23 August 2021 | Ken Casellas
Alta Intrigue defies the odds
After Alta Intrigue broke down with a bowed tendon for the third time champion trainer Gary Hall reluctantly conceded that his career had ended.
But the seven-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding made an almost miraculous recovery and his comeback campaign over the past 15 weeks has produced three wins, five seconds and four fourths, culminating with a superb victory in the $50,000 group 2 Retravision Binshaw Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He kept on breaking down, and one day I had a look at him in the paddock and saw that his legs looked pretty good,” said Hall. “So, I decided to give him one more go, but I didn’t have the heart to charge the owners training fees. So, I leased him on halves, and it has been beneficial for me.”
Alta Intrigue, a winner at four of his 26 New Zealand starts, has now had 27 starts in Western Australia for six wins and ten placings to take his earnings to $200,918.
He arrived in WA in August 2017 and his first seven starts in the State resulted in three wins and two placings before he bowed a tendon for the first time. This forced him out of action for 16 months, from June 2018 to October 2020.
Alta Intrigue then managed five starts for three placings in his first comeback campaign before he was off the scene six months. He has been injury free since resuming racing early in May this year.
Regarding the gelding’s prospects of developing into a candidate for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in the summer, Hall said: “You wouldn’t think so, but it would be nice if he was a to. It was a good run tonight, and if he keeps improving anything is possible.”
Alta Intrigue, a $6 chance, was given a perfect passage in the one-out, one-back position by Gary Hall jnr after Alta Engen ($21) charged forward from barrier eight in the first circuit to race outside the pacemaker and $1.45 favourite Al Guerrero.
Alta Engen was challenging hard for the lead in the last lap while Hall was biding his time and did not ease Alta Intrigue three wide until just before the home turn. Alta Intrigue sustained a spirited burst and got up in the final stride to beat Al Guerrero by a nose, with Alta Engen a head away in third place.
Alta Intrigue, by Mach Three, is out of former Ameran pacer Samantha Q, who earned $130,597 on north American tracks before being sent to New Zealand as a broodmare.
Magnificent Storm’s dream debut in open class
Rising star Magnificent Storm made a dream debut in open-class company when he strolled to an effortless victory in the $25,000 Australian Pacing Gold Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Hot favourite at $1.30 from barrier No. 2, Magnificent Storm was smartest into stride and was unchallenged as he ambled through the lead time in 38.7sec. and the opening quarters of the final mile in 31.2sec. and 29.3sec. before sprinting the final 400m sections in 28.1sec. and 27sec.
He won by more than two lengths from $11 chance Ideal Liner, who trailed him throughout. Ocean Ridge, a $61 outsider, who bucked and broke at the start and lost about 40 metres, was last in the field of eight at the bell before finishing gamely along the inside to be third.
The four-year-old New Zealand-bred Magnificent Storm rated 1.56.6 over the 2130m in improving his record to 17 starts for 15 wins and stakes of $239,250.
“I’m very happy with his first run in open company,” said trainer Ray Williams. “There were a couple of very nice horses in the race, and the good thing was that we drew well, which helped a bit.
“Our plan is to aim for the Fremantle and WA Cups at Christmas time. He will have a few more runs now before a spell, and then be prepared for the big races.”
Star reinsman Aldo Cortopassi was delighted with Magnificent Storm’s performance, saying: “I was surprised we got such a comfortable lead time. I thought that some of the old war horses could have tested us a bit. But it was a small field, and they were all able to find a spot, and that probably worked in our favour.
“He travelled really well and when I let him down, he accelerated really quickly, and I made him run through the line. There were no signs of switching off, and to beat quality horses was very good.”
Mighty Conqueror, the second fancy at $7, enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, but failed to make up ground in the final stages, finishing a well-beaten fourth. His stablemate Patronus Star ($7.50) faded to eighth and last after racing in the breeze.
Shadow Roll shines for new trainer
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Shadow Roll has relished a change of environment and he impressed at his second outing for talented Banjup trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was his second start for Egerton-Green after leaving the care of astute Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams, who started the Shadow Play gelding 43 times for eleven wins and 16 placings.
“I’m cutting back and want to train only about four,” said Williams. “I suggested to Robbie (managing part-owner Rob Tomlinson) to send Shadow Roll to Dylan, who has now got quite a few of our horses. Shadow Roll has had a break and has come back really well with two good runs.”
Shadow Roll put the writing on the wall with an excellent first-up third to See Ya Write and Al Guerrero a fortnight before Friday night’s 2130m event and he was a well-supported $2 favourite from barrier three.
Polemarker Radiant Amber led for the first 100m before Egerton-Green sent Shadow Roll to the front. Shadow Roll dashed over final 800m in 57sec. and won by a half-neck from the $3.30 second fancy Euphoria, who fought on grandly after working hard in the breeze all the way. The winner rated 1.56.6.
Shadow Roll, who has placed at his two New Zealand starts, has earned $93,249 from 12 wins and 19 placings from 47 starts. He is the eighth and last foal out of the unraced Artiscape mare Classy Return.
Otis is a Golden Nugget hope
West Australian-bred colt Otis stamped himself as a genuine contender for the rich Golden Nugget next season when he gave a commanding performance to crush his rivals in the 2536m Choices Flooring Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Otis, trained by David Thompson and driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, was a $3.50 chance from barrier five at his first start for nine weeks, and he settled down in the one-out, two-back position before Egerton-Green asserted his authority by switching the colt three wide after 550m and sending him to the front 150m later.
He sped over the final 800m in 56.2sec. and won by 8m from $20 chance Burghley Shard, rating 1.58. Rocknroll Elliot ($8), a stablemate of Otis who had led early, fought on solidly to finish third.
Otis now has raced 24 times for seven wins, nine placings and $64,512 in prizemoney. He was bred by Steve Johnson, who races him in partnership with his daughter Charlotte. Otis is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of the Art Major mare Janet Gai.
Janet Gai was retired after winning at her final start, at Pinjarra on March 7, 2016. She is a half-sister to Isaiah Artois, the winner of the group 1 Pearl Classic in June 2014, and is a full-sister to smart mare Mandy Joan, who has earned $147,227 from 12 wins and 11 placings from 45 starts.
Machnificent, the $2.70 favourite in Friday night’s event, raced at the rear in the Indian file field of seven and was forced wide in the final lap in which he ran on from last to finish fourth.
No trouble for Wonderful To Fly
Classy filly Wonderful To Fly bounced back after her surprise defeat first-up a week earlier when her part-owner and trainer-driver Shane Young drove her to an effortless victory in the Westside Auto Wholesale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The $1.10 favourite began speedily from No. 3 barrier and after a dawdling lead time of 39.1sec. and slow opening quarters of the final mile of 33.1sec. and 31.2sec., she dashed over the final 400m sections in 29.2sec. and 27.4sec. to beat Precocious Lady ($6.50) by 10m at a 2.0.9 rate over the 2130m journey.
This improved her record to 15 starts for eight wins, three placings and stakes of $148,590.
“She showed good gate speed and I was surprised she went so slowly early,” said Young. “I was pleased that she did not overrace.
“She probably will have a couple more runs before having a break. She is a quality filly.”
Follow The Ark maintained her steady rate of improvement and impressed in running home strongly from seventh and last at the bell to finish third.
One For Dave Andme ends losing run of 21
Byford trainer Brendan Abbott is enjoying preparing veteran pacer One For Dave Andme, who ended a losing sequence of 21 when Kim Prentice drove him to a smart victory in the 2130m Catalano’s Truck And Equipment Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The 47-year-old Abbott took over the training of the Smiling Shard gelding from Corey Peterson, who moved to Sydney last month to further his burgeoning career as a trainer and driver.
One For Dave Andme was having his fifth start for Abbott on Friday night, and after three thirds and a fourth placing from his first four starts for his new trainer, was excellent value at $8.40 from the No. 3 barrier.
Polemarker Extreme Prince ($3.40) held out an early challenge from The Kraken ($3.50) to set the pace, with Prentice quickly angling One For Dave Andme to the pegs to follow the pacemaker.
