Gloucester Park review 4th March

Gloucester Park harness racing review with Ken Casellas

Fortune favours The Bettor Side

Luck frequently plays an important role in deciding sporting contests, and ace Coolup trainer-reinsman De Campo made the most of the unexpected opportunity to compete in the $125,000 APG WA Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Ten days earlier De Campo was left lamenting when The Bettor Side (Downbytheseaside) was hopelessly blocked for a clear run in a qualifying heat when he appeared to be a certainty beaten into fourth place behind Louie Vee, and then was named as second emergency for the rich final.

Ill luck then forced the connections of Hold The Ammo and When In Vegas, the third and fourth fastest qualifiers, to withdraw their pacers when they were not fully fit to contest the big event.

This enabled The Bettor Side to get a start and the gelding drew No. 4 in the 1730m final, much to the delight of the five part-owners.

The Bettor Side was the $6.40 fourth favourite, and De Campo drove skilfully to win by a half-neck from the $4.80 second fancy Louie Vee, who put up an outstanding performance after being trapped three wide early and then being restrained to the rear. Louie Vee was still last in the field of ten 500m from home before he unwound a tremendous finishing burst, out four wide, to just fail to overhaul The Bettor Side.

Heat winner Mysta Moon Walker, trained by Robbie Williams and a stablemate of Louie Vee, was the $2.10 favourite from the No. 2 barrier, and Chris Voak sent the gelding straight to the lead.

The Bettor Side began speedily, and De Campo made a split-second decision to ease the gelding across to the pegs to take the trail behind the leader, leaving Control The Room ($5.50) in the breeze.

“Later, the horse in the one-out, one-back position (Wicked Hustler) couldn’t keep up and I was able to get The Bettor Side off the pegs and into the clear (550m out),” said De Campo.

Kyle Symington sent Control The Room to the front 270m from home before The Bettor Side sustained a spirited burst which carried him to the front 70m from the post. The Bettor Side then held on to defeat Louie Vee.

Regarding his tactics, De Campo said: “I decided to run the gate to see what happened. I wanted to make sure that the leader (Mysta Moon Walker) didn’t hand up to Louie Vee. And then I was happy to take the trail, and I wasn’t worried about being hemmed in again. You can’t worry about the past.

“The Bettor Side doesn’t like being out in front. He can pull up to a walk in front, and when he hit the front, I was a bit worried, but luckily when a horse came, he picked up the bit and got going.”

De Campo, who trained and drove the winner of this event with Floewriter in 2021, said he picked out The Bettor Side at the 2023 APG Perth yearling sale and bought him for $70,000 before syndicating him to five stable clients.

THE BETTOR SIDE REPLAY

The Bettor Side now has raced three times for a win and two fourths for earnings of $75,526. He is by American stallion Downbytheseaside and is the second foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Bettor Boa, who raced 53 times between 2015 and 2018 for ten wins, 15 placings and $119,061.

“I remember racing against Bettor Boa, and she was a good big type of mare,” said De Campo.” Bettor Boa’s first foal is Halle Hunter, who raced three times as a three-year-old filly for trainer Colin Brown for three wins last December. One of Bettor Boa’s most memorable performances was her second to Dodolicious in the WA Oaks in May 2016.

De Campo intends sending The Bettor Side for a spell before preparing him for the Pearl Classic and other feature events for two-year-olds later in the year.

In Her Mother’s footsteps

Memories of Artistic Copper’s victory in the Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in 2013 were revived when her fifth foal Copper Head Lady (Sweet Lou) finished with a powerful late burst to win the $125,000 APG Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Artistic Copper, owned and bred by Mike Howie, was prepared for her 2013 win by Andrew De Campo, whose son Aiden was in the sulky behind Copper Head Lady when she came from seventh at the 400m to take the lead in the final 15m and win by a half-length from her stablemate Bettagetonpip.

This gave Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell a wonderful quinella result. Copper Head Lady, a $7.20 chance, was the solitary runner on the back line, with Bettagetonpip, the $4.20 second fancy, starting from the No. 3 barrier.

