Major milestone for ‘Young’ trainer

Mundijong harness racing horseman Michael Young celebrated his 100th winner as a trainer when Gary Hall jnr drove Vespa (Mach Three) to an easy all-the-way victory in the 2130m Barker Whittle Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Vespa, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old, was the $1.60 favourite and he gave his supporters very little cause for concern as he jumped straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier, and after a slow lead time of 38.2sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.4sec. and 30.8sec., he increased the tempo with final 400m sections of 29.2sec. and 28.3sec. to win by just under two lengths from the $5 second fancy Mattjestic Star, who trailed him all the way.

“I’ve been stuck on 99 for two weeks,” said Young whose previous seven starters had recorded five seconds, one third and one unplaced run.

“Vespa has really good gate speed and I thought that if he was able to lead, he’d be pretty much unbeatable.”

Vespa, a winner at four of his 31 New Zealand starts, has flourished under Young’s care and has earned $140,936 from nine wins and 16 placings from 51 starts in Western Australia.

Young, in his third season as a trainer, has established a splendid reputation and he boasts a wonderful strike rate, with his first 439 starters recording 100 wins and 130 placings.

Typhoon Banner is a Cups hope

Talented trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green, fresh from his five winners from five drives at Pinjarra last Monday, maintained his purple patch at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he landed a double with Glenledi Chief and Typhoon Banner.

Typhoon Banner (Bettors Delight), third favourite at $3.50 in the five-horse Broken Hill Hotel Pace, continued in grand form with his impressive victory and showed that he has realistic prospects of developing into a prominent candidate for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups next summer.

From barrier No. 4 Typhoon Banner settled down behind the pacemaker and $16 outsider Lord Rosco after the $2.70 favourite Beat City moved into the breeze 300m after the start.

Ideal Agent ($3.10) trailed Beat City in the one-out, one-back position before taking the lead 300m from home. But he was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Typhoon Banner, who surged to the front in the final 70m and went on to beat $10 chance Heez Our Perseus, who rattled home from last with a powerful four-wide burst.

Typhoon Banner, who is trained by Egerton-Green, rated 1.57.2 over the 2130m when the final 800m was covered in 57sec.

“It’s tricky in small fields,” said Egerton-Green. “You’ve just got to get the right run — and things worked out well for me tonight. Typhoon Banner keeps ticking the boxes and doing what he has to do. He has had a bit of luck in a few of his races.

“But he has a good turn of foot, and hopefully he keeps improving. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he develops into a Cups horse next summer. He is getting better with every campaign. His major strength is that he is pretty fast.”

Typhoon Banner was purchased in New Zealand as an unraced youngster by Rob Tomlinson and Damian Keating, and he gave his owners a quick early return by winning at his second (and final) start in New Zealand when he scored by seven lengths in a 2000m event for three-year-old at Manawatu in November 2019. The gelding now has earned $137,413 from 13 wins and ten placings from 37 starts.

He is out of the unraced McArdle mare When You’re Hot, and he is a full-brother to Cyclone Banner, who has had 61 starts for 19 wins, 16 placings and $181,495 in stakes. A winner of two races in New Zealand, Cyclone Banner had 36 starts in Western Australia for 13 wins and nine placings before being sold to America where he has won another four times.

Bettors Destroya triumphs

Bettors Destroya (Bettors Delight), the $2.40 favourite, was fully extended when seriously challenged for the early lead in the $30,000 group 3 Harry Capararo Westbred Pace for four and five-year-old mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The lead time was covered in a sizzling 35.4sec., with Bettors Destroya defying the spirited early challenge from $11 chance Run For Mercy, who led by a length 200m after the start, but was unable to cross the favourite and then being forced to race in the breeze.

Gary Hall jnr was able to settle Bettors Destroya, and he rated her perfectly with quarters of 30.4sec., 30.6sec., 29sec. and 30.5sec. The four-year-old led by three lengths at the 400m and was two lengths in front 100m from the post before holding on determinedly to win by a neck from the $7 third fancy Patrikiar, finished strongly after racing three back on the pegs.