Euphoric Moment, the $2.90 favourite, who had raced in sixth position in the one-wide line, started a three-wide move with 650m to travel and he was fighting for ascendancy over Extreme Prince approaching the home turn when Prentice gained a needle-eye split and dashed One For Dave Andme between those two pacers before finishing strongly to get to the front 120rom the post on the way to winning by a length Euphoric Moment.
One For Dave Andme, winner of the group 3 Higgins Memorial in July 2020, now has raced 117 times for nine wins, 28 placings and $114,685 in prizemoney.
Alta Blues on the way up
A pre-emptive strike by champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr paved the way for a stylish victory by inexperienced four-year-old Alta Blues in the 2536m Intersport Slater Gartrell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Alta Blues, the $1.40 favourite from the No. 6 barrier, settled down in seventh position in the field of eight, and he was last 550m after the start when Hall decided to make his move. He urged Alta Blues forward and the Alta Christiano gelding surged forward to take up the running from Tyler Brett after a lap had been covered.
Alta Blues then set a solid pace, and with final quarters of 28.4sec. and 28.5sec., he coasted home to win by 7m from Tyler Brett, with Carrera Mach ($20) running on from sixth at the bell to finish third.
Trainer Gary Hall snr commended the aggressive drive by his son, saying: “Alta Blues has to be driven that way a bit. He is more strong than he is fast. He is progressive and with a bit more improvement he could make open company.”
Alta Blues is the eighth foal from Canadian mare Child From The Sea, who had 36 starts for seven wins, six placings and $34,647. Child From The Sea is an elder half-sister to former champion American pacer Somebeachsomewhere, who earned $3,328,755 from 20 wins and a placing from 21 starts before becoming a highly successful sire.
Alta Blues has had 23 starts for 11 wins, five seconds and $108,900 in prizemoney.
Mellsop’s smart buy
Waroona trainer Bob Mellsop made a wise decision to heed the advice of his astute New Zealand talent spotter and purchase Our Star Watch last December.
He then syndicated the four-year-old gelding to ten loyal stable clients, who are thoroughly enjoying his first season of racing in Western Australia.
“I didn’t pay a huge amount of money for him, and he has well and truly lived up to expectations,” said Mellsop.
Our Star Watch, the $2.30 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 2536m TABtouch Better Your Bet Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, was driven by Kyle Harper, who rated the gelding perfectly in front on his way to a convincing win from $5 chance Middlepage, who fought on doggedly after working hard in the breeze throughout.
This gave Our Star Watch a West Australian record of 13 starts for four wins and six placings, after having 16 starts in New Zealand for two wins and five placings.
“My New Zealand contact recommended him, and the only times he has missed the money he has been unlucky,” Mellsop said.
Our Star Watch is raced by a syndicate comprising Murray and Sally Butterworth, Elaine Nicholson, Eric Hall, Lindsay Sims, his daughter Kellie Stott, Alan Bonney, Chris Hillman, Peter McDermott and Greg Kilmaster.
“I bought about five or six other horses about the same time, and they include Cassius Bromac, Hesty, Apollo Rock and Icanbolt,” said Mellsop.
Our Star Watch, who is by American sire Hes Watching, is the first foal out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Star N Diamonds. He has earned $45,527 from six wins and 11 placings from 29 starts.
Gossage’s first city win for ten years
Veteran Byford horseman Ian Gossage celebrated his first win at Gloucester Park for ten years when he prepared Just Makemine Diamonds for her victory in the Vale Renato De Basso Pace on Friday night.
His succeeded as a breeder, owner and trainer when Back Alley Boy won on June 11, 2010, and his previous win was with Bank Vault in the WA Derby Consolation on April 21, 2006.
What was remarkable about the win of Just Makemine Diamonds was that it was never the intention of Gossage to race her. The six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare was purchased in March this year by Gossage son’s Luke, who was impressed with her breeding and aimed to put her in foal.
Luke Gossage outlaid $10,000 to buy Just Makemine Diamonds, and when he and his father visited Ross Olivieri’s stables to pick her up, Olivieri recommended that they should give her a few starts before sending her to stud.
