Gloucester Park review – 2nd January

Gloucester Park harness racing review with Ken Casellas

Three Rumours repays Howlett’s faith

Busselton trainer Barry Howlett is an astute judge of horseflesh and a keen student of breeding — and it was these skills that led him to paying just $6000 for a filly at a weanling sale in Auckland in November 2018.

He brought the Mach Three filly back to Western Australia and named her Three Rumours, now a sturdy four-year-old who is justifying Howlett’s faith by developing into one of the State’s best mares and proving to be quite a bargain, with her outstanding victory in the group 3 Coulson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night taking her record to 25 starts for six wins, 12 seconds, one third and $92,227 in prizemoney.

Three Rumours is the third foal out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Boom Time Baby,  the eleventh and last foal out of This Time Franco, whose full-sister Time Again Franco produced Three Blind Mice, a pacer purchased by Howlett who earned $300,495 from 16 wins, 14 seconds and eight thirds from 82 starts, with his most significant victory being in the 2014 WA Derby.

Three Blind Mice’s wonderful ability was a driving force in Howlett’s determination to buy Three Rumours as a weanling. Howlett also paid $7000 for another weanling filly in 2018. She is by Mach Three out of This Time Christian, a half-sister to Boom Time Baby, whose dam This Time Franco raced 36 times for ten wins, 11 placings and stakes of $249,151. As a two and three-year-old in the early 1990s she won a group 1 classic event and two group 2 features.

Howlett named the $7000 weanling Our Love Affair, who has had eleven country starts for wins at Pinjarra and Narrogin, as well as five placings for earnings of $15,500.

“Early on, Our Love Affair was going better than Three Rumours, who couldn’t get near her,” said Howlett. “She was the one we were really rapt in. But she suffered from bad stifles. They were badly locked up, and we had them cut.

“It was Three Rumours who was getting better and better all the time. She has always been very strong.”

It was this great strength that shone brightly when Three Rumours, the $2.70 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, overcame an extremely tough run to win the Coulson Pace by a half neck from the $3.60 second fancy Nevermindthechaos, rating a slick 1.56.9 over the 2130m journey.

Star reinsman Chris Lewis sent Three Rumours forward, three wide, in the early stages, and the mare issued a spirited challenge to the pacemaker and $7 chance Miss Boudica. She led by a half-length 500m after the start but was unable to cross to the front.

Miss Boudica covered the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.7sec. and 30.5sec. before sprinting the third 400m section in 27.9sec. Three Rumours then forged to the front 390m from home and revealed splendid fighting qualities to fend off the determined late challenge from Nevermindthechaos, who settled down in last position before starting a strong three-wide burst 1000m from home.

Misstiano ($20) impressed in sustaining a powerful burst from tenth at the bell to finish third.

THREE RUMOURS REPLAY

“The plan was to go forward early and try to get to the front,” said Howlett, who races Three Rumours in partnership with his wife Lynley and their son Jim.

“Three Rumours went around early and got three-quarters of a length past the leader but wouldn’t go any further. That’s what she does. Two starts ago she was three lengths clear in the straight, and she stopped and almost got caught. But she tried tonight when Nevermindthechaos came alongside her.

“It was a big run, considering the work she did, and she ran good time.” All going well, Three Rumours will be set for a $50,000 group 3 event for mares on February 10.

Howlett explained that he had registered several of his pacers with Three in their names. It all started with Three Bears, a pacer he bred and named after a spectacular surf break in Yallingup, not fare from his Busselton property. Three Bears was an excellent performer who earned $141,997 from 19 wins and 13 placings from 59 starts.

What a combination!

Talented horseman Dylan Egerton-Green and five-year-old stallion Ideal Agent (American Ideal) have formed a remarkable partnership, with the New Zealand-bred pacer emerging as a major contender for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups.

Ideal Agent, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, staked his claims for the big races with a superb victory in the $30,000 Celebrate NYE Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He was driven with patience and skill by Egerton-Green, who has handled the pacer six times for five wins and a fourth placing.

Ideal Agent is one of several top-class pacers from the powerful Bond stable who will contest the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup over 2536m next Friday week and the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup over 2936m a fortnight later.

Ideal Agent was a $9.80 chance from the inside of the back line in Friday night’s 2536m event in which Egerton-Green was content to remain three back on the pegs, with stablemate Vampiro, a $16 chance having his first start for eleven months, setting the pace and being trailed by $8.50 chance Vultan Tin.

Prince Of Pleasure, the $3.40 favourite, started from the outside of the back line, and Gary Hall jnr quickly had him in the one-out, one-back position before sending him forward, three wide, after 400m to race in the breeze. Minstrel ($3.60) settled in eighth place before Ryan Warwick dashed him forward to the breeze with 1400m to travel.

Hall eased Prince Of Pleasure out three wide 220m from home and the lightly-raced five-year-old surged forward to hit the front 40m from the post. Egerton-Green was able to get Ideal Agent off the inside when Prince Of Pleasure vacated the one-wide line, and Ideal Agent, sixth at the 100m, charged home to snatch a last-stride victory by a half-head over Prince Of Pleasure. The final 800m was covered in 56.6sec. and the winner rated 1.57.7.

Minstrel, who had taken a narrow lead 55m from the post, was a close-up third, just ahead of Hampton Banner.

IDEAL AGENT REPLAY

“When Junior (Hall) went, I followed him through, and it all worked out well,” said Egerton-Green.

Skye Bond was full of praise for Ideal Agent, saying: “He has an amazing record, and he has been waiting for that run (on the pegs) where he is able to sit and kick. He has been breezing in most of his recent runs.”

The Bonds have nominated Ideal Agent, Minstrel, Patronus Star, Vampiro, Mighty Conqueror, Galactic Star, Glenledi Chief and Steel The Show for the Cups, and are seriously considering paying a late nomination fee for Himself.

Mrs Bond said that Patronus Star and Mighty Conqueror would contest the $100,000 Stratton Cup next Friday night but is pessimistic about the prospects of New Zealand pacer Steel The Show running in the Cups.

“Steel The Show has been here for a couple of weeks and at this stage he is unlikely to run in the big races,” she said. “The travel over and getting acclimatised to the hot weather are likely to prevent him from running, and that’s probably in the best interests of the horse.”

Voak fills in, in style

With Hopeland trainer Giles Inwood on the sidelines, Chris Voak took over the preparation of Sangue Reale (Art Major), and the New South Wales-bred pacer gave him his eleventh training success from 77 starters this season when he proved too fast for his rivals and scored a comfortable victory in the 1730m Retravision NYE Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Sangue Reale, the $2.30 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, raced wide early before getting to the front after about 35 metres and then setting the pace and sprinting over the final 400m in 27sec. to win by a length from the $2.80 second favourite Valentines Brook, who ran home solidly after trailing Sangue Reale all the way.

SANGUE REALE REPLAY

“I was keen to get to the front at the start over the sprint trip,” said Voak. “I put the hood on him tonight, trying to make him a bit sharper. But over the first 20 metres I don’t think he knew what I wanted him to do. However, once I gave him a couple with the persuader, he was able to get to the front on the first turn.

“He was then not put under any pressure, and I couldn’t hold him slow enough to keep Valentines Brook locked up. In the four starts I’ve given him he has breezed, raced three deep and now he has led. And that’s not really his go; he is a sit and sprint horse, a pace follower.

“He showed that when he won the Four-Year-Old Classic (when he raced four back on the pegs and rated 1.53.6 in finishing a nose second to Shockwave and then being elevated to first after a successful protest in November 2019).

“He has been nominated for the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups, but it’s doubtful he will get a start. He will return to Giles at the end of February when he is likely to be set for the Pinjarra Cup on March 6.”

Sangue Reale has been an excellent moneyspinner, with his 63 starts producing 11 wins and 22 placings for earnings of $238,786.

Onesmartfella for Nights Of Thunder

The Nights Of Thunder makes strong appeal for speedy frontrunner Onesmartfella (Tintin In America) , who scored a comfortable win in the 2130m NYE Fireworks Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This followed his first-up all-the-way victory over 1730m the previous week, and it gave reinsman Chris Voak the first leg of a driving double, with his second winner Sangue Reale scoring 30 minutes later.

Onesmartfella was the $1.50 favourite, and after a slow lead time of 38sec. and modest opening quarters of 30.6sec. and 30.8sec., he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.1sec. He beat $41 chance and last-start Pinjarra winner Bettors Destroya by just over a length, rating 1.57.8.

ONESMART FELLA REPLAY

“He is still progressing, and he will improve on tonight’s run,” said trainer Jemma Hayman. “The 1730m Nights Of Thunder looks a good option as he prefers the shorter distance.”

Onesmartfella, who has made the most of drawing the prized No. 1 barrier in both his recent wins, has had 29 starts for eight wins, nine placings and stakes of $63,705. Heats of the Nights Of Thunder will be run next Friday week, with the final to be decided a week later.

Himself in a different role

Promising New Zealand-bred four-year-old Himself (Sportswriter), who flew home from the rear to win the group 1 Golden Nugget a fortnight earlier as a $76.40 rank outsider, was seen in a vastly different role at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was the hot $1.30 favourite who set the pace and won the $23,750 $1 Million Nullarbor April 14 Pace.

Dylan Egerton-Green took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier, and he sent Himself straight to the front and then rated the gelding perfectly to win by a half-neck from stablemate and $23 chance Glenledi Chief, who finished solidly from sixth at the bell.

The final quarters were run in 28.1sec. and 28sec. and the winner rated 1.56 over the 2130m. Egerton-Green appeared anxious as he drove Himself hard in the home straight.

HIMSELF REPLAY

But co-trainer Skye Bond was not concerned, saying: “Himself only does what he has to; he’s a laid-back horse who is better suited using his speed, rather than leading.”

Himself has not been nominated for the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups, but the Bond stable will consider paying a late nomination fee if the gelding continues to perform strongly.

Himself, winner of the 3309m Marathon Handicap in August, has raced 24 times for 12 wins, seven placings and stakes of $252,636. His 13 WA starts have produced nine wins, three seconds and one unplaced effort.

Moonlite Drive loves to lead

“He has never been beaten when leading in his races in WA,” said trainer Michael Young after Gary Hall jnr had driven the New Zealand-bred five-year-old to an easy all-the-way victory in the 2130m The Trots WA Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Moonlite Drive’s (Bettor’s Delight) 21 starts in WA have resulted in seven wins and nine placings. He has set the pace and won in six of those wins which have boosted his career record for owner Shane Kirwan to 56 starts for 12 wins, 18 placings and $128,714.

Moonlite Drive, the $2.60 favourite, easily won the start before dawdling through the lead time in 40.6sec. and ambling through the opening quarters in 33.3sec. and 31.6sec. before he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.3sec. and 27.2sec. to win in a slow rate of 2.1.7.

He beat $6 chance Ima Rockabilly Rebel by just under two lengths, with Rascal ($11) finishing a nose farther back in third place.

“He is still pretty lowly assessed, and he can still win a fair few more races until he gets to Free-For-All company,” said Young.

Symington celebrates his century

Talented young driver Kyle Symington chalked up his 100TH winner for the season when Star Lilly was successful at Pinjarra on Wednesday, and he celebrated the milestone by scoring an upset victory with $65.20 outsider Euphoric Moment in the 2130m The Running Camel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The 21-year-old Symington was also having his first drive behind the New South Wales-bred Euphoric Moment, who is trained in Collie by Errol Ashcroft.

Euphoric Moment, a last-start Albany winner, was awkwardly drawn at barrier six and he settled down in seventh position in the one-wide line while $6.50 chance Athabascan was setting the pace from the $1.55 favourite Leosabi, with $61 outsider Marquisard in the breeze.

Symington eased Euphoric Moment three wide approaching the bell and the veteran pacer made up ground steadily before getting to the front at the 100m mark and going on to win by a head from $8.50 chance Alta Rhett, who fought on gamely after enjoying a perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position.

Euphoric Moment, by American stallion Mr Feelgood, is the first foal out of the WA-bred mare Barleys Hope, who had 59 starts for six wins, 15 placings and $50,126. He has earned $161,166 from 17 wins, 26 seconds and ten thirds from 124 starts.

Young and Hall complete a double

The powerful combination of trainer Michael Young and reinsman Gary Hall jnr completed a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Orlando Blue (Heston Blue Chip) scored an impressive win in the $20,250 Retravision Pace.

Orlando Blue’s victory at $5.20 came two races after Young and Hall had won with Moonlite Drive. And the partnership kept up the good work when Ideal Tomado was successful in a 2130m event at Gloucester Park the following evening.

Ideal Tomado gave Young his 110th winner for the season and Hall his 236th win in the sulky. Then Hall ended the season in fine style by winning the final race on Saturday night, with $11.90 chance Yani Yani, last in the field of six at the bell, finishing gamely to get up in the final stride to win.

ORLANDO BLUE REPLAY

Orlando Blue started from the 10m mark in the 2503m standing-start event, in which Strauny dominated the betting and was a hot $1.85 favourite. But Strauny galloped at the start and Hall quickly asserted his authority and sent Orlando Blue sweeping to the front after 350m.

Hall gave his rivals little chance when he increased the tempo with Orlando Blue, who sped over the final 400m sections ion 27.8sec. and 28.1sec. and defeated his stablemate Cooper ($8.50) by just under a length. Aussie Scooter ($9.50) was a length farther back in third place.

Orlando Blue has earned $108,457 from ten wins and ten placings from 38 starts.

“I thought Orlando Blue was a good chance of winning,” said Young. “Obviously, Strauny would have been hard to beat if he had stepped (safely). But he didn’t step, and we did.”

Beyond the Sea’s last-to first triumph

Veteran trainer Murray Lindau was not surprised at Beyond The Sea’s (Sunshine Beach) brilliant victory at an outside quote of $42.30 in the $20,250 Chinese New Year Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he was full of praise for Kyle Harper’s performance in the sulky.

“Kyle has done a marvellous job; he has driven her world perfect,” said Lindau after Beyond The Sea surged home from twelfth and last at the bell to burst to the front in the final 25m to beat Alta Allure by a length at a 1.57.3 rate over 2130m.

“Beyond The Sea’s trackwork the other day (at Jandakot the previous Friday) was colossal, and I thought that if she drew a (favourable) barrier she would be a real big chance. Her times (in her workout) were as good as those by some of the better horses I’ve trained.

“I was praying that we would get a nice barrier draw. But getting barrier six was not ideal. I put the hood back on her tonight when the plan was that we weren’t going to gas her out of the gate. We planned to go back and see how things panned out.

“She was last at the bell and then moved to the three-wide train, three back. And on the home turn I thought she was going to run a place.”

Alta Queen, the $2.90 favourite, set the pace, with the brilliant filly Cyclone Charlotte in the breeze after dashing forward from her outside draw at barrier No. 9. Cyclone Charlotte got to the front 225m from home before wilting slightly to finish third.

BEYOND THE SEA REPLAY

Beyond the Sea was having her third run after a spell, and she now has had 23 starts for six wins, five placings and $55,148 for her owner-breeder Trevor Lindsay. She is by American stallion Sunshine Beach and is the second foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Robyns C C who earned $122,578 from 13 wins and 22 placings from 56 starts.

Robyns C C won three races in New Zealand before her ten WA wins included six in a row in the space of three months in 2013.

It was quite surprising that she was neglected by punters on Friday night, considering her two wins earlier this season and her three wins as a two-year-old, including when she led and won easily from Taking the Miki 12 months ago, rating 1.55.2 which smashed the 2130m course record for two-year-old fillies which was 1.56.7 and held by Wonderful To Fly.

“Beyond The Sea is the first horse I have trained for Trevor Lindsay,” said Lindau. “I broke her in, as well as another three-year-old filly, the unraced Recover Lover, who ran on to win a three-horse trial at Pinjarra yesterday (Thursday).”

Wire and glue aids Skylord

A recipe of wire and glue has enabled handsome colt Skylord (Fly Like An Eagle) to demonstrate his wonderful ability and prove he is one of the State’s best two-year-old pacers in 2022.

The son of boom stallion Fly Like An Eagle ended the year with an effortless victory in the 2130m Team Bond Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and showed that he has the class to develop into a leading contender for the rich WA Derby in 2023.

Part-owner and trainer-driver Jocelyn Young has had a constant battle to keep Skylord on track during the year when he raced only seven times for three wins, three placings and stakes of $73,523.

Skylord has been affected by feet problems and his front feet have been kept in shape with wire and glue.

“His feet are stitched up with wire and glue to keep them together,” explained Young. “He has had feet problems all along and it was only the work of the farrier that enabled him to run in the big group 1 feature events for two-year-olds in September.”

Skylord finished third behind Never Ending and Rocket City in the Westbred Classic for cots and geldings before finishing strongly to be second to Never Ending in the Golden Slipper.

He was making his first appearance for 13 weeks when he was the $1.04 favourite for Friday night’s $20,250 event in which he started from the No. 3 barrier in the field of six and ambled to the front after 250m.

The lead time was run in a slow 39.2sec. before Skylord simply ambled through the opening quarters of the final mile in 32.9sec. and 32.3sec. The third quarter went by in 30sec. before Skylord sprinted over the final 400m in 27.1sec. and beat Telkem Jay ($23) by one and a half lengths.

SKYLORD REPLAY

“I didn’t realise that we were going that slow,” said Young. “I didn’t want to knock him around, but it wasn’t all that sensible to go that slow.

“He has suffered from quarter cracks, and the wire has held his feet together. His back feet were bandaged on Friday night because he had been threatening to get down on his bumpers.”

Skylord is the second foal out of the Northern Luck mare Southern Legacy, who earned $81,326 from six wins and ten placings from 26 starts. Her best performance was her second to the brilliant Sensational Gabby in the WA Oaks in May 2012.

Southern Legacy’s first foal (by Bettors Delight) is Gardys Legacy, who has had 50 starts for 15 wins, eight placings and $179,671. Gardys Legacy won at nine of his 20 WA starts, including the group 2 Pearl for three-year-old colts and geldings in May 2020 before leaving in March 2021 for America where he has won six times.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park