Gloucester Park review – 6th January

Gloucester Park harness racing review with Ken Casellas

Patched stirs emotional scenes

There were heart-rending scenes as emotions boiled over at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Patched (Skyvalley) unleashed a sizzling late burst to score a dramatic victory in the $50,000 Trotsynd Trotters Cup.

This ended a traumatic week of enormous sadness for the gelding’s Pinjarra trainer David Young and his wife Sian, whose 14-day-old son Brodie Kane died the previous day.

“This is a hard industry, but there has been a lot of love, and everybody has made things a little bit easier for us,” said Young, whose son had a stroke and suffered irreversible brain damage.

“We have been through hell in the past week, and to lose a child, especially one so young, and then having to tell your daughter (Eliza, who turns four in April) that her little brother wasn’t coming home made it the hardest day of my life. This is the proudest and happiest night, racing-wise, of our lives.”

Drivers wore black armbands for the Trotters Cup in which the Victorian-bred Patched was the $2.70 favourite from the 20-metre mark, just ahead of the 40m backmarker Tricky Ric ($3), who was attempting to notch his tenth win in a row.

PATCHED REPLAY

Aiden De Campo, who had finished a close second to Majestic Dream with $17 chance Tears Of Joy in the Trotters Cup 12 months earlier, drove a supremely confident race to bring Patched home with a powerful three-wide burst from seventh at the bell to win by two lengths from the fast-finishing Chumani ($4.80), with the pacemaker Sky Eagle ($23) a half-head away in third place.

Gary Hall Jnr sent Tricky Ric from the rear with a three-wide burst in the first lap to race in the breeze for the final two laps. Tricky Ric was still second on the home turn before he wilted to finish sixth.

“I wasn’t particularly worried when Tricky Ric was so far in front of me,” said De Campo. “But when the pace slackened in the middle stages I was a bit concerned. However, I knew that Patched can really sprint.”

Patched has flourished under Young’s care since his Victorian owner Vicki Woodhouse sent him to Western Australia ten months ago. Young now has given Patched 16 starts for nine wins, six seconds and one fourth placing. Patched won four times in Victoria and now has a record of 46 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and $127,382.

“Patched was sent over to me, with the connections hoping to win a couple of races,” said the 36-year-old Young. “I was lucky to have the trotter Conquer All about ten years ago when he won five times in WA. Conquer All and Patched were driven in their Victorian races by Chris Alford, who was my idol, growing up. Having this connection with Chris Alford has been great.”

Patronus Star set for more Cups

Several Cup events are on the agenda for New Zealand-bred six-year-old Patronus Star (American Ideal), who made amends for his unlucky sixth in the WA Pacing Cup the previous week by scoring an impressive victory in the $30,000 Media Guild Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“We will be heading for the $50,000 Pinjarra Cup (March 6),” said co-trainer Skye Bond after  talented driver Deni Roberts had driven the $4.70 second favourite Patronus Star to a half-length win over stablemate Glenledi Chief ($6), rating 1.56 over the 2130m journey after the final 800m was covered in 55sec.

PATRONUS STAR REPLAY

Patronus Star, Glenledi Chief and Minstrel also will be set for upcoming feature events, including the Governor’s Cup (March 17) and Easter Cup (April 7).

“He was unlucky in the Pacing Cup,” said Mrs Bond. “He would’ve run third if he had got clear running. Tonight, he enjoyed the opportunity to sit in the one-one position and sprint home.”

The win gave Roberts her second win in the Media Guild Cup, following her all-the-way success with Balcatherine, who beat Chicago Bull  by a neck 12 months ago. Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who prepared Patronus Star, also won the Media Guild Cup with Ima Rocket Star in 2013.

Patronus Star, an American Ideal gelding, won at two of his seven New Zealand starts and his 41 starts in WA for 13 wins and 13 placings have taken his career record to 48 starts for 15 wins, 16 placings and $457,955.

