign after being off the scene for 16 months while he was recovering from having his stifles cut and the gelding gives every indication of improving on his record for Reeves of 32 starts for 13 wins and six placings for stakes of $112,688.
“We have taken him along slowly and he is not just a frontrunner,” said Reeves. “Most of his better wins have been when he has not set the pace. In his previous preparation his metro wins included events in which he raced with a sit and finished strongly with final 400m sections of 27.5sec. and 27.7sec. and 27.5sec. and 27.6sec.
“Now we’re compelled to run him in Free-For-Alls or conditioned races. He won’t be leading and winning in that sort of company, but he will hold his own.”
Thomson Bay is by former champion American-bred pacer Mr Feelgood, a winner of 39 races and $3.3 million, with his major successes including the Interdominion championship on the Gold Coast in March 2009, the 2009 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley, the 2010 Victoria Cup and the 2010 Queensland Championship.
He is the only foal out of the Rich And Spoilt mare Geordie Bay, he had eleven starts for two wins (at Bunbury in September 2012), one placing and stakes of $7399.
My Ultimate Baxter survives
Widely travelled four-year-old pacer My Ultimate Baxter was close to death when he became ill on a float trip across the Nullarbor earlier in the year.
But he has survived, and he notched his first win at his fifth start in Western Australia when Chris Lewis drove him to victory in the Cowden Insurance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“His first few runs here have been below what he can do,” said Lewis. “He has had a rough start. On his trip here from Sydney he was affected by travel sickness, and it was touch and go for a while whether he would survive.
“This type of gut problem is often fatal. He stopped in Kalgoorlie for three days where he responded to treatment, and when he arrived at our stables, he got more treatment. He still wanted to eat and drink, and it was that attitude which helped him to survive.”
My Ultimate Baxter is trained by Lewis’s wife Debra, and he was second favourite at $3.10 on Friday night when he was awkwardly drawn out wide at barrier seven.
Dardy Boy, the $2.60 favourite from barrier three, set the pace while Lewis wisely restrained My Ultimate Baxter, who settled down in ninth position.
Lewis then sent My Ultimate Baxter forward with a three-wide burst 550m after the start and the gelding moved to the breeze 1200m from home. He took a narrow lead approaching the home turn and fought on gamely to win by a head from $15 chance Name In Lights, with Dardy Boy a close-up third. The final quarters were run in 28.2sec. and 29.2sec. and the winner rated 1.57.9 over the 2130m.
“My Ultimate Baxter has good gate speed, but I didn’t want to use it tonight, with enough pace on the inside without me having to go forward,” said Lewis. “And it’s probably not his go, breezing. But he won nicely.
“We will see how he progresses to see whether he will be able to run in the feature events for four-year-olds in the next couple of months.”
My Ultimate Baxter has raced 25 times for ten wins, five placings and $98,617. His wins included the Group 2 Simpson Memorial at Menangle in January 2022. He raced six time in Queensland for five wins, eleven times in New South Wales for four wins, three times for one placing in Victoria and five times in WA for one win and a third placing.
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