Mister Smartee completes big double winning $300,000 Fremantle Cup

Outstanding local pacer Mister Smartee (Always Be Miki) followed up his harness racing success in last weeks Nullabor with a brilliant finishing burst to take out the Group 1 $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Despite his second row draw there was plenty of solid support for Mister Smartee and he was a firm second favourite behind Catch A Wave who drove the coveted pole position.

The key to the race was whether Gary Hall Jnr could make use of his awkward inside second row draw. Hall Jnr sooled Mister Smartee up early to take the position behind Catch A Wave who had little trouble holding the early lead.

Evergreen veteran Minstrel who also had solid support was sent around the field with stable mate Gee Heza Sport early in the race with the former sitting outside Catch A Wave. Mister Smartee was poised behind the leader with Gee Heza Sport given the run of the race with the one out and one back trail.  Mighty Ronaldo was three back on the rails covered by Prince of Pleasure.

Over the long distance of 2936 metres there was no move until the bell when Waverider went three wide to put the pressure on the leaders. However Catch A Wave still looked to be travelling within himself but Minstrel showing his customary toughness refused to give in and in his typical style edged clear of Catch A Wave on the final bend.

MISTER SMARTEE MAY 2 REPLAY FREMANTLE CUP

But at that point Mister Smartee was extricated from the rails and he charged down the outside to wear down Minstrel by just under four metres with Gee Heza Sport in third place ahead of the tiring Catch A Wave.

Mister Smartee ran his final two quarters in 28.1 and 28.4 seconds with an overall mile rate of 1.56.4 which was outside Smolda’s track record of 1.55.8.

Hall Jnr who has now won ten Fremantle Cups commented on Mister Smartee
“He’s right up there with them. You can’t win these races without a good horse. It was a funny race, I always knew where I was going to be.”

“I had this awful feeling I hope it’s the last lap. I just concentrated to relax the horse and planning in my head when I was going to make that move. Full credit to the horse. This is a real high up in my career. To skip from Free For Alls to the elite is a hugh jump and to have a horse like that is more exciting.”

Trainer Hall Snr stated

“What a phenomenal drive. We knew he’d be electric off the fence. Most of his races he’s had bad draws and done it hard and probably wouldn’t finish as quick as that. The way he’s been working and this week he’s been better than he was last week.”

“We knew it would take a really good horse to hold him out. I was just worried about him getting the run.”

Hall Snr also took time to praise runner up Minstrel.

“It’s phenomenal how he’s been going. Minstrel is a great horse and been terrific. It’s great to see these two horses having battles.”

Mister Smartee now takes his stake earnings to just over $1.26 million and the New Zealand bred gelding has won 17 of his 22 appearances.

Trainer Gary Hall Snr was considering a trip for the Inter Dominion at Albion Park in July but has now changed his mind and instead the gelding’s near future task will be the $450,000 Group 1 West Australian Pacing Cup to be staged on 12 December this year.

Hall Snr completed a great night as earlier he and Hall Jnr combined with Cyclone Jordy (Art Major) and then winning with I’m The Black Flash (Bettors Delight) off 50 metres.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink