Gary Hall Jr wants improvement from Mister Smartee

CHAMPION harness racing driver Gary Hall Jr will be as interested as anyone else how boom pacer Mister Smartee (Always B Miki) goes in tomorrow night’s $50,000 Group 3 Governors Cup at Gloucester Park.

And he quickly cautioned the five-year-old had “plenty of room to improve further” from whatever he does in the key lead-up race to the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at the same track two weeks later.

“It’s important race. I’m keen to see where he’s at,” a frank Hall Jr said. “I got sucked in a bit into driving him the way I did at Bunbury, but I still expected more from him.

“Yes, he wasn’t ready to be driven like that, but I think so much of him, I still thought he’d go very close to winning.

“I want improvement from him this week. I  need to see he’s heading in the right direction with the Nullarbor so close.”

Mister Smartee will start from gate four in tomorrow’s night’s 2130m feature, but has quick beginners in Otis (one) and Sangue Reale (three) drawn inside him.

“I’m pleased I’ve drawn inside Magnificent Storm (who will start from gate five), but I’m just not sure what those quick beginners inside me will do,” he said.

“Ideally I can get across to the pegs, but it won’t bother me to sit parked if he’s at his top in a race like this.

“It could be quite a tactical race.”

Hall Jr said Mister Smartee’s work this week didn’t shed much light either way on what to expect.

“He worked well, but pulled up having a good blow, which says he’s still building in fitness,” he said.

“He might have stayed out (spelling) too long, but we’ve still got this race and another two weeks up our sleeve for the big one.

“I’m sure we’ll have him fit by then, but he’ll need to be given how strong the race is.”

Hall Jr has been engaging in competitive “banter” with Swayzee’s trainer Jason Grimson in the build-up.

“Jason’s latest was to say he’s only worried about Minstrel, but if you follow our racing you’ll know Mister Smartee is at least as good as any horse over here when he’s right,” Hall Jr said.

“I had my bit to say, too. It’s all good build up for the race.”

It’s no secret the proud and territorial WA trainers and drivers have been stung by eastern states raiders winning both runnings of the Nullarbor so far.

Grimson won it with Betterzippit in 2023 and Victorian Andy Gath completed the huge Nullarbor/Fremantle Cup double with Catch A Wave last year.

With Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo scratched, Swayzee and Catch A Wave will be the two eastern states raiders on April 25.

Swayzee is $2 favourite from Catch A Wave ($3.40), Minstrel ($5), Mister Smartee ($5.50) and Magnificent Storm ($8) for this year’s race.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia