01 August 2022 | Ken Casellas
Mr Fantastic is just that
Lightly-raced New Zealand-bred pacer Mr Fantastic lived up to his name when he sustained a powerful burst to win the group 3 John Higgins Memorial final at Gloucester Park on Friday night in a spirited performance which stamped him as a leading contender for the rich classic events for four-year-olds late this year.
The Justin Prentice-trained gelding gave champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr his fourth victory in the group 3 feature race and managing part-owner Kevin Jeavons his second success in the event.
It was a matter of 26 years between drinks for Jeavons, who owned Masterclass with his wife Robyn when that pacer, driven by Fred Kersley jnr, won the Higgins Memorial in 1996.
Jeavons, who races Mr Fantastic in partnership with his son Kyle and Gino Monaco, has discovered the formula for success in the Higgins Memorial: Be represented by a four-year-old horse carrying the No. 12 saddlecloth and by an American sire out of a New Zealand mare.
Masterclass was a four-year-old when he beat Collector in the 1996 race, a 2500m stand. He was by American stallion French Chef and was out of the New Zealand-bred mare Countess Gina. Mr Fantastic is by champion American stallion Bettors Delight and is out of the New Zealand mare Its All On.
Mr Fantastic started from the outside of the back line in Friday night’s 2130m mobile event in which he was the $5 second favourite behind the polemarker Lucky Galleon ($3.10). Hall quickly manoeuvred Mr Fantastic into sixth position, one-out and two-back, with Lucky Galleon setting the pace from Hillview Bondi in the breeze and Moonlite Drive enjoying the sit behind the pacemaker.
Hall urged Mr Fantastic forward at the 900m mark, with a three-wide burst. Mr Fantastic moved to the breeze 300m later and got to the front 100m from the post before winning by just under a length from $126 outsider Markham Eyre, who finished strongly from the rear. Moonlite Drive fought on to be third, with Lucky Galleon wilting to fifth. The race was run at a solid tempo and Mr Fantastic rated 1.56.6.
“I was a bit worried that there might have been a swooper, but Mr Fantastic fought them off good,” said Prentice.
Mr Fantastic was off the scene for nine months while he enjoyed a beneficial spell and recuperated from being gelded. “He was working well at home last year but wasn’t quite taking that form in his races,” said Prentice. “So, we decided to geld him.
“He will be set for the big races for four-year-olds in December (the $125 Four-Year-Old Classic and the $200,000 Golden Nugget) along with stablemate Mighty Ronaldo.”
Mr Fantastic won at four of his 12 New Zealand starts and his ten WA appearances have resulted in six wins and two seconds which have taken his record to 22 starts for ten wins and four placings for stakes of $91,597.
His dam Its All On (by Art Major) was retired with a modest record of 12 starts for two wins, two placings and earnings of $10,200. Mr Fantastic’s five-year-old full-sister Bettor Get It On has earned $108,365 from eight wins and 14 placings from 38 starts. Her wins include the group 3 Coulson Pace last December and the group 2 Empress Stakes in April this year.
Hall’s previous wins in the Higgins Memorial were with Partywiththedevil (2010), In The Perfect Storm (2014) and Rub Of The Green (2016).
Brown’s mixed emotions
Champion pacer Chicago Bull holds a special place in the heart of Maddison Brown, who had mixed emotions when she drove Diego to a wonderful all-the-way victory over Chicago Bull in the 1730m City Discount Tyres Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Brown was delighted at Diego’s win, but she shed a metaphorical tear at Chicago Bull’s defeat.
“I love Bully and I’ve been through it all with him,” she said. “I used to drive him (in work) before he was injured (in New Zealand in October 2018). I have driven Chicago Bull only once in a race, and that was when he finished second to stablemate Balcatherine last February.”
Remarkably, that 1m second to Balcatherine prevented Brown from the rare feat of landing five winners on a Gloucester Park program. Her winners that night were Diego, Gambit, Beach Start and Beefour Bacardi.
Brown also has formed a strong association with Diego, a six-year-old gelding owned by New Zealanders Syd and Shona Brown and trained by Gary Hall snr. She has driven Diego 16 times for four wins (including the group 2 Pinjarra Cup in March this year) and five seconds.
Diego is a smart frontrunner, but Brown has driven him as a sit-sprinter almost exclusively. “Tonight, he showed that he is pretty versatile,” she said. “He is nice to drive, and we were fairly flying around that last bend.
“He was cruising in the straight and I sat up on him close to the line. He was easing down and wasn’t going full pelt. The track wasn’t that quick, but he was able to run the final quarter in 26.7sec. He got an easy lead and first half which helped. Diego certainly has the ability to be a good Cups contender.”
Diego was the $2.30 second fancy from barrier No. 1, with Chicago Bull the $1.55 favourite from barrier two. Diego was smartest to begin, and Gary Hall jnr wisely opted to give Chicago Bull the perfect passage behind the pacemaker. Hall eased Chicago Bull off the pegs 600m from home, and the nine-year-old fought on doggedly to finish second, just under a length behind Diego, with $31 chance Bletchley Park two lengths farther back in third place in the field of six.
Diego is by Bettors Delight and is the fourth and last foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Sakura, who was retired after racing three times for one third placing. Diego now has had 63 starts for 16 wins, 15 placings and $245,784. His full-brother Mister Bushido was a handy performer who won nine times for the Hall stable before being retired with a record of 94 starts for 13 wins, 24 placings and stakes of $185,186.
Rock Me Over is a marvel
Veteran pacer Rock Me Over enhanced his reputation as a remarkable bargain when he gave a typical strong frontrunning display to win the 2130m City Discount Tyres Suspension And Brake Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA-bred seven-year-old, driven by Shannon Suvaljko for Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, was the $1.70 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier, and he did not let his supporters down with a one-length victory over stablemate Billy Mack ($19.40), rating 1.59.4 and ending a losing sequence of 16.
Scott and stable clients Tony Maguire and his son Ian have no regrets that they outlaid just $6000 about three and a half years ago to purchase Rock Me Over, and now the son of Rock N Roll Heaven has had 129 starts for his new owners for 13 wins, 21 seconds, 21 thirds and $240,657 in prizemoney, boosting his career record to 175 starts for 24 wins, 55 placings and stakes of $366,211.
Rock Me Over resisted an early challenge from $12 chance Marquisard, and he was not seriously troubled on his way to a comfortable win, with a modest final 400m of 30.5sec.
Rock Me Over is a younger half-brother of eight-year-old Handsandwheels, the 2017 WA Derby winner who has earned $670,039 from 28 wins and 27 placings from 86 starts.
Himself overcomes tardy start
Inexperienced four-year-old Himself overcame a poor beginning in the 2503m standing-start City Discount Tyres Performance Tyre Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night start to give a gutsy performance to beat the frontrunning Cooper.
Cooper, the $2.60 second fancy and unbeaten at his three appearances in stands, began speedily from the No. 1 barrier on the front line, while Himself, the $2.10 favourite from the No. 2 barrier, galloped and lost four lengths at the start.
Himself then settled down in fifth position before Ryan Warwick seized the initiative and dashed the Sportswriter gelding forward to race in the breeze.
Cooper sprinted over the third quarter of the final mile in 28.1sec. but was unable to shake off the dogged and determined Himself, who moved on terms with the leader 250m from home before taking a clear advantage at the 50m and winning by a half-length after a final 400m of 28.6sec.
Himself, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is unbeaten at his first three starts in Western Australia and appears certain to develop into a strong performer. His win on Friday night followed wins in stands at Bunbury and Northam.
“We weren’t sure what to expect from Himself tonight, but we were happy to drive him that way (in the breeze) if Cooper led,” said Warwick. “It was pleasing to see him do it that way. He made it look like hard work in his wins at Bunbury and Northam, but he got the job done both times.”
Himself is a son of McArdle mare Shards Of Myross, who managed one win from 21 starts in New Zealand. He has raced 14 times for six wins, four placings and stakes of $57,367.
Will I Rocknroll upsets the favourite
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Will I Rocknroll has always had problems negotiating the home turn at Gloucester Park when wide on the track.
“He is a good rails horse, and if he gets a run on the fence, he will win nine times out of ten,” said star reinsman Gary Hall jnr after guiding the $3.20 chance to a smart victory over the $1.65 favourite Typhoon Banner in the 2130m City Discount Tyres Falken Tyre Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Will I Rocknroll, trained by Gary Hall snr, led from barrier No. 2 for the first 200m before Dylan Egerton-Green sent Typhoon Banner (barrier three) to the front. Typhoon Banner then was able to coast through the opening quarters of the final mile in 32.1sec. and 30.3sec. before the final 800m was covered in 57.2sec.
Will I Rocknroll was hopelessly hemmed in approaching the home turn before Hall was able to get the gelding into the clear 120m from the post. Will I Rocknroll sprinted strongly to get to the front in the final 20m and win by a half-length from Typhoon Banner. Boom Time ($20) ran on from sixth at the bell to finish third.
“He just can’t get around the bend if he is wide,” said Hall. But he can accelerate up the straight. He doesn’t hang that badly but for some reason, probably mental, he can’t get around the bend when he is out wide. I wanted to lead tonight but I couldn’t hold out Typhoon Banner. Then we were lucky enough to get out and get over Typhoon Banner.”
Will I Rocknroll now has raced 71 times for 16 wins, 11 placings and $156,780. All his 37 starts in Western Australia have been at Gloucester Park for five metro-class wins and five placings. His half-brother Kashed Up won the group 2 Queensland Sun at Albion Park early in July, and he has earned $249,535 from 11 wins and 18 placings from 42 starts.
Pocket The Cash is consistent
Bunbury trainer Stephen Reed freely admits that Pocket The Cash is no star performer, but he admires the five-year-old’s consistency.
Pocket The Cash was the $2.50 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the 2130m City Discount Tyres Driven By Value Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Lindsay Harper drove the New Zealand-bred gelding to an all-the-way win to end a losing sequence of 17.
“He strung a number of wins together early and went through the grades quickly, and then found his grade,” said Reed. “However, he has been very consistent, running lots of thirds and fourths. Tonight, we had barrier one and were able to take advantage of it and get the win.
“He is a good little horse to train; he’s no world beater, just a nice consistent earner who will probably pick up another one or two more wins.
“There was a bit of a dash early and a bit of a charge at him tonight. I get the feeling he tends to race at his best when he rolls along. He hasn’t got a real top speed, so he is at his best when he can find the middle ground of going not too slowly or two quickly.”
Shadow Roll, a $9.50 chance, began speedily from barrier six and led by a length soon after the start but was unable to cross Pocket The Cash, who did well to hold out the $9.50 chance Fancy A Dance, who was eighth at the bell and finished strongly, out four wide.
The New Zealand-bred Pocket The Cash has done all his racing in WA and has earned $127,409 from 15 wins and 27 placings from 69 starts. He is by Bettors Delight and is the second foal out of Ideal Pocket, a winner at two of her 13 starts in New Zealand.
Abercromby’s plan succeeds
Cardup trainer Craig Abercromby was not disillusioned when his promising three-year-old filly Free Wheeling drew out wide at barrier No. 8 in the 2130m Noah George Fundraiser Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
On the contrary, he was quietly confident that Free Wheeling could overcome the wide draw, and he and reinsman Aldo Cortopassi planned to use the filly’s excellent gate speed in a bid to set the pace.
“The plan was to go forward, unless it was ridiculous,” said Abercromby. “Free Wheeling’s work on Tuesday was very good, and I thought she should come out and have a bit of a look.”
The plan worked out perfectly, with Free Wheeling, a $15.90 chance beginning smartly and dashing to the front after about 300m. This move was helped by the fact that the $2.05 favourite Wall Street Girl began speedily from barrier four and was in second place, three wide, challenging for the lead after 50m when she broke into a bad gallop and dropped back to a distant last.
Taking The Miki ($4.60) began fast and attempted to take up the running in the early stages before Chris Voak was content to take the sit behind Free Wheeling, with Dontbesillychilli ($16) working in the breeze.
Free Wheeling went on to win by just over a length from Taking The Miki, with Dontbesillychilli a well beaten third.
“We will race Free Wheeling fortnightly and maybe look at running in the $100,000 Westbred Classic for fillies on September 9,” said Abercromby.
The victory improved Free Wheeling’s record to 21 starts for seven wins, five placings and $59,506 in prizemoney. Free Wheeling, who is by American Ideal and is out of the unraced Art Major mare Le Chambon, is a full-sister to seven-year-old gelding Marquisard, who has had 131 starts for Abercromby and breeder Pat Gilroy for 17 wins, 19 placings and stakes of $ 159,477.
Eighteen Carat sparkles
Five-year-old mare Eighteen Carat gave a sample of her class when she scored a runaway victory in the 2130m City Discount Tyres Falken Tyres Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a striking performance which indicated she should develop into a leading candidate for the rich events for mares in November.
“She went 1.55.8 which was low flying tonight, with the weather and strong wind,” said trainer Michael Young. “She couldn’t have been more impressive. Her rivals weren’t bad horses, but she made them look like bad horses.
“We will give her a couple of more runs and then a little freshen up before the big races (the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on November 11 and the $150,000 Westral Mares Classic on November 25). That’s the aim for her, and she should be right in it.
“She has a bit of speed and a lot of strength and heart. She is a really tough mare, an all-round good horse, one out of the box. She was only a cheap buy out of New Zealand, costing $30,000, and she has earned that from her first three starts in WA.”
Eighteen Carat raced 38 times in New Zealand for five wins, six placings and $50,473. Her two wins and a third in WA netted $30,058.
Asked to compare Eighteen Carat with Nevermindthechaos, Young replied: “That’s a tough question. Nevermindthechaos is my favourite of all time, and I think she has got Eighteen Carat covered for a bit of brilliance. But Eighteen Carat has probably got her for a bit of strength.”
Nevermindthechaos (19 starts for seven wins, five placings and $62,887) is recovering from a strained nearside fore tendon, and Young is hopeful she will be able to resume her racing career in the not-too-distant future.
On Friday night Eighteen Carat, the $1.70 favourite, set the pace for Gary Hall jnr and coasted to a five and a half-length victory over the $5 chance Angel In White, who fought on gamely after racing without cover. The final 400m sections were covered in 27.9sec. and 28.8sec.
Bynder’s joyous celebration
Aleesha Bynder, deputising for absent trainer Michael Brennan, brightened a cold and windy night at Gloucester Park on Friday night with an uninhibited joyous celebration which saw her stumble to the track after $45.50 outsider Whatabro charged home to snatch a half-head victory over the $1.95 favourite Euphoria in the 2130m City Discount Tyres Pace.
“I was so excited that I tripped over the fence and fell on to the track,” she said. “I skinned my knees, but I’m okay.”
The 36-year-old Bynder was filling in for Brennan, who was on holiday in Ireland, and this was the first time she had been given the task of taking horses to the track to race.
“I have been working for Michael for 12 months, and he rang me from Ireland to congratulate me moments after Whatabro went past the line,” she said.
“I’ve grown up with gallopers and had a brief go at harness racing about 15 years ago. I’m now working on getting my driver’s licence, and I’ve had nine drives at trials.”
Whatabro, an experienced five-year-old, was neglected by punters at his fourth appearance after a spell. He was a $126 rank outsider at his two previous starts when he finished tenth behind Dominus Factum and ninth and last behind the same horse.
“He has been working really well,” said Bynder, who was not surprised at the gelding’s performance on Friday night. A winner of 18 races in South Australia, Whatabro has now had 26 starts in WA for Brennan for four wins and six placings. His record stands at 97 starts for 22 wins, 36 placings and stakes of $140,969.
Michael Grantham drove Whatabro with great confidence. The gelding began fast from barrier five and quickly led by a length but was unable to cross the polemarker Steam Punk. Grantham was then happy to ease Whatabro, who enjoyed an ideal passage in sixth position, one-out and two-back.
Euphoria, who raced in the breeze in the middle stages, took a narrow lead 220m from home, but was unable to hold out the strong-finishing Whatabro.
Never Ending excites Hall
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr generally is reasonably conservative when extolling the virtues of horses. But he was unable to hide his excitement after driving two-year-old gelding Never Ending to an easy victory in the 2130m City Discount Tyres Wheel And Tyre Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is really scary,” said Hall. “I never thought I’d feel nervous about driving a horse. But I don’t want to be the one who does anything wrong with this horse.
“He’s got scary talent and he is actually too good to let go yet, if that makes sense. He is just too fast for his own good; the ability is unbelievable. He is not just a speedy two-year-old; he could be anything.
“There are so many hurdles along the way, but you don’t want anything to go wrong. It’s not often you get a trouble-free run with a horse for five or six years. That’s what you hope for every time you have one that you think can go a bit. I always think how lucky we were with Im Themightyquinn, who didn’t have any serious issues during his career. It’s not hard to be excited about the potential of Never Ending.”
Never Ending, trained at Boyanup by Justin Prentice, was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and he gave Hall an armchair drive, coasting through the lead time in a leisurely 39.5sec. and the opening quarters in 32.7sec. and 31.4sec. before he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.8sec. and 27.7sec.
He was not extended in beating the $5.20 chance Soho Confidential by 4m, rating an extremely modest 2.1. This followed his brilliant last-to-first debut victory over 2185m at Pinjarra 18 days earlier when he sped over the final 800m in 54.59sec.
Never Ending, who was bought by Prentice for $75,000 at the 2021 APG Perth yearling sale on behalf of several stable clients, certainly looks set for stardom.
He is by American stallion Sweet Lou and is out of the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey, who was placed twice from nine starts as a two and three-year-old in 2006 and 2007 and earned $2560.
Never Ending is a half-brother to Isaiah Artois (26 starts for nine wins, including the Pearl Classic for two-year-olds in June 2014, and six placings for stakes of $117,351), Janet Gai (seven starts for one win and $5460), Dibaba (164 starts for 17 wins, 29 placings and $112,846) and Mandy Joan (59 starts for 13 wins, 15 placings and $168,564).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
