12 September 2022 | Ken Casellas
Tricky Miki’s Bunbury itinerary
Contesting Bunbury feature events are the plans for brilliant three-year-old Tricky Miki leading into the $200,000 WA Derby on November 4.
“He’s got quite a few races leading into the Derby — the Battle Of Bunbury (September 21) and the South-West Derby (October 7),” said Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice after Gary Hall jnr had produced yet another magical performance to land Tricky Miki, the $7.70 third favourite, a superb winner of the group 1 $100,000 TABtouch Westbred Classic for colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“We thought that Tricky Miki’s final 200 metres are his best, and he would have the best opportunity if he was close enough. And Junior drove a ripper race, slotting in. I never thought that he would be one-one after starting from barrier seven.”
Tricky Miki settled down in ninth position before Hall sent him forward with a three-wide burst after 400m to quickly move to the breeze, with the polemarker and $2.25 favourite Goodfellaz setting the pace.
The Miki Taker ($11) also surged forward for Aiden de Campo and when he got to the breeze 550m after the start, Tricky Miki was in a perfect position, one-out and one-back. Hall bided his time before he switched Tricky Miki three wide with about 250m to travel and the gelding sprinted strongly to take the lead 70m from the post before winning by just under a length from $8.50 chance Loucid Dreams, with $81 outsider Whos The Dad running on from three back on the pegs to be third, ahead of a wilting Goodfellaz.
The final 400m sections were covered in 27.8sec. and 28.8sec. and Tricky Miki rated 1.56.2 and took his record to five wins and five placings from eleven starts for earnings of $173,246. He won the group 1 Golden Slipper in July last year and is certainly proving a good buy for Prentice and a syndicate of owners, headed by Glen Mortimer.
Prentice paid $57,500 for Tricky Miki at the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale, and Mortimer declared: “There is nobody as good as Justin in selecting a horse at the sales, and he is a great trainer.”
Tricky Miki, bred by Steve Johnson, is by American sire Always B Miki, and is out of Harriet Elisabeth, who had 36 starts for 11 wins, nine placings and stakes of $114,348. Harriet Elisabeth finished second to Im Bella Jay in the Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies in July 2014.
“Tricky Miki is a nice horse who doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” said Hall.
Swingband, the $4.20 second fancy on Friday night after winning at 11 of his 18 starts, finished last. He settled down in sixth place in the one-wide line, but his chances were ruined when he stood on and displaced his near fore shoe about 550m after the start, causing him to break into a gallop and drop back to last.
It’s now for the Daintys Daughter
It’s full steam ahead for champion filly Wonderful to Fly, who stretched her winning sequence to ten when she outclassed her eleven rivals in the group 1 $100,000 TABtouch Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She will be back here in two weeks for the Daintys Daughter Classic,” said part-owner and trainer-reinsman Shane Young after Wonderful to Fly, the $1.40 favourite coasted to a 10m victory over a gallant $4.60 second fancy Little Darling, who fought on gamely after working hard in the breeze. Dontbesillychilli ($34) ran on from sixth at the bell to be third.
Wonderful To Fly started from the inside of the back line and she settled down at the rear while $71 chance Champagne Everyone dashed to an early lead from barrier three before Free Wheeling ($14) took over the role of pacemaker 450m after the start.
After a solid lead time of 36.7sec. the first quarter of the final mile was run in a smart 29.2sec. Young gave Wonderful to Fly plenty of time to settled own and he was able to ease the filly off the inside in the first circuit before sending her forward after a lap. She sprinted brilliantly and charged to the front with 1200m to travel and was not extended in running the final three 400m sections in 30.6sec., 29sec. and 28.1sec.
She rated 1.56 over the 2130m and improved her record for owners Young, his daughter Alison, Peter Bloxome, Roslyn Boterhoven De Haan, Susan Waters, Syd Chilton, Kerry Drage, Kevin Egerton-Green and John Giles to 31 starts for 21 wins, six placings and stakes of $409,183.
“I thought that I’d be able to get to the breeze after they had gone quick early,” said Young. “And then when we came out, she really took charge and went around on her own accord while I had a good hold of her. She went terrific, and we will be back here in a fortnight for the Daintys Daughter Classic, leading into the $150,000 WA Oaks on October 14.”
For the 59-year-old Young this was his fifth group 1 success as a driver, following wins with Miss Placed in the Sires final for two-year-olds in June 2007, Trigmart in the State Sires Series final for three-year-old colts and geldings in July 2011, Rosies Ideal in the Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies in June 2018 and Wonderful To Fly in the Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies in June 2021. He trained all but Miss Placed for those victories.
Apart from her two group 1 successes, Wonderful to Fly has also won three group 2 events and two group three races.
High praise for Plutonium
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr labelled New Zealand-bred gelding as the most improved pacer in the State after driving the six-year-old to an easy all-the-way victory in the 2130m Steelos Open Every Race Meeting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was Plutonium’s fifth win from six starts since resuming racing after an injury-enforced 13-month absence, following a bowed tendon in mid-July last year.
“He got away with an easy first half (61.3sec.) but got home in 55.4sec., and did it on his ear,” said Hall. “I didn’t pull the plugs.”
Plutonium, trained by Michael Young, was the $1.20 favourite and he was not extended in beating last-start winners The Ideal Touch and Always Fast, rating 1.57.6 and taking his record to 38 starts for 13 wins, eight placings and $139,159 in prizemoney.
Plutonium’s victory completed a treble for Hall, who was successful earlier in the night with Tricky Miki and Im The Black Flash.
“I started the night with seconds in the first three events (with Zazu, Doc Holliday and Euphoria), and luckily I rectified things later when I got my eye in just like a bowler who goes for six and couple of boundaries before taking a hat-trick,” he said.
Jaspervellabeach is getting quicker
Most punters were convinced that the polemarker and noted frontrunner Al Guerrero would set the pace and prove hard to beat in the 2130m Taste Of WA This October Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But talented young driver Emily Suvaljko had other ideas. She was confident that Jaspervellabeach had the necessary speed to burst to the front from the No. 5 barrier.
Her judgment proved to be spot on. Jaspervellabeach, the $6.40 third fancy, began speedily and surged past Al Guerroro, the $1.75 favourite, and into the lead after 100 metres.
Then, after a fast lead time of 36.4sec. Jaspervellabeach relaxed and ambled through the first quarter of the final mile in 31.6sec. before increasing the tempo with 400m sections of 29.7sec., 27.4sec. and 29.1sec.
But it was far from plain sailing. Mirragon, a last-start all-the-way winner and the $4.40 second favourite, raced fiercely in the breeze and was hailed the winner when Chris Lewis sent him past Jaspervellabeach turning into the back straight in the final lap.
Mirragon led by a length 220m from home but was unable to move across to the pegs. Eventually, he wilted and finished a well-beaten third behind Jaspervellabeach and Euphoria, with Jaspervellabeach regaining the lead with 120m to travel.
Suvaljko admitted that she was destined for defeat after Mirragon had gained the upper hand in the final circuit. “I thought I’d lost the race when we were headed by Mirragon, and down the back Jaspervellabeach was flat out. I pulled the plugs and got stuck into Jaspervellabeach, and I though we could run a place. However, Jaspervellabeach kicked back really good.
Trainer Gary Elson instructed Suvaljko to go forward with Jaspervellabeach at the start, and Suvaljko was more than happy to follow his instructions.
“I thought that Al Guerrero had not been getting out as quickly as he had been previously, while Jasper seems to be getting quicker and quicker,” said Suvaljko.
The Victorian-bred Jaspervellabeach has been an excellent moneyspinner for owner Kristy Elson, with his 63 starts producing 15 wins and 15 placings for stakes of $256,606.
Gee Smith is proving a bargain
Five-year-old Former Victorian pacer Gee Smith is proving a wonderful bargain and a model of consistency for owners Tony Maguire and Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, and the Sportswriter gelding scored a thrilling victory in a dramatic four-way photo finish to the Cowdens Insurance Handicap, a 2503m standing-start event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gee Smith was purchased for $10,000 by Maguire after the gelding had won at four of his 23 Victorian starts. Gee Smith now has earned $90,734 from his eight wins and 17 placings from 38 starts in WA.
Ace reinsman Shannon Suvaljko has formed a great association with Gee Smith and he has been in the sulky for all his wins in WA.
Gee Smith was a $12.10 chance from the inside of the 10-metre line, and Suvaljko took full advantage of the situation when the $2.15 favourite Joey James galloped and lost about four lengths at the start.
With Joey James galloping from the inside of the front line, Aiden de Campo was able to send $9.50 chance Deeorse straight to the front from barrier two, with Suvalkjko avoiding the galloping Joey James and taking the sit behind Deeorse.
Joey James raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, before Deni Roberts was able to ease the gelding off the inside 250m from home. Joey James then flew home, out four wide, and Gee Smith finished strongly, three wide, to emerge triumphant, beating Joey James by a nose, with Deeorse a further nose back in third place, and $21 chance Rebel With A Grin running home along the inside a head away in fourth position.
