Gloucester Park review

Karl Deiley, a newcomer to the sport of harness racing, lavished praise on trainer Nathan Turvey and young driver Emily Suvaljko after they had combined to score a dazzling victory in the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Savvy Bromac, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, is only the second pacer owned by Deiley, a successful businessman in Broome in the far north of Western Australia, and she gave a superb frontrunning performance to win the group 1 feature event by two lengths from Born To Boogie and Balcatherine.

“Nathan is second to none as a trainer,” said Deiley. “The two horses (Simba Bromac and Savvy Bromac) I have sent to him were just average horses, and he has transformed them into star performers.

“Pacing is a fantastic hobby for my wife Michelle and I, and we are Emily’s No. 1 fans. We call her the pocket rocket, like Savvy. She’s very calm, methodical and never seems to panic.”

Deiley is not motivated by the opportunity to make substantial profits from his pacers. He and his wife simply enjoy their involvement in the sport.

It was through Deiley’s late mother’s friendship in New Zealand with the late Bob McArdle, a legendary breeder of standardbreds, that Deiley became interested in harness racing about five years ago. He purchased the McArdle-bred Simba Bromac for $30,000 and paid a similar amount for Savvy Bromac.

Both pacers have developed into outstanding performers, with Simba Bromac earning $228,732 from 23 wins and 19 placings from 72 starts, and Savvy Bromac’s brilliant win on Friday night boosting her stakes to $204,511 from 11 wins, nine seconds and two thirds from 29 starts.

Savvy Bromac, the second favourite at $3.10, started from the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2536m event, and the 21-year-old Suvaljko made every post a winner, getting Savvy Bromac away brilliantly and then rating her to perfection.

Balcatherine, the $2.90 favourite from barrier seven, settled down in tenth position before Gary Hall jnr sent her forward, three wide, about 700m after the start. Balcatherine then raced in the breeze, with the third favourite Born To Boogie ($3.40) enjoying a perfect sit behind the pacemaker.

After opening quarters of the final mile in 30.2sec. and 29.8sec. Savvy Bromac dashed over the final two 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27sec. to win comfortably at a 1.57.5 rate.

“Obviously, barrier one is good, but I wasn’t too concerned where she drew,” said Turvey. “I just wanted a genuine contest. When Savvy Bromac drew No. 1, it probably put us in a situation where we hadn’t been before, by leading.

“Everything worked out good. One thing I knew was that I had never had her better, so I had a lot of confidence about how she was going to perform.

“I haven’t thought ahead as far as The Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups early next year. We will discuss her plans as time goes by. It’s not impossible to consider her a chance of contesting the Cups. She can sit on speed and has a really quick quarter.”

Deiley said that he purchased Savvy Bromac as a two-year-old, before she had been broken in. “I was interested in breeding, and being a fan of her sire Mach Three, I wanted to breed from her even if she was unable to race, let alone be a winner.

“Her older full-sister Zeta Bromac (a winner at five of her nine starts) produced her first foal, Zeuss Bromac, who is a group 1 winner,” Deiley said.

Zeuss Bromac, who finished a short half-head second to Ignatius in a 2300m event at Menangle a fortnight ago, has had 27 starts for seven wins and 15 placings for stakes of $279,615. In March 2020 Zeuss Bromac finished third behind Line Up and Perfect Stride in the New South Wales Derby at Menangle, and eight months later was successful in the group 1 Australian Breeders Crown for three-year-old colts and geldings at Melton.

In February this year Zeuss Bromac won the group 2 Hondo Grattan Stakes at Menangle before finishing second to Expensive Ego in the group 1 Chariots Of Fire at his following start.

Savvy Bromac is the ninth and final foal out of Zante Beach, who had 84 starts in Australia for 16 wins, 27 placings and $124,447in prizemoney.

Back In Twenty off to Sydney

Speedy frontrunner Back In Twenty celebrated his final appearance in Western Australia with another splendid all-the-way victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“I am sad to see him go,” said trainer Justin Prentice. “He’s fast-class level when he leads, and I expect him to go really good in Sydney.”

Back In Twenty, a five-year-old son of American stallion Sportswriter, was bred and is owned by Bob Fowler’s Allwood Stud Farm, and his victory on Friday night took his career record to 72 starts for 15 wins, 17 placings and $157,482 in stakes.

