11 September 2023 | Ken Casellas
Never Ending’s remarkable victory
Sensational pacer Never Ending produced a paralysing burst of sheer speed rarely seen at Gloucester Park when he smashed the race record and outclassed the opposition in the $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings on Friday night.
After beginning from the outside barrier (No. 9) and being trapped six and seven wide as he was being restrained back to last in the field of twelve he was still last a thousand metres from home and ten lengths behind the leader Magnus Victor when champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr switched the gelding three wide and he revealed electrifying pace to charge to the front in the space of 200m and then coast to victory.
Never Ending’s sizzling speed left onlookers gasping in disbelief, harness racing aficionados searching for superlatives and Hall and trainer Justin Prentice agog with their admiration.
“I’ve driven only one horse (Im Themightyquinn) who could do what he did tonight,” said Hall. “They weren’t going all that slow and I wasn’t really intending on doing what he did. He just wanted to go, and I doubt that there are many horses who could hold him.
“He is just too quick, and he’s that good that he wants to go faster all the time. And we think that is not good for him, but it is just comfortable for him.
“I don’t know how good he could be. It’s hard to line him up with the best horses I’ve driven because he is only three. He is probably the best three-year-old I’ve driven, at least the equal of Alta Christiano, who was a superstar.
“Never Ending is the fastest three-year-old I have driven. When Quinny was three he was good, but it was only when he was five, six and seven that he really hit his straps, which something I’m hoping this guy does, as well.
“He could be anything. It’s not just doing that and winning. He won tonight like that he had led from the start and run his own race. I never even moved on him late. His speed is ridiculous. He is in the top few horses I have driven.
“Tealsby Karita went out of this world when he won the Pacing Cup, and I still go back and watch the replay every now and again. Beaudiene Boaz won the Golden Slipper, the Derby and the Golden Nugget, and that’s pretty hard to do.
“But none of the horses I have driven had the same sort of speed. The only one who had speed like Never Ending was Quinny. I’m not making comparisons, but Never Ending is the only horse who has that push-button speed. He really excites me.”
Prentice was equally ecstatic after Never Ending’s remarkable victory, saying: “His turn of foot is unreal, and there’s not many horses capable of doing what he did tonight. And there’s not many drivers who would attempt what Junior did tonight. It was an awesome drive and an awesome run.
“Never Ending is the best three-year-old I have trained. I thought Major Martini (second to Patronus Star in the 2020 WA Derby) was one of the best, and Mighty Ronaldo (winner of the Golden Slipper and Pearl Classic as a two-year-old, winner of the 2021 WA Derby and the Fremantle Cup early this year) has a good turn of foot, but I’m not sure he could keep up with Never Ending.”
Prentice said that if Never Ending recovers well from Friday night’s victory his next run would be in the $35,000 Battle Of Bunbury on September 27. That could be followed by a run in the $50,000 Western Gateway on October 20 before the $200,000 WA Derby on November 3.
Never Ending was the $1.60 favourite who beat $81 outsider Dourado by three and a half lengths, with the $4.40 second fancy Skylord finishing a neck away in third place after working hard in the breeze.
Never Ending rated 1.55.2 over the 2130m on Friday night to eclipse the Westbred Classic race record of 1.55.4, set by Patrickthepiranha in 2019. It also gave Prentice his third training success, following wins with Bettor Reward in 2015 and Tricky Miki in 2022.
For Hall it was his sixth win in the Westbred Classic, after scoring with Paddy Hannan (2004), Truckers Ruffnut (2009), One Off Delight (2018), Finvarra (2021) and Tricky Miki (2022).
Never Ending, who is by American sire Sweet Lou and out of the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey, has amassed $379,566 in prizemoney from his ten wins and one third from eleven starts.
Edwards thanks his mentors
Luke Edwards is developing into one of the State’s most promising young trainers, and after preparing August Moon for an easy victory in the $100,000 Westside Auto Wholesale Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night he made a point of thanking everyone who has helped him.
“I did not have a family background in horses, and 15 years ago I didn’t know how to brush a horse or rug a horse,” he said.
