01 November 2021 | Ken Casellas
Hurricane Harley set for RWWA Cup
Hurricane Harley, an effortless winner of the group 3 Gerrard’s Howard Porter Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night, is being set for the $50,000 RWWA Cup on November 19 as a major lead-up before his assault on the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in January.
“He has felt good and sharp in his work and he’s getting fitter with every run,” said trainer Justin Prentice. “Hopefully, he keeps improving. I’ll see how he pulls up, but he will probably have another run before the RWWA Cup, which is his immediate aim. And then we will pencil in the big Cups.”
“He did it really easily tonight,” said champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “I might have some decisions to make, come Christmas, choosing Cup drives, particularly if Chicago Bull is okay. It’s nice to have options.”
Hurricane Harley, the $1.20 favourite, began swiftly from barrier six, and Hall sent him to the front after 270 metres, giving the polemarker Fanci A Dance ($13) a perfect trail.
Perfect Major ($10) dashed forward, three wide, in the first lap to race in the breeze, while Hurricane Harley coasted through the opening quarters of the final mile in 31sec. and 29.3sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28.1sec. He rated 1.55.3 over the 2130m journey and beat Fanci a Dance by three lengths, with Bettorstartdreaming a head away in third place.
The impressive victory gave Hall a record fourth success in the Porter Memorial, following wins with Fletcher Christian (2003), Crusader Banner (2015) and Chicago Bull (2020).
Prentice said he was still learning a lot about the five-year-old Hurricane Harley. “With a stallion having nine months off, it takes a bit of time to tighten right up and get rock-hard race fit, especially at the level he’s at,” he said.
Hurricane Harley is by Bettors Delight and is the third foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Sugarland (34 starts in modest company for seven wins, 14 placings and stakes of $38,418).
Sugarland is a half-sister to Maffioso (41 starts for 24 wins, ten placings and $606,907 in prizemoney), and this arouses disappointing memories for Hall, who drove Im Themightyquinn when he finished a head second to Maffioso in the group 1 $200,000 Chariots of Fire at Harold Park in July 2009.
Hurricane Harley now has amassed $527,025 in stakes from his 23 wins and six placings from 43 starts.
Finvarra makes it five for Hall
Up-and-coming superstar Finvarra is a three-year-old who has had only eight starts. His exciting potential excites Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr who is toying with the idea of setting the West Australian-bred colt for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in January.
Finvarra’s runaway victory in the 2536m Garrard’s Online www.horseandhound.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night gave Hall four winners, and his son, champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr his fifth victory on an evening during which his sublime skill in the sulky delighted harness racing fans and reinforced his standing as one of the best drivers in the world.
“Finvarra has had feet problems, but he is a high-class horse who is capable of winning really good races,” said Hall snr. “The distance of the Cups (2536m for the Fremantle Cup and 2936m for the WA Pacing Cup) are no problem — and those events are well and truly on the radar.
“Gary is an outstanding driver and one of the best in Australia. There’s nobody who is better than him.”
While setting such an inexperienced pacer for the big Cup events might sound somewhat ambitious, Hall snr has no doubts that the colt will be able to measure up to competing against talented pacers who are older and vastly more experienced. He will be a four-year-old when the Cups are run.
Finvarra, the $1.10 favourite, started out wide at barrier seven on Friday night and he settled down at the rear before Hall jnr dashed him forward soon after the start. He then raced in the breeze before he took a narrow lead over the pacemaker Major Mucha 400m from home and surged away to beat that pacer by just under three lengths, with final quarters of 28.6sec. and 28.2sec.
This gave Finvarra his fifth win from eight starts and boosted his earnings to $94,129. He is by American Ideal and is the first foal out of the New Zealand-bred Changeover mare Nuala, who won at her only start in New Zealand, as a two-year-old in 2014.
Nuala then had 18 starts in WA for the Hall stable for 13 wins and two placings. She won the Daintys Daughter Classic in February 2015 and was retired with stakes of $132,449.
Hall jnr said that Finvarra was still maturing mentally, and he predicted a bright future for the colt. “He has got any amount of speed and went super tonight,” he declared.
Earlier in the night Hall had been successful with Alta Cinderella, Euphoria, Alta Intrigue and Hurricane Harley. He has driven 192 winners this season and heads the WA drivers’ premiership table from Chris Voak (143) and Emily Suvaljko (136).