Starting favourite at $1.20 from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Westral Plantation Shutters Pace, Back In Twenty was rated perfectly in front by Maddison Brown.

After an opening quarter of a comfortable 31.3sec., Back In Twenty gave his rivals little chance of beating him by dashing over the final three 400m sections in 28.7sec., 28.8sec. and 28.2sec. to record a mile rate of 1.56.7. He won by just over a length from $7 chance My Carbon Copy, who trailed him throughout. Gambit ($26) sustained a strong burst from last in the middle stages to finish third.

He is enjoying his best season with his 29 starts this year producing eight wins and six placings for earnings of $91,120. He has inherited much of his ability from his dam Aristocratic Glow, who raced 44 times for nine wins, 13 placings and $74,756 in stakes.

Back In Twenty and promising four-year-old mare Smooth Rye are due to leave for New South Wales on Monday. They will be prepared in Sydney by young trainer-reinsman Corey Peterson.

Smooth Rye, also owned by Fowler, was bred in New South Wales, and she has shown considerable promise, with ten wins and four placings from 34 starts which have netted $48,351 in stakemoney.

“I am sure Back In Twenty will like the big track at Menangle,” said Prentice. “He has raced with spreaders here, but I reckon they will be able to remove them when he races on the spacious Menangle track.”

If Back In Twenty maintains his excellent form in Sydney there is a strong chance that he will continue his career in America.

Star Of Willoughby does the impossible

Consistent three-year-old colt Star Of Willoughby unwound a remarkable late burst of speed to come from a seemingly impossible position to score an easy victory over the highly-regarded Gary Hall senior-trained youngsters Jumpingjackmac ($1.55 favourite) and Finvarra ($3) in the 2130m Westral Roller Shutters Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Star Of Willoughby, bred and owned by Bob Fowler’s Allwood Stud Farm, is prepared by young Banjup trainer Josh Dunn, and was driven with supreme confidence by Emily Suvaljko. Despite his consistency and an eye-catching fast-finishing third behind Finvarra and Jumpingjackmac a fortnight earlier, Star Of Willoughby was a $29.80 tote outsider.

Star Of Willoughby started from barrier three in the field of seven and Suvaljko was content to keep him at the rear while Blitzembye ($9) set the pace.

After $101 outsider Chance Eclipse set a fast pace with a lead time of 36.3sec., Mark Reed sent Blitzembye to the front after 500m. The opening quarter of the final mile was run at a leisurely 31.8sec. before Reed increased the tempo and Blitzembye dashed over the following 400m sections in 29.3sec. and 27sec.

Jumpingjackmac settled in last position before Gary Hall jnr sent him forward, three wide, to move to the breeze at the bell. Jumpingjackmac eventually got a neck in front of Blitzembye at the 500m.

Star Of Willoughby was last with 300m to travel, about eight lengths behind Jumpingjackmac, before Suvaljko switched him four wide on the home turn. The colt accelerated quickly, and he burst to the front in the final 25m to win by a length and a half from Jumpingjackmac, who recorded his fourth consecutive second placing.

Star Of Willoughby is a seasoned campaigner who now has raced 45 times for eight wins, 18 placings and $65,380 in stakes. By Follow The Stars, he is out of Lady Willoughby, who amassed $167,293 from 16 wins and 14 placings from 53 starts.

Lady Willoughby’s dam Amongst Royalty was an outstanding performer who raced 86 times for 23 wins, 27 placings and stakes of $570,820. Her wins as a two-year-old in 2006 included the $70,000 Sales Classic at Gloucester Park, the $60,000 God Tiara at Bathurst and the $300,000 APG final at Ballarat.

Mirragon a good second string

Four-year-old Art Major gelding Mirragon gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2536m Westral Meshlock Security Doors And Screens Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His easy three-length victory over Alice Kay at a 1.58.8 rate showed that he has the potential to become a solid second-string summer carnival prospect behind his speedy four-year-old stablemate Hampton Banner.

Mirragon, prepared by Debra Lewis, was favourite at $1.30 from the favourable No. 1 barrier, and Chris Lewis rated him perfectly with opening quarters of 30.9sec. and 30.2sec. before lifting the tempo with final 400m sections of 27.9sec. and 28sec.

Alice Kay, a $16 chance, showed admirable strength to race in the breeze for most of the way and finish second, a nose in front of the $9 second fancy The White Rabbit, who ran on from fifth at the bell.

