Hobby trainer has sights set on WA Pacing Cup

NSW pacer Loyalist (Bettor’s Delight) is the only eastern states representative in this year’s $450,000 Tabtouch WA Pacing Cup and trainer Joe Conolly hopes WA harness fans get to see the horse’s true colours.

Conolly, a detective in the NSW police force, said Loyalist was suited by the Gloucester Park circuit and could win the Group 1 classic with the right run.

“He handles the track no problem and he is a good stayer but the barrier draw is huge,” Conolly said.

“The longer the race, the better he likes it and if he gets the right run he will be right in the finish.

“He is not a horse that can go up and force the issue though, so he will need an element of luck.”

Conolly brought The New Zealand bred gelding to WA for the inaugural $1mil The Nullarbor in April.

The horse raced back in the field from a wide draw and was unable to get into the race, finishing eighth to fellow interstate raider Betterzippit.

“That was a big reason why we decided to come for the cup,” Conolly said.

“He got around the track really well and we know what to expect this time.

“The horse has been in WA for a couple of weeks and has been able to find his feet.

“He has settled in nicely.

“I am surprised more eastern states horses didn’t come over.

“We have options after the cup but it is likely he will have another couple of runs in WA before we head home.”

Loyalist will be driven by his regular driver, 20-year-old Seaton Grima, who has driven 114 winners in four season and earned $1mil in stakemoney.

It will be his first drive in a Group 1 race.

His biggest win came when he drove Loyalist to victory in the Group 2 Redcliffe Gold Cup in June, beating Betterzippit.

Grima got his first look at WA harness racing when he drove Loyalist in the JP Stratton Cup at Gloucester Park on October 27. Loyalist was driven by Shannon Suvaljko in The Nullarbor.

Though still a concession driver, Conolly is confident Grima will handle the pressure.

“He has been with me since he graduated from mini trots and it is a big test but he will handle it,” Conolly said.

“He is confident, he has the skill and he knows the horse back-to-front.”

Loyalist has won 11 races from 78 starts and $238,000 in stakes.

He has earnt almost half of his stake money ($113k) since joining Conolly’s stable,  racking up six wins from 17 starts since arriving in Australia in September last year.

Conolly, 36, got his start in harness racing with respected hobby trainer Wayne Dimech when he was in his early 20s.

He took out a trainers licence in the 2012/13 season and his stable has grown to 12 horses.

He had great success with former WA pacer Art Tutor, winning more the $100,000 with the tough gelding.

“I just fell into harness racing through a mate and it has grown over time,” he said.

“Seaton and I do the horses together. We have 12 in work and there isn’t much down time.

“But it makes it easier when you have nice horses to get up for.”

Conolly had to return to NSW for work but will be back in Perth for the horse’s final trackwork on Wednesday.

The barrier draw will be live streamed on the Gloucester Park Facebook page on Monday afternoon from the Pinjarra Harness Club. No doubt Conolly will be watching with bated breath.

The field in alphabetical order:

Deigo (Maddison Brown)

Himself (Chris Lewis)

Jumpingjackmac (Stuart McDonald)

Loyalist (Seaton Grima)

Magnificent Storm (Aiden De Campo)

Mighty Ronaldo (Emily Suvaljko)

Minstrel (Mitchell Miller)

Prince Of Pleasure (Gary Hall Jnr)

Steel The Show (Deni Roberts)

Tenzing Bromac (Dylan Egerton-Green)

Valentines Brook (Kyle Symington)

Wild West (Callan Suvaljko)

Emergencies

Patronus Star

Galactic Star

by Rick Lee for RWWA