Gloucester Park review

Huston cashes in with Oaks bonanza

Byford trainer Ron Huston landed a massive and memorable wager and collected $45,000 for an outlay of $300 when little filly Benesari Lane, the rank outsider at $109, charged home to snatch a dramatic last-stride victory in the $150,000 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

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Huston’s inspired bet at odds of 150/1 was the icing on the cake for the 42-year-old truck driver, who also shared the first prize of $96,000 with his partner Vicki Lea as well as collecting about another $15,000 with a range of $20 wagers at 100/1 odds over the previous six weeks.

Huston and Lea, who purchased Benesari Lane for $16,000 at the 2019 APG Perth yearling sale, went into the Oaks without high expectations after Benesari Lane drew out wide at barrier eight.

However, Huston retained hope because he was convinced that his filly was the best stayer in the 2536m classic for three-year-old fillies. All he wanted was a genuine pace and a masterly drive from Kim Prentice.

Prentice fulfilled his part of the deal with a superb exhibition in the sulky. After two false starts, Prentice restrained Benesari Lane from her wide draw and cleverly angled her across to the pegs in a twinkling of an eye, settling her in seventh position, with the $2.90 favourite Black Jack Baby setting the pace.

The up-tempo event had seen the first three quarters of the final mile go by in a fast 28.4sec., 29.5sec. and 29sec. Benesari Lane had avoided all of the hustle and bustle in the event, and she surged home with a spirited three-wide burst to get up and beat Always An Angel by a head, rating 1.57.8 after a moderate final 400m in 30.5sec.

The win was Benesari Lane’s fourth from 23 starts and boosted her earnings to $135,749. It gave Prentice his third success in the WA Oaks, after he prepared Onassis Legacy for her win in 2003 when the filly was driven by Craig Goldfinch, and he was in the sulky when the Noel Keiley-trained Dilingers Reign was successful in 2006.

Huston said that he had not determined any specific tactics for Friday night’s classic, saying: “I told Kim to just drive for luck, and the race was run perfectly and just the way we wanted. Everything worked out great.

“Turning for home when Benesari Lane was finishing strongly, I forgot all about my big bet. I was rapt that I was going to run in the first four, and on the line, I didn’t think she had got up to win.

“Kim has no driven the filly at her past three starts. He moved into the property next door to ours 12 months ago and he has been really good to me, knowing that Vicki and I work every day, and he’s always there to give us a hand.

“Benesari Lane is probably the hardest trying horse I’ve trained. She is probably not in the top hundred, ability-wise, but she is the greatest trier. Gary Hall won with her at Bunbury three starts ago and he said that he had never driven a horse who tries so hard. Gary had the first option to drive her in the Oaks, but he said that he was committed to Justin Prentice’s Always An Angel.”

Always An Angel was gallant in defeat, and she failed by only a couple of centimetres to give Justin Prentice his fourth WA Oaks winner — after scoring with Major Reality (2015), rank outsider Our Major Mama (2018) and another outsider Has No Fear (2019).

“Benesari Lane is probably the toughest horse I have trained,” said Huston. “She has got no real high speed, but she can stay all day. She has the best heart rate of all the pacers I’ve trained, better than Jumbo Operator and Gee Jay Kay.

“The $300 bet at 150/1 is probably the biggest result I’ve ever had — since Jumbo Operator won the Caduceus Club Classic in 2009, when I had a fair go that night. We named the filly after our favourite street in Bali, our favourite holiday destination where we have visited 30 to 40 times.”

Huston and Lea went to the 2019 yearling sale where Lea picked out the Mach Three-Terrifying filly bred by Ed Dewar.

“We were the underbidders for quite a few lots, and we were blow out of the water on most of them,” said Huston. “Benesari Lane was the fifth-last lot to be offered and we were able to buy her for $16,000.

“Four and five years ago we loved to watch Our Little General racing in Victoria. He was one of our favourite horses, and Benesari Lane was bred on similar lines to Our Little General. They are both by Mach Three out of a Western Terror mare.”

For the record, Our Little General has had 110 starts for 28 wins, 38 placings and $730,912 in stakes. He won the group 1 Breeders Crown at Melton as a two and three-year-old, as well as winning the group 1 Victoria Derby in February 2017. After winning 15 times in Victoria Our Little General travelled to America where he won another 13 races.

Benesari Lane is the first foal out of Terrifying, a mare who had 104 starts for 19 wins, 16 placings and $131,200. “Our Little General was only a little guy, and Benesari Lane is a lot like him, but she hasn’t got his ability or speed,” said Huston who started his career as a trainer in Kalgoorlie in September 2000 and took only four starts to record his initial success, when Beaudiene Butler scored in Kalgoorlie in September 2000.

Huston is no newcomer to big-race triumphs. He prepared Getaway Plan for group 1 victories in the Sales Classic and the State Sires Series for two-year-old colts and geldings in 2012.

Big offer for Galactic Star rejected

Evergreen New Zealand-bred pacer Galactic Star will continue his career in Western Australia after owners Skye Bond and Rob Gartrell turned down a big offer to sell the eight-year-old to American interests.

Galactic Star, prepared by Greg and Skye Bond, recorded his 31ST victory when he set the pace for star reinsman Ryan Warwick and held on win by a half-head from Vultan Tin in the 2536m In Appreciation Of Bill Crabb Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“Somewhat surprisingly, a couple of weeks ago we received quite a substantial offer to sell him to the United States,” said Gartrell, who races the Bettors Delight gelding in partnership with Skye Bond.

“We thought about it, but Greg and Skye just love the horse who has done a fantastic job for us, and in the end, we knocked back the offer. He has been a great horse who can lead and race with a sit, and now we’ll be aiming for the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup at the Christmas carnival this year. We probably won’t travel with him any more.”

Apart from his 16 wins at Gloucester Park and eight on country tracks, Galactic Star has travelled from Perth to the eastern States three or four times for two wins at Menangle from six starts in New South Wales and one win and two placings from five Victorian appearances.

Galactic Star raced 13 times in New Zealand for four wins and seven placings before being sold to his WA owners in 2017. “He has proved to be quite a bargain who cost less than $50,000,” said Gartrell. Indeed, the gelding has been a huge success, earning $657,279 from his 27 wins and 22 placings from 80 starts for the Bond stable.

“Greg does a lot of work on sourcing the horses in New Zealand,” said Gartrell. “And Galactic Star suited our profile; he was lightly raced and was in the right age group.”

Bushwacked set for Champagne Classic

Promising colt Bushwacked enjoyed a stroll in the park before coasting to an effortless victory in the 1730m Catalano Truck And Equipment Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He is doing a good job, and tonight he got away with some easy sectionals,” said breeder-owner-trainer Shane Quadrio after Kyle Harper had driven Bushwacked to his comfortable win by more than a length over Five Bangles, rating a modest 2.4.6.

Harper took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier in the field of four, and he let Bushwacked to amble through the opening three 400m sections of the final mile in 34sec., 33.8sec. ands 29.9sec. before sprinting over the final quarter in 27.2sec.

Bushwacked, third favourite at $4.10, was not challenged as he led the Indian-file affair in which he was followed by Battlescard ($3.10), Griffin Lodge ($1.90) and Five Bangles ($13).  Griffin Lodge was in last place when he broke into a gallop 220m from home, and it was left to Five Bangles to finish gamely to deprive Battlescard of second place.

“I will now set him for the $50,000 Champagne Classic in a fortnight,” said Quadrio.

Bushwacked is the ninth and final foal out of the In The Pocket mare Aleta Anvil, who had 55 starts for five wins, 18 placings and stakes of $36,690. Quadrio purchased Aleta Anvil when she was in foal to Follow The Stars and produced Bushwacked, who now has won twice from seven starts for earnings of $18,053.

Aleta Anvil was a daughter of American mare Aleta Hanover, who raced 32 times for six wins, eleven seconds and one third from 32 starts for stakes of $88,591. Aleta Anvil produced Warriors Code, who finished fourth behind Jack Mac in the Pearl Classic in June 2017 and earned $52,397 from seven wins and nine placings from 40 starts.

Star Of Diamonds in top form

Busselton trainer Barry Howlett made a wise decision when he bought a Bettors Delight filly out of Maddy White for $52,000 at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale.