Mirragon raced 33 times in Victoria for seven wins and ten placings, and in WA he has had 17 starts for six wins and four placings. Friday night’s victory boosted his earnings to $203,555.

Tokyo Joe overcomes tardy start

Lightly-raced six-year-old Tokyo Joe overcame a poor start to score an easy win after he had broken into a gallop soon after the mobile barrier had sent the field on its way in the 2130m Westral Timber Shutters Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Tokyo Joe settled down in fifth position in the field of eight and trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams had no option but to opt out of the early spirited speed battle involving Malabar Spur, My Medina, No Republic and Majestic Courtney.

No Republic, second fancy at $2.80, eventually got to the front after a fast lead time of 36.9sec. and he then defied strong pressure from the $2.10 favourite Majestic Courtney.

The early speed told on No Republic and Majestic Courtney, and Deni Roberts dashed $9 chance My Mdina to the front 260m from home after that trotter had enjoyed the ideal one-out, one-back trail. Williams switched Tokyo Joe three wide at the 250m, and the $4.70 chance finished strongly to get to the front in the final 70m on his way to defeating My Mdina by almost a length.

No Republic faded to fifth, while Majestic Courtney, who began to hang in at the 400m, finished seventh.

Tokyo Joe, a winner of four standing-start event in New Zealand, has had 22 starts in WA for six wins and seven placings.

Queeninthecorner does it tough

Sportswriter filly Queeninthecorner was surprisingly good value at $12.80 when she maintained her unbeaten record by scoring a fighting victory in the 1730m Westral Meshlock Security Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

She started out wide at barrier No. 7 and Shannon Suvaljko sent her forward with a three-wide burst to quickly move into the breeze alongside the pacemaker The Hope Diamond ($5.50).

Queeninthecorner’s stablemate and last-start winner Five Bangles, the $2.80 favourite, was smartest to begin from barrier two, but was held out by the polemarker The Hope Diamond before Mark Reed angled the filly across to trail the leader.

Five Bangles got off the pegs with 400m to travel and she finished solidly into fourth position.

Trainer Mike Reed was pleasantly surprised at Queeninthecorner’s win, saying: “I thought that she couldn’t face the breeze and still win. She fought on hard, and it was good to see Five Bangles hitting the line strongly.”

Queeninthecorner, bred and owned by Kevin and Annette Charles, now has raced three times for three wins and $26,512 in prizemoney.

Heez Our Perseus is too speedy

A flying start from barrier four by the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Heez Our Perseus paved the way for his all-the-way win in the 2536m Westral Windows Blinds Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The $1.20 favourite, driven by Gary Hall jnr, relaxed with opening quarters of 32.4sec. and 31.1sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 28.2sec. to win by a half-length from the $7 second fancy McArdles Gem, who ran home fast after trailing the leader all the way.

“He’s fast and is capable of graduating to top company because he has great natural speed,” said trainer Gary Hall snr. “I bought him for $15,000 last February and he won a couple in a row (in June) and then trained off. But he has come back (after a spell) really good.”

Heez Our Perseus, who was unplaced at four New Zealand starts, has had 11 starts for his new owners Karen Hall, Maddison Brown and Glen Moore for three wins, two seconds and stakes of $22,483.

He is by Alta Christiano and is out of the Elsu mare Sweet Perrier, who had 33 starts in New Zealand for seven wins and six placings for earnings of $44,608.

Disco Under Fire salutes at $102.60

Hopeland trainer Giles Inwood outlaid $4000 to purchase Disco Under Fire in February 2020, and the eight-year-old Courage Under Fire gelding is proving an excellent bargain.

Disco Under Fire caused an upset as the rank outsider at $102.60 when he stormed home from last to win the 2536m Westral Roller Blinds Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This was his 58TH start for Inwood for a record of six wins, 13 placings and stakes of $70,355 to boost her career earnings to $137,768 from 14 wins and 48 placings from 142 starts.

Disco Under Fire was handled with aplomb by Jocelyn Young, one of seven different drivers to have handled the gelding at his past eight starts.

Disco Under Fire started from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line and was overlooked by most punters, with Inwood saying after the race: “I didn’t think he was a chance from the outside barrier, and I had zero intentions of earning a cheque. So, I am definitely pleasantly surprised.