Hampton Banner was the $1.65 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s Cup, but he disappointed in setting the pace before fading to finish fifth in the field of six. Glenledi Chief maintained his splendid form in finishing second. He moved to the breeze 550m after the start and took a narrow lead 250m from home.

Alcopony bred to succeed

The decision by veteran trainer Kevin Keys and Mark Glendenning to purchase Snookantite, a filly by American stallion Walton Hanover, as a yearling, did not pay any early dividends when Keys trained and drove her in her most unmemorable career of nine races in 1999 and 2000 for two third placings and stakes of $1290.

But she has certainly proved a valuable acquisition for Keys, producing smart performers Cassie Rox, Itsallabout Nicole and Kurious. All three were trained by Keys, with Cassie Rox earning $152,492 from 17 wins and 21 placings from 85 starts, Itsallabout Nicole having 65 starts for 13 wins, 18 placings and $189,570, and Kurious racing 47 times for five wins, 12 placings and $54,340.

Highlights included Cassie Rox’s win in the 2010 Northam Cup, and Itsallabout Nicole’s victory in the Group 1 Pearl in June 2009.

Mitch Miller drove Kurious once, at her second last start, when she finished fourth behind Sheez Edgy at Gloucester Park on November 1, 2016.

Kurious then was retired to the breeding barn and her first foal is four-year-old gelding Alcopony, who is by American sire Betting Line. Alcopony maintained his excellent form when Miller drove him to victory in the 1730m Media Guild Longest Priced Winner Hayden King Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night which improved his record to 30 starts for eight wins, nine placings and stakes of $63,537.

This gave the 74-year-old Keys his first metropolitan-class winner since Dominate The Dojo was successful in a 1730m event at Gloucester Park on May 18, 2019.

Acopony was the $2.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s $20,250 event, and, surprisingly, he was beaten for early speed by $126 outsider Heza Chance, who began brilliantly from out wide at barrier eight, and also by $19 chance Heza Head Honcho from barrier three.

But Miller quickly seized the initiative and sent Alcopony to the front after 450m. After opening quarters of 29.3sec. and 30.3sec., Alcopony dashed over the final 400m sections in 29.1sec. and 28.9sec. He just held on to win by a half-head at a 1.56.4 rate from $14 chance American Bullitt, who was seventh at the bell and finished with a brilliant burst.

ALCOPONY REPLAY

“Alcopony is a slow learner,” explained Keys. “When he kicks away (from his rivals) he thinks the race is over. However, he will be a nice earner.”

Keys, who has two pacers in work, keeps himself busy by helping out at the Henley Brook stables of Mike Reed.

Mirragon overcomes wide draw

Victorian-bred pacer Mirragon (Art Major) overcame a wide barrier and covering extra ground early before finishing strongly to win the 21340m Bridge Bar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The six-year-old, trained by Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, was overlooked by most punters and was a $13.80 chance and even better value at $19 on the fixed market.

Lewis got the gelding away smartly from the No. 7 barrier and he raced three wide for the first 270m and then outside the pacemaker and $1.24 favourite Talks Up A Storm for the next 300m before gaining a perfect passage in the one-out, one-back position.

Lewis bided his time before switching Mirragon three wide approaching the home turn. The gelding then sprinted strongly to burst to the front in the final 50m on his way to beating $61 chance Hengheng by a neck. Socrates ($4.80) was an unlucky third after being blocked for a run until the final stages.

Mirragon, a winner of seven races in Victoria, has been a consistent performer in WA, with his 49 starts in the State producing ten wins and 13 placings. His career record stands at 82 starts for 17 wins, 23 placings and $272,675.

A winning combination

Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has formed a wonderful association with WA-bred six-year-old Medieval Man (Renaissance Man), who celebrated his 101ST start in a race by winning the 2130m Nova 93.7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Hall again gave a superb exhibition in the sulky to land Medieval Man, the $4.40 second fancy, an easy winner over the $2.15 favourite Rock Me Over.