Hampton Banner’s triumphant return
Rising star Hampton Banner defied a spirited interrogation from Jumpingjackmac when he held the brilliant three-year-old at bay and scored an impressive first-up victory in the 2130m Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The four-year-old Hampton Banner, second fancy at $3.80, was resuming racing after a 25-week absence when he revealed his natural sparkling gate speed to set the pace from the No. 3 barrier.
Chris Lewis rated Hampton Banner perfectly in front, with Jumpingjackmac, the $1.85 favourite, racing without cover. After modest opening quarters of 30.6sec. and 29.2sec., the tempo rose sharply when Jumpingjackmac issued a strong challenge in the back straight in the final circuit, and the third quarter whizzed by in 27.6sec.
Jumpingjackmac got on terms with Hampton Banner at the 400m mark, and the two pacers fought out the final quarter, stride for stride, with Hampton Banner prevailing by a half-head. The last 400m was covered in 29sec. and Hampton Banner rated 1.57.1.
Part-owner Mark Lewis, whose mother Debra trains Hampton Banner, said he was happy, but not surprised at Hampton Banner’s splendid first-up performance.
“He has had a solid preparation and he will be set for the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup,” he said. “Ther longer distances of the Cup races will not worry him. His greatest asset is his speed. He can sit-sprint but at Gloucester Park it is always an advantage to lead. He is lightly raced and has had a few injury issues that are now under control.”
Hampton Banner, who is by Bettors Delight, raced ten times in New Zealand for three wins and a second placing. His eight WA starts have produced five wins and a second.
Manning is a Trotsynd bargain
Members of the Trotsynd No. 16 syndicate are celebrating yet another victory from their wonderful four-year-old Sportswriter gelding Manning, who is prepared by astute Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice.
Manning, driven with supreme confidence by Maddison Brown, turned the 2536m Garrard’s Freecall Pace into a one-act affair at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he set the pace from barrier two and careered away from his rivals in the final circuit to win by 23 metres from veteran pacer Dredlock Rockstar.
Manning, the $1.60 favourite, is proving to be a tremendous bargain. Bred by Steve Johnson, he was purchased by the Trotsynd syndicate for $19,000 at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale and now has amassed $176,168 in prizemoney (as well as many more thousands of dollars in Westbred bonuses) from 12 wins and four placings from 42 starts.
He was a smart two-year-old when he won the group 1 Pearl Classic in June 2019, and he has continued to flourish under Prentice’s care.
Manning is the seventh foal out of the Northern Lights mare Stephanie Rose, whose other winners include Arts Gangsta (112 starts for 11 wins, 25 placings and $66,827) and Brotha Ofa Gangsta (82 starts for 12 wins, 18 placings and $92,851).
Alta Cinderella is flying
West Australian-bred four-year-old Alta Cinderella continued her march towards the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic on November 26 with a devastating all-the-way victory in the Garrard’s Here On Track Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gary Hall jnr roused her from the No. 1 barrier at the start to ensure that she set the pace. She responded but pulled hard for the first 400m before she relaxed and enjoyed her pacemaking role.
After a solid lead time of 36.5sec. Alta Cinderella, the $1.40 favourite, covered the opening quarter of the final mile in 30.7sec. before she dashed over the following 400m sections in 28.5sec., 28.3sec. and 29.5sec. She rated 1.56 over the 2130m in winning by three lengths from $23 chance Diamond Dove, who trailed her throughout. Sagano ran home solidly from seventh at the bell to finish third.
Alta Cinderella has won at five of her past six starts and has a record of 15 starts for nine wins and one second placing for earnings of $51,554. By Alta Christiano, she is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Funzova (34 starts for eight wins, ten placings and $53,938).
“She was outstanding,” said trainer Gary Hall snr. “She’s definitely on track for the Mares Classic. She is one of the best mares here and the 2536m of the big race won’t bother her. She is actually better, sat-up. If they go hard, she will pelt home.”
Euphoria proves to be a good buy
Beth Richardson, Karen Hall, Danny Roberts and Sue Beven have no regrets at outlaying $30,000 to purchase Euphoria from New Zealand 15 months ago.