“He is a real gentleman around the stables, and a week ago I changed his work and thought I’d try something different with him, and it has worked. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I chased him around the paddock, and he loved it as he galloped around. I used to do the same thing with Jacobs Well (when he won seven races in 2008 and 2009).”

Young said that Inwood had suggested to her that Disco Under Fire had virtually no hope. “But the horse felt strong in the preliminary and I thought I would drop out and see what transpired,” she said.

Rock Me Over, the $3.10 favourite, dashed to the front after Joe With The Flow ($4.80) had led for the first 700m, with Disco Under Fire relaxing at the rear.

Disco Under Fire was still last in the field of eleven with 580m to travel. Young then sent him forward and he went four wide on the home turn before surging to the front in the final 55m and winning by a half-length from Rock Me Over.

Machnificent is simply just that

Byford part-owner and trainer Katja Warwick named the athletic little Mach Three colt Machnificent because of his handsome looks — and the $20,000 yearling continues to excel on the racetrack.

Machnificent, the $1.40 favourite from barrier No. 1, revealed sparkling speed when he set a bold pace and strolled to victory in the Go One Better With Westral Pace on Friday night when his mile rate of 1.53 equalled the best by a three-year-old over 1730m at Gloucester Park, with the New Zealand-bred Howard Hughes recording that rate in his win over Undercover Mac on September 4, 2020.

Machnificent, driven by Shannon Suvaljko, reeled off quarters of 29.4sec., 29.1sec., 27.8sec. and 27.1sec. when he won by a length from $8 chance Beat City, who trailed the leader throughout.

“I didn’t expect he would run such a fast time,” said Warwick. “But I have always thought that he is a super smart horse, such a hard trier and blessed with an exceptional sprint.

“How far can he go; that’s anyone’s guess. Shannon didn’t pull the ear plugs and he said that Machnificent could’ve gone another 27sec. quarter after winning. And he has pulled up superbly.”

Machnificent has now earned $101,842 as well as many more thousands of dollars in Westbred bonuses from his ten wins and 11 placings from 35 starts.

Warwick continued in winning form when Amante Secreto, a $9 chance driven by Chris Lewis, finished strongly along the sprint lane to beat the pacemaker and $3 favourite Minor Catastrophe in a 2100m event for three-year-old fillies at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on Saturday night.

Lewis then used identical tactics to win the following event with Busselton trainer Barry Howlett’s six-year-old gelding Deep Blue.

Wildwest on target for Cups

Talented five-year-old Wildwest is a virtual pacing novice with only 20 starts under his belt. But champion trainer Gary Hall snr declares that the Raging Bull gelding has the raw ability to match strides with the State’s best pacers in the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups early next year.

Wildwest bounced back to his best form when he romped to an impressive victory in the $25,000 Westral Shadetrack Outdoor Blinds Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He has proved quite a headache for Hall, but he is gradually becoming more tractable, with his trainer having the firm belief that he has the class to play a major role in the big Cups.

“I’m sure he’s right up there to that class, ability wise,” said Hall. “He has been a headache, but he is gradually getting used to the lugging pole.”

Wildwest, a winner at his only start in New Zealand (in a 2400m stand at Winton in May 2019), was close to his best behaviour on Friday night when he started from the No. 5 barrier and as the $3.10 second favourite.

He raced in the breeze for the first 400m before gaining the perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position while Hampton Banner ($3.60) was setting a brisk pace, with the $2.30 favourite Perfect Major in the breeze.

Wildwest, driven confidently by Gary Hall jnr, started a three-wide move 450m from home and took the lead 65m from the post before winning by a length from Hampton Banner, rating 1.55.4 over the 2130m journey, with final quarters of 28.3sec. and 27.7sec.

“Wildwest would have been much better suited if he had raced without cover instead of being in the one-out, one-back position,” said Hall snr. “From the breeze, he wouldn’t have had to go three wide, and from the breeze he would have bolted in.

“Staying is no problem for him and competing in the Cups over 2536m and 2936m would not worry him.”

Wildwest should continue to improve in his races leading up to the Cups and should improve his already impressive record of 20 starts for 11 wins and two seconds for earnings of $154,324.

Four of Wildwest’s ten owners have shares in Australia’s No. 1 pacer, six-year-old King Of Swing, who gave a bold frontrunning display to win the opening heat of the Interdominion championship at Menangle on Saturday night. King Of Swing’s time was significantly faster than the times recorded by the other two heat winners.

By Ken Casellas for Gloucester Park