Bettors Destroya, trained in Boyanup by Justin Prentice, had been placed at four of her five previous starts, and she rated 1.,57.8 over the 2130m as she improved her record to 20 starts for four wins, nine placings and stakes of $54,477. She was purchased for $70,000 at the 2019 APG Perth yearling sale by a syndicate headed by Gloucester Park Harness Racing’s chief executive Michael Radley and should develop into a quality mare.

“It was good to get this win with her because she is better than what people give her credit for,” said Hall. “She has been a bit hit and miss with her form, and I know that Justin has had a problem in not knowing what the best way is to prepare her for her races. She has been one of the harder ones for him to work out.”

Bettors Destroya is the sixth foal out of the Northern Luck mare Chemical Romance, who was retired after three unplaced efforts as a two-year-old in 2009. She is a full-sister to Bettor Reward, who has earned $244,065 from 15 wins and 11 placings from 61 starts. Bettors Destroya is also a half-sister to promising three-year-old filly Sovrana, who finished second to Wonderful To Fly in the group 2 Diamond Classic last month.

Chemical Romance’s dam Ferrari Trunkey was a brilliant pacer who was a star performer as a two and three-year-old in 1993 and 1994 before being retired to stud with a record of 39 starts for 22 wins, seven placings and $267,845 in prizemoney.

Double Up survives a protest

New Zealand-bred five-year-old Double Up (American Ideal) is proving to be one of the stars of champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond’s Forrestdale stable, and he showed that he should be one of the leading contenders for Cup events in the winter months with another splendid victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He was the second fancy at $4.10 and had to survive a lengthy protest hearing before being declared the winner, by just under a length, from the $1.90 favourite Jumpingjackmac.

Gary Hall jnr, driver of Jumpingjackmac, lodged a protest, alleging interference in the back straight in the final lap when Double Up, driven by Ryan Warwick, shifted out from the one-out, one-back position.

After hearing the evidence from Hall and Warwick, the stewards dismissed the protest, saying that they were not totally satisfied that Double Up was not entirely responsible for Jumpingjackmac racing roughly and then breaking into a gallop.

Double Up managed only two wins from 14 starts in New Zealand, but has been a revelation in WA with his 28 starts in the State producing 13 wins and nine placings.

Polemarker Tyler Brett ($10) set the pace, with Born To Boogie ($6) in the breeze, followed by Double Up in the one-out, one-back position. Jumpingjackmac raced in the one-out, two-back position, and he lost valuable ground when he paced roughly in the final lap. He finished strongly from fifth on the home turn.

Mellsop’s move is paying dividends

Experienced trainer Bob Mellsop has no regrets regarding his decision to relocate from his Waroona stables to the Donaldson Park training complex in Bunbury.

“I made the switch in December, and I’m delighted to have won 13 races this year,” he said.

His 13th winner was five-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Our Star Watch (Hes Watching), who was driven by Kyle Harper to a convincing victory in the $20,000 Quayside Transport Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Our Star Watch, the $2.50 favourite, dashed to an early lead, and after modest opening quarters of 31.9sec. and 30.3sec., he sped over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 28.7sec. to coast to a one-length victory over $2.80 second fancy Middlepage, who fought on gamely after trailing the leader throughout.

“Our Star Watch is a nice horse,” said Mellsop. “I’ve had to make a few adjustments, and now we seem to have him pretty much where we wanted him to be. He will keep racing, and I’m not aiming at anything in particular with him.”

Our Star Watch is the first foal out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Star N Diamonds. He won at two of his 16 New Zealand starts and his WA record of 33 starts for seven wins and 13 placings have improved his record to 49 starts for nine wins, 18 placings and stakes of $80,693.

Angel In White sparkles

Sprightly eight-year-old mare Angel In White made the most of the prized No. 1 barrier to outpace her six younger rivals when she romped to an effortless victory in the 2536m Auscare Group Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Starting third favourite at $5.20 Angel In White set a brisk pace for Emily Suvaljko and she won in fine style from Finvarra ($3.10) and Ima Rockabilly Rebel ($3), rating 1.58.4 after sprinting over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 27.7sec.

“I want to breed from her, but she is racing so well that I’m not sure what to do,” said owner-trainer Shane Tognolini. “I’ll probably keep racing her while she’s going so well. She could have gone another lap tonight.”

Angel In White, a winner of one race in New Zealand and eight in New South Wales, was purchased for $12,000 by Tognolini after she had lost form. “She had a crook back when she arrived here,” said Tognolini. “I fixed that but then she fractured a pastern (in a race at Gloucester Park in November 2020) and I had to give her 12 months off.”

The mare now races with two screws in her off hind leg, but she is perfectly sound. “She is an easy horse to train,” said Tognolini. “We work her pretty hard at home and she thrives on galloping in the cart on our 600m sand track.”

Angel In White is certainly proving a bargain for Tognolini. Since resuming after a 13-month absence she has earned $70,358 from four wins and six placings from 23 starts. Her career record now stands at 72 starts for 13 wins, 16 placings and $141,372 in prizemoney.

Emily Suvaljko kept up the good work when she travelled to Kellerberrin on Sunday where she drove three winners – Mary Joe ($1.85), Faraway Eyes ($5) and Lets Rock Tonight ($3.40). Not to be outdone, Emily’s father Shannon Suvaljko also landed a treble on the seven-event card, scoring with Sister Act ($5.50), Star Of The Bay ($13) and Lewis William ($1.55).

Arma Einstein on the march         

Speedy WA-bred pacer Arma Einstein (Renaissance Man) maintained his excellent form with a smart all-the-way win in the 2130m All Access Civil Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night to enhance his standing as a strong contender for the rich feature events for four-year-olds in December.

The gelding, the $1.90 favourite trained and driven by Colin Brown, was able to coast through the lead time in a slow 38.4sec. and the opening quarters in 31.6sec. and 30.5sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28sec. He held on grimly to beat Caveman ($9) by a head, with the fast-finishing To Fast To Serious ($2.40) a neck farther back in third place.

His victory boosted his record to 56 starts for 12 wins and 24 placings for stakes of $146,258.

Caveman, a five-year-old trained by Mike Reed and driven by Shannon Suvaljko, just failed to record three wins in a row. He raced in the breeze without applying any pressure on the pacemaker before finishing with a spirited burst to go narrowly. To Fast To Serious raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before starting a three-wide move 250m from home and surging home out wide on the track.

Glenledi Chief shines in stands

Few horses in recent years have established such a wonderful record in standing-start events as the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Glenledi Chief (Well Said).

He overcame the back mark of 30 metres to score a magnificent victory in the $20,250 Cash Converters Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night to extend his remarkable record in stands in Western Australia for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond to 15 starts for 10 victories.

Sent out as the fourth favourite at $12.20, Glenledi Chief was driven with great skill and confidence by Dylan Egerton-Green, who quickly got the gelding into seventh place in the one-wide line in the field of twelve.

His stablemate Socrates was a hot $1.60 favourite from barrier two on the front line. Unfortunately, Socrates galloped at the start and lost ten lengths before Ryan Warwick urged him forward to move into the breeze, with $51 outsider Gee Smith Chief setting a brisk pace.

Socrates, a winner at his five previous outings, surged to a clear lead 500m from home, but was unable to hold out Glenledi Chief, who began a three-wide move with 650m to travel and hit the front at the 300m before dashing away to win by almost two lengths.

“I thought Glenledi Chief was the second best horse in the race (behind Socrates) and he capitalised on a quick beginning and the slow start by Socrates,” said Egerton-Green. “He got a perfect run, and I didn’t have to pull out until the 600m, which was good. He is pretty smart and has good manners.”

Glenledi Chief has raced only 39 times for 14 wins, 11 placings and $148,918 in stakes. He looks set for many more wins. He is out of the Presidential Ball mare Its Forever Now, who raced 41 times, all in mobiles, for seven wins (three in New South Wales and four in Victoria) and 18 placings for $106,288 in prizemoney.

Sound Wave set for Pure Steel Pace

Promising four-year-old Sound Wave (Mach Three), a close relative of former star pacer Winforu, will be set for the $30,000 group 3 Pure Steel Pace next Friday night.

“He will go to that race,” said trainer Ryan Bell after Kyle Symington had driven the gelding to an all-the-way win in the 2130m The Naked Jule Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Sound Wave, the $3 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier, set a modest early pace before dashing over the final 800m in 56.2sec. and winning by just under a length from $7 chance Moonlite Drive, who fought on grandly after racing in the breeze all the way. Master Publisher, an $8 chance at his first appearance after a 15-month absence, finished strongly from seventh at the bell to be an encouraging third.

“He is a dogged little fella, and from the No. 1 barrier I knew that nothing would get past him,” said Bell. “He will only do what he has to.”

Sound Wave was purchased for $32,500 at the 2019 APG Perth yearling sale and he now has raced 39 times for eight wins, 14 placings and $67,586 in stakes.

“We picked him out at the sales, and I also came home with Peligroso (a $36,000 purchase),” said Bell. “Both showed good ability, but I had a lot of health issues with them when they were two and early three-year-olds.

“A virus affected all my horses, but currently my stable is the healthiest it has ever been.”

Sound Wave is the second foal out of Terra Into The West, who raced 79 times for five wins, 26 placings and $59,570. Terra Into The West is a half-sister to Winforu, who earned $719,204 from 32 wins and 45 placings from 172 starts.

Winforu’s wins included the group 1 Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park in December 2003 and the group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup in February 2006. He also finished second to Blacks A Fake in the Interdominion Championship final at Globe Derby Park in January 2007.

Little Darling overcomes a setback

Lightly-raced three-year-old filly Little Darling (Art Major) overcame a problem at the start before producing a spectacular late burst from the rear to score an exciting victory in the 2130m Elan Energy Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who races Little Darling in partnership with his wife Lynley and their son Jimmy, admitted that he had given up hope when the filly was in eleventh position 400m from the finish.

“I was a bit worried when she was so far back,” he said as he revealed how an early misadventure had seriously threatened her winning prospects.

“Chris (driver Chris Lewis) said that just before the mobile barrier had sent the field of 12 on its way Little Darling had shied at something on the mobile. Chris then had to pull back after the filly had lost her momentum.”

Make Your Mark ($15) was setting the pace from Beyond The Sea ($5) and Elsamay ($31), with Little Darling, the $2.10 favourite, settling down in 10th place.

Little Darling was shuffled back to 11th at the 400m before Lewis switched the filly out five wide, and she produced an explosive burst which took her to the front at the 50m mark on her way to winning by almost a length from Elsamay, who had taken a narrow lead at the 100m.

“Little Darling is still very immature and has still has a lot of development in her,” said Howlett. “Chris has a big opinion of her, and we will give her a little break soon and then have a look at some of the feature races, like the Westbred.”

The Howlett family bred Little Darling (who is bigger than her name might suggest). She is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Fay Darling, who was purchased by Howlett from prominent New Zealand trainer-reinsman Brent Mangos.

“Fay Darling, who had an operation on her joints as a foal, had a lot of ability and she won five races for us (from 22 starts),” said Howlett.

Fay Darling’s dam Molly Darling was a brilliant mare, who amassed $509,733 from 24 wins and 18 placings from 72 starts. She won the group 1 Caduceus Club Classic at Alexandra Park in June 2004, and the group 1 Nevele R Classic at Addington in May 2005 before finishing third behind Innocent Eyes at her Australian debut in the Victoria Oaks at Moonee Valley in July 2005.

After winning the group 3 Ladyship Cup at Moonee Valley in May 2006 Molly Darling won six races in America in 2007 and then returned to race in Australia.

For complete race results and replays, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park