21 September 2022 | Ashleigh Paikos
Purchased earlier in the year by Steven and Linda Jelf, Birthday Suit broke through for his first win in WA for trainer Tracy Reay at their home track, Pinjarra Paceway. Having just his fourth start for his new connections, the seven-year-old square gaiter was purchased by the Jelf family as a replacement of their former trotter On Fast Forward who sustained a career ending injury at his last start.
Starting from barrier four in race seven, the relatively lightly raced trotter began safely and was able to settle three back on the pegs for the entire 2692m staying journey, before a strategic move by reinsman Gary Hall Jnr saw Birthday Suit finding a gap between the leader and the tiring breeze horse, eventually kicking away to win with ease by 13.2m in 2:04:3.
“We will hopefully have a few more runs at Pinjarra and then a little break to see if he can match it in the Trotter Cup if all goes well.” John Jelf said.
The win topped off a good weekend for the stable, with Baltic Ace NZ getting the job done on Saturday night at Narrogin at his second start this season. The win brought up the six-year-old geldings 7th career victory, with his last win back in November 2021. Purchased in mid-2021, Baltic Ace NZ had been racing in good form before heading out for a big spell, giving owner and trainer Tracy Reay five wins and 14 top four finishes from just 23 starts for the stable.
Shannon Suvaljko drove a double on the day with maiden Please Not Tonight breaking through after knocking on the door her last five starts. Trained by Glenn Elliot, the three-year-old had to work in the early stages to get to the front, but once she got the lead was able to dictate terms, eventually kicking away to win by 10m in 2:03:5 over the 2185m trip.
The second leg of his winning double came up in the last of the day, with the favourite $2.45 Gee Smith appreciating the drop back to country racing, overcoming the 30m handicap over the 2631m standing start to win by a half neck margin in 2:01:9 for trainer Matt Scott.
Other doubles on the day included trainer and driver combination Team Bond and Ryan Warwick, with their runners Strength And Honour NZ and Street Hawk NZ taking top prize in their respective races. Strength And Honour NZ validated the short $1.28 starting price after leading all the way in race four.
Street Hawk NZ continued his winning form, making it five from five since making the move to WA earlier in the year. It wasn’t the only accomplishment for Greg and Skye Bond, with the training duo preparing the quartet in race six, with Jett Star NZ, Unconditional NZ and Roll Up NZ taking the minor placings.
Trainer/driver Aiden De Campo prepared the first winner on the day, with Dourado breaking through for his maiden win after seven placings in his 9-start career. The two-year-old started as the $1.38 favourite and after settling three back on the pegs, De Campo was able to bide him time until the top of the straight, getting the win by 1.2m in 2:02:1 over the 2185m.
Donald Harper and Shane Young joined forces in race two, with Too Bee Watching breaking through for her first win at almost a year since her last start. Resuming on Monday after a second placing in her trial last Sunday the 11th of September for part owner and then trainer Sarah Miller, she made the move back to Harpers stable, where she was able to lead all the way in the 3YO maiden over the 2185m in 2:04:4.
Making it three in a row and bringing up her sixth win for the stable, The Amber Hare continued her great form for trainer/driver Jocelyn Young with the mare working forward to sit outside the leader and race favourite over the 2185m trip, going on to win by 3.1m in 1:59:0.
Racing returns to Pinjarra next Monday for the $11,000 Westbred Alcoa Cup, which is set to be a big day out at the Paceway on the 26th of September for the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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