“I’d had nothing to do with standardbreds, and everything you see me producing now is the result of what I’ve been taught, particularly by Kevin Keys and Debbie Padberg.
“My boss had a horse with Kevin, and I went to his stables to have a look and I just fell in love with horses. So, I went there every weekend and before work and after work. And after that Debbie put me on as an apprentice driver.
“So, I’ve been around a lot of knowledgeable people and I’m very honoured, humbled and proud of what we’ve achieved.”
August Moon was the $1.20 favourite on Friday night, and Gary Hall dashed her straight to the front from barrier three. She was joined in front 1200m from home by $13 chance Zephyra, who had dashed forward from last with a three-wide burst.
Zephyra weakened in the final lap and August Moon simply coasted home with final quarters of 28.6sec. and 29.1sec. to win by two and a half lengths from $26 chance Our Sandy Shore, who finished solidly from sixth at the bell. Purest Copper ($51), who raced without cover for the first lap and then enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, was third.
The winner, who rated 1.58.1 over the 2130m, is unbeaten at her five starts in her current campaign, and now has a splendid career record of 16 starts for nine wins, five placings and $208,668 in prizemoney.
August Moon’s victory gave the 33-year-old Edwards his 85TH training success. His only other group 2 winner was Leap Of Faith, who won the Easter Cup at Gloucester Park in April 2021.
Edwards said that August Moon’s next appearance would be in the $50,000 group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic next Friday week, followed by the $150,000 group 1 WA Oaks a fortnight later.
“She did it in second gear,” said Edwards. “Every time she goes out, she gets more professional.”
Hall said that August Moon was the best she had felt in a race. “Luke has done a good job with her, and tonight she was awesome,” he said.
Grevis warms up in style
Smart Lazarus colt Grevis warmed up in fine style for next Friday night’s $215,000 Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings with an impressive victory in the 1730m Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by his trainer Aiden de Campo and starting favourite at $2.80 from the No. 2 barrier, Grevis led for the first 200m before trailing the $4.20 second fancy Vegas Strip, who began speedily from out wide at barrier eight.
After a third quarter of 28.4sec. Grevis finished powerfully to hit the front with 60m to travel and win by a neck from Vegas Strip, rating 1.55.3, with a final quarter of 28.7sec.
“He did it hard for the first 150m, and did it hard late, as well,” said de Campo. “He is only a little horse, but he showed tonight that he is up to them. He just needs the right run. I’m looking forward to the Westbred and the Golden Slipper.”
Grevis has been a most consistent performer who has been showing improvement with every run. He now has had eight starts for two wins and six placings for earnings of $47,093.
Acharne Girl shines, first-up
Promising four-year-old Acharne Girl made an excellent return to racing after a nine-week absence when she finished full of running to win the 2130m Catalano Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Alta Christiano mare, trained by Gary Hall snr, was a $4.60 chance ($5.50 on the fixed market) from the inside of the back line, with the Justin Prentice-trained Rambo Rabbit, the $1.90 favourite from the No. 2 barrier.
Rombo Rabbit set the pace, with Acharne Girl racing three back on the pegs, and looking in grave danger of being blocked for a run until Gary Hall jnr was able to ease her into the clear about 300m from home. Acharne Girl finished strongly, out three wide, to get to the front in the final 15m and beat $5 chance Lucca by a neck.
Acharne Girl rated a smart 1.56.2 and improved her record to 20 starts for seven wins, five placings and $104,855.
“She got lucky, getting through the gap,” said Hall jnr. “She had had only one decent hit-out at home, but she didn’t have a long spell. She will get fitter and learn to race better.”
George’s birthday present
Coolup trainer Michael George turned 35 on Thursday and he celebrated the occasion by winning the $25,000 The West Australian Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with his smart and consistent pacer Kimble.
Kimble, the $1.70 favourite and driven confidently by Stuart McDonald, was untroubled to set the pace from the No. 1 barrier, and after covering the final three quarters in 28.8sec., 28.3sec. and 28.3sec. he strolled to victory by a length from the $4.60 second fancy Valentines Brook, who finished strongly from sixth at the bell.