The four-year-old American Ideal gelding, who had managed just two placings from eight starts in minor events in New Zealand, has developed into a smart and consistent performer for ace trainer Gary Hall snr.
He boosted his earnings for his new owners to $81,436 when he produced a typical tough performance to win the Garrard’s Rio Cobra Sulky Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night. This took his WA record to 25 starts for ten wins, nine seconds and two thirds.
Euphoria is the first foal out of the McArdle mare Bliss, who was retired after two inconspicuous unplaced efforts as a three-year-old in 2014.
Euphoria was favourite at $2.90 on Friday night and Gary Hall jnr settled him down in seventh position in the one-wide line, and when the pace slackened after 650m Hall sent him forward, three wide, to race outside the pacemaker Alta Rhett.
Ryan Warwick tried to take the sting out of Alta Rhett’s rivals by urging the five-year-old to increase the tempo with a 28.2sec. third quarter of the final mile. But Euphoria stuck to his task and ground his way to the front with 250m to travel before winning by 2m from the fast-finishing Allwoods Rocknroll, who had enjoyed the sit behind the pacemaker all the way.
“He’s a nice little horse,” said a euphoric Hall snr.
Alta Intrigue is a marvel
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr lavished praise on Alta Intrigue after he had driven the injury-plagued seven-year-old to a thrilling last-stride victory over the pacemaker Roman Art in the 2130m Garrard’s Gloucester Park Pace at headquarters on Friday night.
“He went super,” said Hall. “I didn’t think he was that good. He is a magnificent-looking horse who just keeps getting better and better.”
And champion trainer Gary Hall snr said: “Alta Intrigue is doing a good job, particularly for a horse who has suffered a bowed tendon three times over three years.”
Alta Intrigue was a firm second fancy at $2.60 and facing a stiff test from the outside barrier in the field of nine, with noted frontrunner and $2.35 favourite Roman Art perfectly drawn at barrier No. 1.
Roman Art, driven by Emily Suvaljko, led for the first 200m before Donald Harper sent the speedy Thereugo to the front and then was happy to take the sit behind Roman Art 250m later.
Alta Intrigue settled down in last position before Hall jnr wisely dashed him forward in the first lap to race without cover as Roman Art sped over the final three 400m sections of the last mile in 28.5sec., 28.2sec. and 28.9sec.
Alta Intrigue responded grandly to Hall’s urgings, and he fought on with great determination to snatch victory by a half-head, rating 1.56.4.
Alta Intrigue won at four of his 26 starts in New Zealand, and his 35 starts in WA have produced eight wins, ten seconds and three thirds for a career record of 61 starts for 12 wins, 26 placings and stakes of $230,773.
Born To Boogie in devastating form
Eight-time WA premiership trainer Ross Olivieri has the lightly raced Born to Boogie racing in dazzling form and he has his sights set firmly on the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic on November 26.
The six-year-old Born to Boogie, favourite at $1.04, gave champion reinsman Chris Lewis an armchair drive when she was not extended in setting the pace and scoring an effortless victory in the 2130m Gerrard’s, Service with Integrity Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Born To Boogie coasted to a two-length win over veteran gelding Im Soxy, a $31 chance who enjoyed the perfect trail behind the pacemaker all the way. Born To Boogie rated 1.55.8 after final quarters of 27.9sec. and 28.2sec.
A winner at five of her 26 starts in New Zealand, Born To Boogie has shone under Olivieri’s care, with her eight WA starts producing six wins and two close second placings.
“She was very strong, up front, and ran very well,” said an admiring Lewis. “I’m sure that she will handle the 2536m of the Mares Classic. I don’t think it will be a major problem. She won with something in reserve tonight.”
Born To Boogie, raced by Merv Butterworth’s racing syndicate, is a half-sister to Glenferrie Hood, a New Zealand-bred Christian Cullen gelding who began his career as a two-year-old in Western Australia.
After eight wins and six placings from his 22 WA starts, Glenferrie Hood went on to win 28 races in Queensland, seven in New South Wales and three in Victoria before being retired last year with a record of 162 starts for 46 wins, 36 placings and earnings of $538,110.
Born To Boogie, the fifth foal out of the unraced Badlands Hanover mare Niftey Franco, has had 34 starts for 11 wins, 12 placings and $120,401 in prizemoney.