The filly named Star Of Diamonds maintained her excellent form as a four-year-old and boosted her earnings to $90,041 when she gave an impressive display to score an easy victory in the 2130m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

She was favourite at $2.80 from the No. 2 barrier on the back line and Chris Voak was happy to settle her at the rear while Miss Limelight ($6) was bowling along in front.

At the bell Star Of Diamonds was in tenth position and Voak followed the three-wide burst of Alice Kay, the $3.10 second favourite. Savvy Bromac ($5) ran on from seventh at the bell to hit the front 570m from home, but she was unable to withstand the powerful burst of Star Of Diamonds, who took the lead on the home turn and went on to win by two and a half lengths, rating a smart 1.55.3 after final quarters of 28.4sec. and 28.5sec.

Star Of Diamonds has inherited much of the ability of Maddy White, who earned $110,824 from 11 wins and 20 placings from 51 starts.

Nota Bene Denario overcomes rough start

Former New Zealand pacer Nota Bene Denario made a successful Australian debut when he easily won the Allwood Stud Farm Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

However, it was not all plain sailing for the six-year-old who was a hot $1.50 favourite from the No. 1 position on the front in the 2503m standing-start event.

He raced roughly at the start and lost a couple of lengths which enabled $17 chance Bettor Pack It to charge to an early lead. Gary Hall jnr then was able to get Nota Bene Denario to settle into a pace and the gelding dashed to the front after 500m and was not seriously challenged at any stage on his way to winning by two lengths from Bettor Pack It.

Hall was far from satisfied with Nota Bene Denario’s performance, saying: “He has been sharp at home and really fast. But tonight, by the time I got him to the front I couldn’t get him on the bit. So, we were lucky that was an easy sort of field and he was good enough to win.

“He didn’t do anything special and won easily. But it didn’t feel easy. At the start, he kept missing his stride and every time I grabbed him up, he’d pace, and then I’d let him go, and he kept missing his stride. All’s well that ends well. We have had a few little issues with him, so I think we can get him going a bit better.”

Henwood Bay ends losing sequence of 17

Consistent five-year-old Henwood Bay has resumed racing after a spell in splendid form and he ended a losing sequence of 17 when he caused an upset as a $17.20 chance when he defeated the $1.20 favourite Diego by a head in the 2130m Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Henwood Bay, prepared in Collie by Errol Ashcroft and driven confidently by Deni Roberts, worked in the breeze on the outside of the $26 pacemaker Beach Skipper before finishing determinedly to beat Diego and Beach Skipper in a three-way photo finish. The final 800m was covered in 56sec. and the winner rated 1.57.6.

Diego, who started from the back line, enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing gamely to notch his third successive third placing at Gloucester Park

Henwood Bay, a gelding by American stallion Fully Loaded, was making his third appearance after a spell, and was following the encouraging efforts of a second to Extradite and a fourth behind Thomson Bay. Friday night’s success improved his record to 85 starts for 16 wins and 24 placings for stakes of $104,472.

Mirragon is on the move

Four-year-old former Victorian pacer Mirragon carried far too many guns for his older and more experienced rivals in the 2130m In Appreciation Of Robbie Dewar pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was untroubled to win convincingly from Shanway and Joe With The Flow.

Mirragon, trained by Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, was the $2 favourite who began speedily from the No. 6 barrier and dashed to the front after 220m before dictating terms in front and covering the final quarters in 28.9sec. and 27.8sec.

This was Mirragon’s fourth win from nine starts in Western Australia and it improved his record to 42 starts for 11 wins, 11 placings and $174,967 in prizemoney. The Art Major stallion gives plenty of indications that he will continue to improve and develop into a candidate for the rich feature events at the Christmas carnival this year.

Boom Time breaks through

Lightly-raced New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Boom Time, placed at his three previous starts when he covered extra ground and worked hard in the breeze, broke through for an overdue success when he was driven patiently by star reinsman Chris Voak and scored an impressive victory in the 2130m Westside Auto Wholesale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Second favourite at $4.40 from the No. 6 barrier, Boom Time was given plenty of time to settle at the rear in the field of 11 while Vespa ($4.80) set the pace from stablemate Plutonium ($3.80).