The final 800m was covered in 57.4sec. and Gee Smith rated 2.0.9. Gee Smith is out of New Zealand-bred mare Our Burning Desire, who raced 50 times for 13 wins, 11 seconds and one third for stakes of $81,250.
Markham Eyre appreciates drop in class
New Zealand-bred gelding Markham Eyre appreciated a drop in class when Deni Roberts drove him to a convincing victory in the 2130m Jerry Fraser Here For Taste Of WA Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $3.80 second favourite from barrier five and Roberts had him travelling like a winner, in the one-out, one-back position, a long way from home, with the $1.85 favourite Zazu setting the pace.
Markham Eyre started a three-wide burst 250m from home and he swept to the front on the home turn and went on to beat Zazu by just over a length at a 1.57 rate after the final 800m was covered in 56.4sec.
Markham Eyre gave trainers Greg and Skye Bond their second winner on Friday — after Ryan Warwick was successful with three-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Strength And Honour in a 1609m event at Bunbury in the afternoon.
And Roberts kept up the good work by winning with the Tom Groves-trained filly Hilo Louisa at Kellerberrin on Sunday.
Markham Eyre, a six-year-old by Sportswriter, has raced 18 times in WA for four wins and five placings, and he now boasts a record of ten wins and 12 placings for $90,638 in stakes from 67 starts. He is out of Southern Eyre, who raced 39 times for one win, eight placings and $19,836.
He was a 50/1 chance last Friday week when he failed to flatter in much stronger company and finished ninth behind Plutonium in the group 2 Binshaw Classic.
Withoutthetuh returns to form
Former Victorian pacer Withoutthetuh ended a losing sequence of 12 when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Taste Of WA In The Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $7.90 chance from the No. 1 barrier, and Michael Grantham took full advantage of the prized draw by getting the five-year-old away fast to hold Rupert Of Lincoln ($14) and Doc Holliday ($2 favourite) at bay in the early stages.
Doc Holliday raced three wide for the first 700m and then raced in the breeze before finishing determinedly to be second, a half-neck behind the winner who covered the final 800m in 57sec. and rated 1.56.5.
“He’s honest and has done a good job, winning three in town (in metropolitan-class events) in the past 12 months,” said trainer Michael Brennan.
“He won two stands in his previous preparation, but his first two runs in this preparation were disappointing (finishing ninth and sixth). He then had a little issue that we had to deal with, and we changed his training routine and started riding him more.”
Withoutthetuh showed early promise, and at his second start he finished second to Mirragon in the group 2 Vicbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Melton in May 2019.
He won twice from six starts in Victoria and his 44 starts in WA have produced 11 wins and 15 placings to take his career record to 50 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $124,223.
Withoutthetuh is by Courage Under Fire and is the fourth foal out of Always Lacking, who won four times from 49 starts before being retired to stud, with her first foal being the recently retired Space Junk, who earned $144,273 from 17 wins and 12 placings from 67 starts.
Lavra Joe bounces back
Brilliant four-year-old Lavra Joe, who was a warm favourite when he overraced in the breeze and faded to finish last behind Diego last Friday week, returned to form with a vengeance at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was driven quietly before finishing powerfully to win the group 3 Howard Porter Memorial.
A week earlier Lavra Joe hit the wheels of his sulky and became fired up, leaving owner-trainer Ray Jones with the task of solving this problem.
“I extended the shafts of his sulky by about five centimetres to prevent him from hitting the wheels,” said Jones. “And he didn’t get fired up. Last week he was chased out of the gate and then he wanted to keep going and overraced.
“The plan tonight was for Chris (Lewis) to keep him quiet in the preliminary and tuck him in to give him a bit of education. You can’t face the breeze all the time. I hated it last week when he finished last. It was no good for a horse to have a gut buster.
“Having an ideal run in the one-out, one-back position tonight before finishing strongly was great for his confidence.”
Hampton Banner, the $2.40 second fancy, set the pace and was kept honest by $23 chance Vultan Tin in the breeze, while Lavra Joe (favourite at $1.70) enjoyed a perfect trip before Lewis started a three-wide run 600m from home. Lavra Joe took a narrow lead 100m from the post and went on to win by a head from Hampton Banner. The final 400m sections were run in 27.8sec. and 28.2sec. and Lavra Joe rated a slick 1.54.6 over the 2130m journey.
Lavra Joe now has earned $393,469 from 25 wins and nine placings from 42 starts.
Booraa is improving
New Zealand-bred Booraa is on the march and is developing into a legitimate contender for the rich feature events for mares in the coming summer.
That’s the firm opinion of star reinsman Ryan Warwick, who drove Booraa (trained by Greg and Skye Bond) to victory at $10.10 in the $26,000 Book Now For A Taste of WA Free-For-All for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Booraa began from barrier No. 5 and Warwick quickly had her in the prime one-out, one-back position while American Arma ($6.50) was the surprise leader after the $1.60 favourite Angel In White had lined up in the No. 1 barrier and broke into a gallop in the score-up, losing almost eight lengths.
Platinum Sparkle ($3.80) was left in the breeze and survived a challenge for that position when Emily Suvaljko sent Angel In White forward, out three wide, 600m after the start. When Angel In White failed to gain the breeze position Suvaljko had little option but to restrain the mare back to the rear.
Booraa started a three-wide move 420m from home and she hit the front at the 60m and went on to win by just over a half-length from American Arma, rating 1.57.5 over 2130m.
“You could say that Boora is underrated,” said Warwick. “She’s always had the ability, but she has probably taken six months longer than we thought to be the mare she is. I think she will measure up to the better mares, definitely capable of contesting the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic this year. Like most mares, she is better in front, but that’s not the luxury you always get.”
Booraa is by Mach Three and is the first foal out of New Zealand-bred mare My Baby’s Laughing, who won at four of her 15 starts for stakes of $23,804. Booraa won at three of her 13 starts in New Zealand as a two and three-year-old and her 25 starts in WA have produced nine wins and ten placings to boost her career record to 38 starts for 12 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $123,402.
Im The Black Flash set for Golden Slipper
Recent New Zealand-bred import Im The Black Flash emerged as a leading contender for the $150,000 Golden Slipper on September 30 when he gave a sparkling display of his raw speed and strength to win the Allwood Stud Farm Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His brilliant victory has left champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr with a serious quandary regarding his choice of drive in the Golden Slipper — an extremely perplexing choice between Im The Black Flash and other recent brilliant two-year-old winners Never Ending and Valedictorian.
“I wish the three of them were all a different age,” he said. “It will be a difficult decision to choose which horse I’ll drive in the Golden Slipper. It’s hard to line them up. They’re all different.
“Im The Black Flash couldn’t have been more impressive tonight, and he should improve. His gate speed was good, and his manners, like the other two, are really good. All three drive exceptionally well.
“Early in tonight’s race when the speed was fast Im The Black Flash felt as though he was doing it within himself at that speed. Then he got a good breather in the middle.”
Im The Black Flash, trained by Gary Hall snr, was making his Australian debut after his two appearances in New Zealand resulted in a fourth and a second placing in group 2 feature events in April.
He was the $1.30 favourite and began speedily from barrier three, but then raced head and head on the outside of the polemarker Hez All The Rage before getting to the front after 450m. The lead time was a sizzling 34.9sec. before Im The Black Flash relaxed and coasted over the opening quarters of the final mile in 31.5sec. and 31.7sec.
Im The Black Flash then increased the tempo and sped over the final two 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.4sec. to win by two lengths from Hez All the Rage, rating a slick 1.57.1 over 2130m.
Im The Black Flash is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the eighth foal out of the In The Pocket mare Simply Devine, who managed one placing from four starts in September and October 2006.
Simply Devine’s second foal Start Dreaming (by American Ideal) was a brilliant youngster who raced 19 times for seven wins, six placings and $173,682. Start Dreaming finished second to The Orange Agent in the group 1 Northern Oaks over 2700m at Alexandra Park in February 2015 and was second to The Orange Agent in the group 1 1609m Three-Year-Old Diamond Classic at Ashburton in May 2015.
Start Dreaming also raced six times in Australia for two wins and two seconds, with her wins including the group 2 Robin Dundee Classic over 1609m at Menangle in February 2016.
Im The Black Flash’s win on Friday night rekindled memories of outstanding pacer Satinover, widely known and adored in Western Australia in the 1970s and early 1980s when he was known as The Black Flash.
Satinover, winner of 28 races for trainer Colin Joss, won 28 races and he featured in one of the most memorable nights in the history of Gloucester Park when a crowd of 20,000 screaming fans witnessed The Match Race of the Century over 1900m and between champions Satinover and Pure Steel on May 2, 1980.
Satinover, driven by Max Johnson, went into the match race as favourite with a winning sequence of 19. He set the pace and was defeated by Pure Steel, driven by Phil Coulson.
Hall jnr never saw Satinover race. He was born on July 26, 1982, after Satinover had been retired. But Hall remembers that the first horse he drove at trials was a son of Satinover, a pacer named Satinease.
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