Mixed fortunes for Stanley
“On one hand I’m happy, and on the other hand I’m very disappointed,” said Wundowie trainer Bruce Stanley after The Male Model had caused an upset by winning the 2503m Garrard’s Perth Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Male Model, owned and trained by Stanley, was a $46.70 outsider when Kim Prentice trailed the pacemaker Tears Of Joy and brought the seven-year-old home with a well-timed burst to hit the front 50m from the post and score by one and a half lengths.
The victory ended a 32-month drought and a losing sequence of 49. It was the New Zealand-bred gelding’s first success at Gloucester Park at his 31ST appearance at the track.
The reason for Stanley’s mixed emotions was that he was driving his recent acquisition Majestic Courtney, a $9 chance at his West Australian debut. After starting from the back mark of 50m, Majestic Courtney enjoyed a perfect passage in the one-out, one-back position before he hit the off-side wheel of No Republic’s sulky 420m from home, broke into a gallop and dropped back to finish last.
“I’m pretty sure that Majestic Courtney would’ve won easily,” he said. “He was travelling quite nicely before he hit a wheel and broke. No-one is more disappointed at the moment than me.”
Stanley had a good feeling before the race that The Male Model would perform strongly. “I told Kim before the race that it had taken me a long time to catch The Male Model in the paddock to load him on to the float for the trip to Gloucester Park.
“He is usually pretty good, but today he ran around, and it took a while to catch him. I have had a lot of problems with him, a lot of health issues, and I was going to retire him last year.
“But after giving him eight months off I decided to bring him back into work, and he has improved a lot in his trackwork.
“I’m happy that he won tonight and that my third runner in the race, My Mdina, ran on well to finish third.”
Reluctant Reed scores a goal
On the first Sunday in September astute trainer Mike Reed took one horse (Dardy Boy) for a workout at the Byford trials, and later in the morning he reluctantly took two pacers back to his Henley Brook stables.
In a strange twist of fate Dardy Boy was allocated the stall next to Hopeland trainer Kevin Charles’s unraced Sportswriter two-year-old filly Queeninthecorner.
After Dardy Boy and Queeninthecorner had contested the second trial, Charles was far from happy when Queeninthecorner had faded badly to finish last in the field of four, 66 metres behind the winner Seven No Trumps.
“Kevin was grumbling after the trial,” said Reed. “And he said: ‘You don’t want to take this horse home for me, do you?’ and I said ‘No, not really. I don’t want any more horses.’
“Kevin then said: ‘Do me a favour and take her for a month and then let me know what you think. So, I agreed to take her, and my son Mark gave me a bake on the way home. It was all a complete surprise.”
After working Queeninthecorner for a few weeks Reed nominated her for a race at Bunbury on October 9. “She had worked well on the track, and I thought she would win,” said Reed.
Driven by Shannon Suvaljko and starting at $2.15, Queeninthecorner unwound a solid finishing burst to get up and win by a head from Elsamay in a four-way photo finish.
“She just fell in, and I think I must have over-cooked her on the track,” said Reed. “Since then, I have freshened her up and she won nicely tonight.”
A $7.20 chance from the No. 1 barrier, Queeninthecorner, driven by Suvaljko, set the pace and won the 2130m Gerrard’s Horse and Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, beating $91 outsider See the World by two lengths at a 1.57.2 rate. This took Queeninthecorner’s record to two starts for two wins and earnings of $15,631 for Kevin Charles and his wife Annette, who bred the filly.
Quite remarkably there is a strong connection between Reed, Charles and Suvaljko, concerning Queeninthecorner, who is out of the New Zealand-bred mare Ace of Cards, who was purchased by Reed as a two-year-old in New Zealand in April 2011.
Ace Of Cards raced 67 times for Reed in WA for five wins, 24 placings and stakes of $54,499. Souvlaki drove Ace of Cards to two of her wins, at Bunbury and Gloucester Park in 2013.
“Ace Of Cards looked like being a good mare, but she fractured a pedal bone and was never the same,” said Reed. “Kevin acquired her, and Queeninthecorner is her second foal.
“Queeninthecorner had been hanging badly. She fell in a track mishap as an early two-year-old and damaged both her knees. I have had X-rays taken, and they revealed no bone chips, just scar tissues.
“She has overcome her problem with hanging, and I’m sure she will only improve.”
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Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