Boom Time was ninth with 900m to travel when Voak sent him forward with a three-wide burst which he sustained until he got to the front 90m from the post and won by more than a length from Vespa, rating 1.57.4 after final quarters of 27.9sec. and 28.6sec.

“He just waited until it was convenient — and away he went,” said trainer Ross Olivieri. “He has been racing super but has been plagued by bad barriers. He is doing a good job and we’ll be looking for him to go through the classes.”

Boom Time, raced by Merv Butterworth’s Butterworth Racing Syndicate, has had 34 starts for ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $80,471.

Plan for Perfect Major to get tougher

Perfect Major, beaten in three recent trials, relished the challenge of strong competitive racing when he scored a convincing first-up victory in the 2536m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Starting from the outside barrier in the field of seven and at the attractive tote odds of $4.20, Perfect Major was sent forward, three wide, after 300m to move to the breeze, with noted frontrunner Extradite ($4.40) setting the pace.

Chris Voak was content to remain in the breeze until he sent Perfect Major to the front 320m from home on his way to victory by a length from stablemate Kiwi Bloke, with Stefsbest, the third of trainer Ross Olivieri’s four runners, a short half-head away in third place.

The final 800m was covered in 56.9sec. and Perfect Major rated 1.56.1.

“We had the positive and the negative,” said Olivieri. “The negative was that his trials were ordinary, and the positive was that we know he goes better in his races. He knows the difference between a trial and a race, and he races like Perfect Major is capable of racing. Judged by his trials he could have run third or fourth. Voaky felt in the preliminary that he felt like he had a horse.”

Perfect Major, who has won at six of his ten WA starts for an overall record of 36 starts for 14 wins, 11 placings and stakes of $169,134, showed plenty of promise in feature open-class events last summer when he finished fifth in the WA Pacing Cup and won the RWWA Cup from Chicago Bull.

Olivieri said that immaturity and inexperienced had prevented Perfect Major from even better results, and he is planning to toughen up the five-year-old in preparation for next summer’s rich Cup events.

“He is going to get seasoned to the Free-For-All grind,” said Olivieri. “I want to give him a couple of races in his class and then put him in Free-For-Alls so that he can get used to racing against those tough grinding horses like Vultan Tin and other horses who front up, week-in and week-out, to do the hard yards.

“Perfect Major will be a better horse in the next Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups. He was very good when fifth in the Pacing Cup last December when he and the other horse (To Fast To Serious) who were racing for the first time in the big time loomed up but didn’t go on with it.

“I thought Perfect Major was going to win about 400m out, and so did Voaky. But the lack of experiencing the grind of Free-For-All racing told.”

Voak shines with four winners

Chris Voak, Western Australia’s leading driver last season, is maintaining his brilliant form in the sulky this year, and he stole much of the limelight at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he landed four winners on the ten-event program.

He completed his quartet in the eighth event, the 2130m Retravision Pace, when he caused an upset by bringing $13.50 chance Rabchenko home with a powerful burst from tenth at the bell to win by more than a length from $3.50 second fancy Extreme Prince and the $1.95 favourite J B Mauney.

Rabchenko, bred and owned by Kevin and Annette Charles, was having only his second start for Pinjarra trainer Frank Vanmaris and was unfavourably drawn out wide at barrier No. 7.

Voak, who had won earlier in the night with Perfect Major, Boom Time and Star Of Diamonds, did not bustle Rabchenko early and the eight-year-old was tenth at the bell when Voak switched him three wide to follow the run of J B Mauney.

Ryan Warwick sent J B Mauney to the front 420m from home, but he was unable to withstand the strong finishing burst of Rabchenko, who gained the upper hand in the final 25m and went on to win by more than a length to end a losing sequence of seven unplaced efforts.

Voak has enjoyed a happy association with Rabchenko, having driven the veteran pacer 20 times for six wins and four placings. Rabchenko, an Art Major gelding, has had 98 starts for 15 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $147,401.

Voak followed his Friday night quartet with wins behind Sugar Street at Bunbury on Saturday night and Here Comes Sharkie at Kellerberrin on Sunday afternoon.

Ken Casellas