“He ran good sectionals, and now steps up to Free-For-All company,” said George. “He has ticked every box and I couldn’t be happier with him. I was a bit nervous before the race, but when he complements his track work and brings it to the races, I’m happy.”
The Victorian-bred Kimble, who is by American sire Western Terror, is wonderfully sound, but has problems with getting down on his rear bumpers, which is something that has been overcome by George by using a cohesive elastic bandage on both hind legs.
Kimble has raced 60 times for 14 wins, 20 placings and $248,393 in prizemoney.
Happiness is the key for Carrera Mach
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Chris Voak drove Carrera Mach to his first victory, as a three-year-old at Bunbury at his second start in a race, on January 14, 2018.
Voak was at it again at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he guided the eight-year-old Carrera Mach to a thrilling last-stride win in the 1730m The Trots WA Pace at his 129TH start in a race.
Quizzed why Carrera Mach was still a sprightly performer, the old gelding’s trainer Jemma Hayman said that there was no secret for his longevity and his enjoyment of racing.
“The key for a horse of his age is to keep him happy and keep him fit and sound,” she said. “He is a genuine trier who always gives you his best. When he puts in a bad run it leaves us scratching our heads, saying what have we done wrong and not blaming the horse because he is such a genuine horse.
“He has always had troubles with his feet, and I should give credit to Lachie Kenelly, a young guy who works for us. We have given Carrea Mach to him as a project over the past month, and he has done a very good job with him.
“Lachie is a stablehand and an aspiring young driver, who is an equestrian rider and also has a real knack for driving in the cart.”
Carrera Mach’s win on Fridy night took his record to 129 starts for 16 wins, 42 placings and stakes of $203,083.
Carrera Mach was a $9.40 chance from the inside of the back line, and he trailed the pacemaker and $1.75 favourite Let It Linga before Voak eased him off the pegs approaching the home turn, and the gelding finished strongly to get up and win by a nose from $41 chance The Kraken, who had raced in the breeze and taken the lead 200m from home. The final 800m was covered in 57.2sec. and Carrera Mach rated 1.55.2.
Wildwest ready for another Pacing Cup
Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr has veteran pacer Wildwest fit and well and ready to contest the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 10.
The lightly-raced seven-year-old was having his third start after a seven-month absence when he was the $2.40 favourite from barrier one in the $31,000 TABtouch Free-For-All over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven for the first time by Deni Roberts (and becoming the seventh different driver to handle the New Zealand-bred gelding at his most recent eight starts), Wildwest set a solid pace and held on to win by a half-neck from stablemate Jumpingjackmac ($3.90), with Blitzembye ($26) a length farther back in third place.
The final three quarters were run in 28.9sec., 28.5sec. and 27.8sec. and Wildwest rated 1.57.6, taking his record to 43 starts for 14 wins, eight placings and $524,623.
He has contested the past two WA Pacing Cups, starting at 100/1 and gaining a freak inside run to win in a blanket finish from Miracle Moose and Chicago Bull in February 2022, and then he was an outsider at $91 in the big race last February when he raced five back on the pegs and finished eighth behind Diego.
Jumpingjackmac and stablemate Diego are also on target for the upcoming Pacing Cup, with Jumpingjackmac finishing determinedly after enjoying the perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position.
Diego, the reigning Pacing Cup champion (leading and beating Jumpingjackmac and Mighty Ronaldo last January), was an $8 chance on Friday night when he raced in the breeze all the way before wilting to fourth in the five-horse field.
Im The Black Flash stakes his claim
Three-year-old Im The Black Flash was the youngest and least experienced runner in the 2130m Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he showed that he would be a worthy runner in the $200,000 WA Derby on November 3.
The New Zealand-bred colt, trained by Gary Hall snr, was the $1.80 favourite who began from barrier six and raced in the breeze while his four-year-old stablemate High Price ($2) set the pace.
Gary Hall jnr sent Im The Black Flash to the front 130m from home and the Bettors Delight colt coasted to victory, beating High Price by two lengths, rating 1.57.4 after final 400m sections of 28.1sec. and 28sec.