The polemarker Highview Heidi was the $3.90 favourite, who was beaten out by $4.80 chance Ruby Lou, who began brilliantly from barrier five and left Bettogetonpip in the breeze, with Crunchee ($7.50) enjoying the one-out, one-back position, and Copper Head Lady racing three back on the pegs in fifth place.

Kyle Symington sent Bettagetonpip to the front 50m from the post before she was swamped by the fast-finishing Copper Head Lady, who rated 1.57.4 over 1730m.

“I picked Copper Head Lady (bred by Howie) right from the start,” said Aiden De Campo. “And I thought we stole her at the sales. Nothing fazes her, and she has the most laid-back attitude.

“Even tonight she made hard work of it when she didn’t have to. She was just happy to be out there. From day one she has been my pick, on looks and her breeding. She is lazy, and I love lazy horses. You can do so much with a lazy horse.

“We were confident with our fillies, and we thought that if Bettagetonpip led she wouldn’t get beaten. And I thought that if Copper Head Lady got the breaks at the right time, she would definitely be hard to hold out, and that’s exactly what happened.

Copper Head Lady is owned by Albert and Julie Walmsley, and she has won at both her starts and has earned $80,387.

Great family tradition

Three-year-old gelding Franco Encore (Captaintreacherous) maintained an outstanding family tradition when he was successful in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The lightly-raced New Zealand-bred Franco Encore, trained by Ryan Bell and driven by Kyle Symington, is the sixth foal out of the unraced Changeover mare Edinburgh Franco, whose first three foals have all shown wonderful talent in short careers, with Franco Edward earning $221,468 from 11 wins and five placings from 18 starts, Franco Ecuador having 12 starts for seven wins, three placings and $74,801, and Franco Enzo winning twice from 13 starts before his untimely death.

Edinburgh Franco’s dam Elisit Franco produced six winners, including Franco Endure (27 starts for seven wins, eight placings and $75,307), Franco Emirate (33 starts for 14 wins, six placings and $332,830) and Eden Franco (41 starts for 14 wins, 15 placings and $192,757).

Elisit Franco’s dam Emily Franco produced Franco Enforce (70 starts for 28 wins, 19 placings and $593,738).

Franco Encore has a good way to go to equal the performances of his relatives, with Bell saying: “He is very immature and is taking a while to strengthen up, but I expect he will develop into a WA Derby candidate later this year on natural ability.”

Franco Encore was the $1.50 favourite from out wide at barrier No. 7, with $11 chance Duty Bound fastest to begin from barrier five. Symington wasted no time in dashing Franco Encore forward soon after the start to race in the breeze.

Franco Encore took the lead 350m from home but looked beaten when Brett Smith got to a narrow lead with $7 chance Sidstrepo 100m from the post. However, Sidstrepo turned up his toes and was beaten by a half neck.

“It certainly helped when Sidstrepo didn’t find the line,” said a relieved Bell. “But Franco Encore did kick back. He is still learning the caper and should have been able to have put that away better than he did.”

Franco Encore has had eight starts for two wins, three placings and $17,862. The best is yet to come.

American offers rejected

Up-and-coming five-year-old Flying Rumour (Fly Like An Eagle) notched his sixth win from twelve starts in his current campaign when he charged home powerfully to beat Ima Fivestar General and Jaspervellabeach in the $25,000 APG Industry Owned, Not For Profit Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Trainer Mike Reed has been greatly impressed with his recent form, and he said that the WA-bred gelding would continue his blossoming career in this State after offers to sell him to the United States had been rejected.

“We have had a few offers from America, but have decided to keep him here,” said Reed. “Shannon (Suvaljko) said that we would be mad to sell him because he was confident the pacer would perform strongly in Cup-class company.

“That was only his 30TH race start. He has always showed speed, but he wouldn’t relax. But now he is relaxing and showing his true ability. The quicker they go, the better he likes it. This was a step up in class and he handled it okay.”

Flying Rumour, a gelding by Fly Like An Eagle, was bred and is owned by Kim Marsh, and has earned $100,144 from ten wins and nine placings.