“Ross said that we would pick up a mares’ race in town with her,” said Ian Gossage. “He sent the gear with her so I could set her up, and thanks to him we have a city winner.”
Just Makemine Diamonds is raced by Luke Gossage and his wife Jodie, and she has had seven starts for them for a win and a second placing for stakes of $17,270. The mare’s win on Friday night ended a losing sequence of 27, going back to her all-the-way victory over Braeview Bondi at Gloucester Park on November 22, 2019.
Just Makemine Diamonds, the $3 favourite from barrier six, was driven by Lindsay Harper, who dashed the mare forward to take up the running after 450m. She dashed over the final 400m in 28.1sec. and won by 2m from Blissfullabbey.
Just Makemine Diamonds is the only foal out of Art Shadow, who earned $114,488 from 12 wins and 21 placings from 55 starts in Victoria. She finished third behind Led Suitcase in the group 1 Australasian Breeders Crown for two-year-old fillies at Melton in August 2009.
She is widely travelled, having raced in New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. She is booked in to American Ideal in the coming stud season.
Ian Gossage has had a lifetime involvement in harness racing. “I have been training since I was 17 and I’m now 71,” he said. He enjoys a sentimental attachment to the Byford training complex, which was originally a dairy farm owned his father-in-law Fred Thatcher.
He has raced all his pacers in black and green diamonds, colours he took when Bob Atkins gave up his interest in harness racing. Atkins’s brother Terry has been a lifelong friend of Gossage, and he celebrated the win of Just Makemine Diamonds by preparing Another Snag for an all-the-way win at Northam on Saturday night.
Among Gossage’s winners over the years are Bank Vault, General Cam, Jessie Joan, Sugar Byrd Lady, Eclipse Hanover, Armadon and Camptown Morris.
Eclipse Hanover gave him his greatest success when she stormed home to win the $75,000 State Sires Series final for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on March 25, 1994.
Thornton’s lucky buy
Ten years ago, Narrogin horseman Neville Thornton and his son Jeremy purchased young broodmare Lady In Luck for $450 at a dispersal sale. She was in foal to American stallion Barnett Hanover.
They named the resultant progeny Just Barney, and then they thought their luck was out when the mare died. But Just Barney, now a tall, rangy nine-year-old gelding has given them wonderful satisfaction over many years — and he boosted his earnings to $110,215 when, on a rare visit to Gloucester Park, he charged home from last at the 600m to score a decisive victory in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace on Friday night.
The win gave the 48-year-old Jeremy Thornton his first city training success — with only his twelfth starter at Gloucester Park, all being with Just Barney.
A former successful country reinsman, Thornton (who runs a carpet business in Narrogin) was convinced that Friday was going to prove his lucky night when he discovered that Just Barney, who was going to have his 149TH start, had been allocated stall No. 149 in the birdcage.
It certainly proved to be a happy omen. Just Barney, an $11.90 chance from the No. 5 barrier, was eased to the rear in the field of nine by 20-year-old Emily Suvaljko, and the task of the old gelding, who was last at the 600m, appeared hopeless.
“Just Barney copped interference in the back straight,” said Thornton. “And Emily had a wall of horses in front of her before she was able to weave her way through. She is a ripper driver; one of the best I’ve seen.”
Just Barney unwound a spirited burst which took him to the front 100m from the post on his way to a convincing victory over Rocknroll Whitby at a 1.58.8 rate.
His only previous top three finish at Gloucester Park was his second to brilliant mare Balcatherine over 1730 in May 2020. His 149 starts have produced 14 wins and 44 placings.
The Thorntons have always preferred racing on country tracks, and they proudly say that Just Barney is fondly known as the Narrogin and Wagin King whose most significant triumphs have been in the 2019 Wagin Cup and 2021 Merredin Cup in Kellerberrin.
His initial Gloucester Park victory now stands alongside six wins at Wagin, three each at Narrogin and Albany and one at Kellerberrin.
The Thorntons enjoyed considerable success with Back Alley Boy, who earned $82,674 from 14 wins and 27 placings from 117 starts.
“Back Alley Boy was a good horse, but Just Barney is better; he is more tractable and more versatile,” said a proud Jeremy Thornton.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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