This gave Hall his fifth success on the ten-event program, following wins with Acharne Girl, August Moon, Never Ending and Dontbesillychilli.
Im The Black Flash, who was making his second appearance after a spell, has had twelve starts for five wins, two placings and stakes of $76,742.
“He was good,” said Hall. “You would expect him to do that to that field, but he just hasn’t been. So, it was good to see him go like that, and he will be aimed at the Derby.”
Dontbesillychilli upsets star mare
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr commands a massive following, and his faithful fans enjoyed a bonanza and cashed in handsomely when he landed outsider Dontbesillychilli a shock winner over brilliant four-year-old mare Wonderful To Fly, the $1.08 favourite in the $27,000 Gloucester Park Free-For-All for mares on Friday night.
Dotbesillychilli, trained in Bunbury by Sara Wall, was a $58.40 tote outsider who started at $61 on the fixed market after being quoted at $91 earlier in the day.
Wonderful To Fly began speedily from barrier two and challenged the polemarker and $13 chance Star Of Diamonds for the early lead. But Wonderful To Fly was unable to cross Star of Diamonds, and Shane Young was happy to take the sit with the super mare with a record of 28 wins and $562,230 in prizemoney.
This left Dontbesillychilli (from the No. 7 barrier) in the breeze. Then when passing the winning post for the first time, Young opted to switch Wonderful To Fly to the breeze.
Star Of Diamonds sped over the second 400m section of the final mile in 28.1sec. before Wonderful To Fly took the lead with 600m to travel. The third quarter was covered in 28.5sec. and Hall then was happy to angle Dontbesillychilli to the pegs to trail Wonderful To Fly.
Hall eased Dontbesillychilli off the pegs 200m from home and the four-year-old mare sprinted home strongly to gain the upper hand in the final couple of strides to win by a head, rating 1.55.8 over the 2130m.
“Wow, how good did she go,” exclaimed Hall. “I was hoping to hold on to the back of Wonderful To Fly for as long as I could, and then I couldn’t believe that she was still travelling. She was amazing, and Sara was ecstatic.”
Mrs Wall said she was hoping that Dontbesillychilli would finish fourth or fifth. “But going down the back I was hoping that she would hold on and run second. And when she was still travelling coming into the straight, I thought ‘maybe; maybe not.’ It was a great drive.
“I specifically started Dontbesillychilli in this race with the hope that she would go well in Free-For-All company to enable her to get a start in the feature event for mares later this year.” Dontbesillychilli now has earned $137,560 from ten wins and 14 placings from 46 starts.
Suvaljko notches first metro win
Promising reinsman Joey Suvaljko drove a patient race and kept his cool to guide Watts Up Sunshine to a thrilling victory in the $21,000 Westral Handicap, a 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This gave the 20-year-old Suvaljko his first metropolitan-class success and his 26TH win in his emerging career. His 25TH win came on the previous Friday night when he set the pace and won with the $21 chance Lil Delight at Wagin.
Watts Up Sunshine, the lone backmarker off 20 metres and a $4.90 chance, raced in seventh place in the field of eight, and Suvaljko bided his time, with Watts Up Sunshine buried on the pegs in sixth place 350m from home.
Suvaljko eased Watts Up Sunshine into the clear with 250m to travel and the five-year-old was fifth 120m from the post before flying home to beat his stablemate Cooper ($3.80) by a half-length, with the pacemaker Brewery Lane ($23) in third place.
“I’ve probably had between 15 to 20 city drives, and it was great to get my first metro win,” said Suvaljko.
Michael Young, who trains Watts Up Sunshine, said Suvaljko deserved his success. “He does a lot of work for us at home, and he rides Watts Up Sunshine every day,” he said. “He is a big part of our stable’s success.”
The New South Wales-bred Watts Up Sunshine was making his first appearance in a stand in Western Australia, and Suvaljko was having only his second drive behind the gelding, following his third placing behind Ima Fivestar General at Gloucester Park early in June.
Watts Up Sunshine has had 15 starts in WA for four wins and three placings. He now has earned $221,615 from 20 wins and 20 placings from 74 starts.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