He was a $6.60 chance from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night, and Suvaljko was content to keep him in fifth position, three back on the pegs while Jaspervellabeach ($7.50) was setting a scorching pace in the 2130m event.

Suvaljko eased Flying Rumour off the pegs 300m from home and took the gelding five wide on the home turn before he surged into the lead 60m from the post and beat Ima Fivestar General by one and a half lengths, rating a smart 1.54.2, with a fast lead time of 36.2sec. followed by quarters of 28.5sec., 27.8sec., 29sec. and 29.6sec.

The Miki Taker back in business

Five-year-old The Miki Taker (Always B Miki), winner of the group 1 Pearl Classic as a two-year-old in June 2021, broke through for his first win for 12 months when star Capel trainer Aiden De Campo drove him to a splendid victory in the 1730m Vale Geoff Wallis Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Having his fourth start in his current preparation after a nine-month absence, The Miki Taker was the $4.40 second fancy from barrier five, with veteran pacer Illawong Mustang the warm $2.05 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier.

Dylan Egerton-Green set a fast pace with Illawong Mustang, with the final sections being run in 29.7sec., 28.6sec., 28sec. and 28.6sec. The Miki Taker mustered good early pace and he surged forward into the breeze after 500m. Illawong Mustang looked the likely winner when he led by almost three-quarters of a length approaching the home turn.

But The Miki Taker was not to be denied, and he finished resolutely to gain the upper hand in the final 15m and won by a half neck from $91 outsider Bee Jays Boy, who raced three back on the pegs before finishing fast along the inside. Illawong Mustang, who shifted out under pressure in the home straight, was a neck farther back in third place.

“I wasn’t really worried when Illawong Mustang led on the turn,” said De Campo. “My bloke usually bludges around the last corner but then always grabs the bit and wants to go when he straightens up. He knuckled down and went strongly to the line.

“He never wins by more than he has to. The plan was to sit outside the leader; that’s where he runs his best races. He doesn’t have the speed to get there early, and he had to do a bit of work to get to the breeze tonight.

“I’m still working on him, trying to sharpen him up. If he had a bit of high speed, I’d say he’d be good enough to run through the classes. He is dour at the moment and doesn’t have a lot of high speed.”

The Miki Taker has already amassed $175,909 in stakes from ten wins and 12 placings from 30 starts. He is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Topless Beach Girl, who raced 21 times for one win, ten placings and $21,810. Topless Beach Girl’s first foal Strike Team has had 35 starts for ten wins, ten placings and $82,238, and her third foal Insta Gator has earned $36,937 from three wins and nine placings from 17 starts.

The Miki Taker’s win in race one gave De Campo a flying start to the meeting in which he drove The Bettor Side and Copper Head Lady to victory in the Sales Classics for two-year-old colts and geldings and for fillies.

Reward for Effort

WA-bred five-year-old Soho Dow Jones (American Ideal) went into the $31,000 APGold.com.au Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night as a $7.30 chance who had been successful only once from his 18 previous starts.

He had also been placed at seven of those 18 starts and rarely performed below par, with Mitch Miller saying after he had driven him to an all-the-way win in the 2130m event: “He has been racing very well and it’s good to see him get rewarded for effort.”

Hampton Banner, one of the State’s fastest beginners, was resuming after a spell and had good support, starting at $5 from the No. 5 barrier.

Hampton Banner, driven by Chris Lewis, was smartest into stride and led by a half-length early but was unable to cross Soho Dow Jones, who led from the No. 2 barrier in a lead time of 37.1sec. followed by an ambling opening 400m section of 31.6sec. before the final quarters were run in 28.9sec., 28sec. and 28.2sec.

“I was not at all confident of winning the start and being able to hold out Hampton Banner,” said Miller. “But I was happy he was able to do so.

“Soho Dow Jones used to race in blocks, but recently we have taken them off because he had started to overrace in his races. And since we have removed the blocks, he hasn’t been getting out of the gates as good.

“Thankfully, he didn’t have the blocks on tonight because if he pulled any harder, he would’ve choked down. He was sharp and I was happy with his gate speed. He travelled strongly and I was a bit worried down the back (the last time) that I might have choked him a bit. If I hadn’t let him roll in the last lap he probably would have choked and run last.”

Soho Dow Jones is prepared by Blythewood trainer Kim Prentice, and he has earned $185,909 from 14 wins and 16 placings from 53 starts.

Otis enjoys a change

WA-bred six-year-old Otis (Sweet Lou) enjoyed a change from standing-start racing to a mobile event when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Australian Pacing Gold Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His victory as the $2.80 second fancy over the fast-finishing $6.50 chance Soho Santorini ended a nine-month drought and a losing sequence of twelve.

His previous five starts had been in stands (for three placings) and trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green decided to get him back to contesting mobile events because he had not been himself in stands.

Otis, who is by American sire Sweet Lou, has been a consistent performer who has earned $138,235 from 11 wins and 18 placings from 44 starts.

Lil Happy Fella, the polemarker and $2.45 favourite in Friday night’s event, was beaten out by Otis and then trailed him before getting off the pegs 650m from home and into the one-out and one-back position before being switched three wide with 250m to travel. He battled on to finish a well beaten fourth.

A flying start from the No. 5 barrier paved the way for veteran pacer Regal Cheval’s victory in the 2130m APG Perth yearling Sale Pace.

Regal Cheval was a $10.80 chance from barrier No. 5, and Maddison Brown got the nine-year-old away with his usual brilliance, with the polemarker and $2.05 favourite Nevermindthechaos beaten for early speed and then trailing Regal Cheval, who ambled through the lead time in 38.7sec. and the opening quarter in a very slow 31.6sec.

Brown then increased the tempo and Regal Cheval dashed over the final three sections in 29.7sec., 28.5sec. and 27.7sec., giving the opposition little chance of winning. Regal Cheval won by just over a half-length at a 1.58 rate, beating $3.30 chance Cyclone Charlotte, who raced in the breeze throughout. Nevermindthechaos battled on gamely to finish fourth. The deafeners on Nevermindthechaos failed to release, but reinsman Gary Hall jnr said that this had no material effect on the mare’s performance.

Hall, who trains Regal Cheval, said that the gelding was now probably on his mark. Regal Cheval has been a wonderful performer for his owner Barrie Devereux, having had 134 starts for 15 wins, 36 placings and $174,335. The Victorian-bred Regal Cheval won at ten of his 55 Victorian starts, and his 79 WA starts have produced five wins and 16 placings.

Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko has Ardens Horizon racing in superb form, and he enjoyed an armchair drive when he guided the New Zealand-bred five-year-old to an easy win in the 2503m APG Harness Racing Is Our Focus Handicap.

Ardens Horizon, the $1.50 favourite, was untroubled to lead all the way and beat Lucca ($4.80) by one and a half lengths, with flying final 400m sections of 28.2sec. and 27.7sec.

That was Ardens Horizon’s sixth victory in a standing-start event, and he has a splendid record of 54 starts for 15 wins, 20 placings and $195,711.

Miki Jet is on the way up

Inexperienced New Zealand-bred five-year-old Miki Jet (Always B Miki) completed a notable double for Gary Hall jnr when he scored an impressive victory in the 2130m APG The Industry Owned Sales Company Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It gave Hall his first double as a trainer, following his win with Regal Cheval (driven by Maddison Brown) earlier in the evening.

Miki Jet was the $1.20 favourite from out wide at barrier eight, and Hall quickly had the gelding in a position to strike, in the one-out, one-back position, with Cooper ($5) setting the pace.

After a leisurely early pace, Cooper dashed over the third quarter of the final mile in 28.7sec. and Hall was content to keep Miki Jet racing comfortably in fourth position before sending him forward with 300m to travel.

Miki Jet sprinted smartly and burst to the front at the 50m mark to win by a half-length from Cooper, rating 1.57.5, with a final quarter of 27.5sec.

“I think he will go a fair way,” said Hall. “He’s still a bit of a baby and is not doing everything exactly how I want him to do. There are no major problems, but he is on and off the bit at different stages.

“I think that when he has had another ten starts after a good break, he will be the complete package.”

Miki Jet raced 21 times in New Zealand for four wins and eight placings, and his three wins and two placings from five starts in WA have boosted his career record to 26 starts for seven wins, ten placings and $65,573. He is the second foal out of the unraced Washington VC mare Clifton Christine.

Close call for Ten to The Dozen

It was just too close for comfort agreed Deni Roberts after she had driven the $1.20 favourite Ten to The Dozen (Art Major) to a head victory over $8 chance Menemsha in the $50,000 APG WA Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“There were anxious moments at the start and at the finish,” said Roberts. “He has two gears — slow and fast — and he hasn’t quite worked things out.

“He fell asleep at the start but managed to hold the lead. Then he copped plenty of pressure (from Menemsha) throughout and he didn’t get a chance for a breather. I was happy with him, and I thought he was pretty tough.

“I pulled the plugs at the 700m. He can run a really good half, so I liked rolling down the back (with a 28sec. third quarter followed by a final 400m of 28.2sec.). He rated 1.55.5 which is the fastest of his career.”

Ten To The Dozen, purchased for $65,000 at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, is trained by Greg and Skye Bond, and has had 16 starts for eight wins, four placings and $123,898. He is by Art Major and is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Nolessthanperfect, who had 17 starts in WA between 2017 and 2019 for five wins, six placings and $33,893.

Ten To The Dozen has yet to race beyond 2130m but should mature into a strong contender for the 2536m WA Derby late this year. His immediate mission is the $50,000 Caduceus Club Classic over 2130m on April 26.

The eye-catching run of the race in Friday night’s event was that of the Bond-trained $61 outsider The Little Master, who began out wide at barrier nine and was ninth at the bell before flying home, out five wide, into third place.

And Aiden De Campo’s Menemsha (second) and Grevis (fifth) showed that they will be prominent in three-year-old events this year.

Water Lou overcomes the odds

Star filly Water Lou (Sweet Lou) enhanced her prospects of winning the rich WA Oaks later this year when she overcame significant odds to score a splendid victory in the $50,000 APG Sales Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

An aggressive drive by Shannon Suvaljko paved the way for Water Lou’s win. The filly was the $1.20 favourite from the outside of the back line and Suvaljko dashed her forward three wide to move into a commanding position, one-out and one-back, with the $71 outsider Atlantic Gem in front after a flying start from the No. 7 barrier.

However, Maddison Brown sent the $6 chance Xceptional Arma to the front after 550m, leaving Water Lou in the breeze. Xceptional Arma set a brisk pace and after a second quarter of 29.4sec. she sprinted over the third 400m section in 28.1sec.

Water Lou challenged Xceptional Arma in the back straight before forging to the front about 420m from home. She went on to win by 4m from $81 outsider The Swindler, who was sixth at the bell before finishing strongly. Xceptional Arma held on to finish third.

Astute trainer Mike Reed was full of praise for Water Lou’s fighting victory, saying that pre-race plans did not eventuate.

“From the outside of the back line the plan was to go forward and try to settle in front of Xceptional Arma,” said Reed. “But that didn’t work out, with I Cross My Heart galloping (after 120m).

“I was not particularly happy when Water Lou was left in the breeze. But she did a good job, especially getting to the front leaving the back straight, and from there it’s a long way from home.”

Water Lou, bought for $65,000 by Jim and Wilma Giumelli at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, has earned $219,877 from ten wins and two seconds from 14 starts. She is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the eighth foal out of the South Australian-bred mare Living Hei, who had only one start, finishing last in a C0 event at Bendigo in March 2007.

“Water Lou has got speed, and everyone thinks she has got to lead, but she can sit and sprint, and tonight she did the work and still won,” said Reed.

“I might give her a bit of a let-up. I have tried to give her a few let-ups, but she just won’t settle. I have taken her to two agistment places and she just walked up and down the fence, so I ended up bringing her home and she still walked up and down the fence.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park