Medieval Man was the only runner on the back line, starting behind the polemarker Rock Me Over. Ultimate Rocker ($15) began from barrier two and he won the start easily from Rock Me Over. Hall immediately eased Medieval Man off the pegs and he manoeuvred the gelding through heavy traffic and squeezed between Rock Me Over and Awaitinginstructions to quickly take up the position outside the pacemaker.

This was the winning move, and with Medieval Man in the breeze, and Sameplace Sametime in the one-out, one-back position, Rock Me Over was under lock and key behind the leader. Medieval Man took a narrow lead 450m from home and Rock Me Over did not get clear until the home turn before finishing gamely.

Hall has driven Medieval Man twelve times for seven wins, one second, two thirds, one fourth and one fifth. The gelding, who was having his sixth start for Byford trainer Craig Hynam, has been a good moneyspinner for his breeder Graeme Davies, who races him in partnership with his daughters Patrice and Kiara. He has earned $157,389 from 17 wins and 19 placings from 101 starts.

He is by Renaissance Man, whose major wins were in the Group 1 Sires Stakes at Harold Park in June 2009 and the South Australian derby at Globe Derby Park six months earlier. Medieval Man is out of the Bettors Delight mare So Crimsonandclova (34 starts for six wins, seven placings and $32,253).

Jack Farthing ends drought

Veteran pacer Jack Farthing (McArdle) ended an eight-month drought when he began brilliantly from barrier five, set the pace and was not extended in winning the 1730m Cowdens Insurance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The eight-year-old was a $33.60 outsider who was driven confidently by Kyle Symington for Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell. After modest opening quarters of 30.6sec. and 30.1sec. Jack Farthing dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.9sec. and 27.1sec. to win by 4m from $7.50 chance Pradason, who trailed the pacemaker throughout. Machnificent, the $2 favourite, enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before fighting on to finish third.

“He hasn’t been blessed with a great deal of racing luck since I’ve had him,” said Bell. “And I’ve also had a few minor issues with him. He is a good frontrunner, and he will continue racing until he tells us he has had enough. Maybe we will look at the Pinjarra Cup next month.

“Tonight’s event was probably the softest conditioned race that has been run for a long time, and we were the lucky ones to have the gate speed to set the pace.

“There has been only one run in which we were disappointed since we have had him, and that was due to a trainer error. He looks big in condition, but he seems to like it that way.”

Jack Farthing has won at four of his 27 WA starts and he has earned $232,997 from 20 wins and 18 placings from 92 starts.

Bell is now looking forward to Shockwave’s return to racing, with the 2019 Golden Nugget winner back in full work. “He’s good and has had a couple of hoppled runs,” said Bell. “Fingers crossed, he will stay sound and healthy.

“He did a tendon a couple of years ago, and I had him back, up to hoppling stage last October when he started to go in his knees again, and had to have keyhole surgery to remove spurs and chips in his knees. Hopefully, he will be ready to resume racing about Easter time.”

Nevermindthechaos runs a perfect trial

“That was a perfect trial for the $50,000 Laurie Kennedy Pace next Friday night,” exclaimed trainer Michael Young after exciting mare Nevermindthechaos (Sportswriter) had scored an effortless victory in the $22,000 Media Guild Most Winners In A Night Ken Casellas Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Nevermindthechaos was the $1.90 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of eight and she was restrained at the start before Gary Hall Jnr sent her forward, three wide, 950m from home.

The third quarter was covered in 28.1sec. as Nevermindthechaos quickly dashed forward to join the pacemaker Miss Boudica in the back straight and then surge to the front with 350m to travel. The final 400m was covered in 28.2sec., with Nevermindthechaos coasting home to win by three lengths from Nullarbor Navajo.

Nevermindthechaos rated 1.56.3 and the win improved her record to 25 starts for ten wins, seven placings and $113,742.

Nullarbor Navajo, a lightly-raced six-year-old trained by Corey Peterson and driven by Stuart McDonald, was most impressive. She was last at the 350m before finishing powerfully, out four wide. That followed her fast-finishing second to Beyond The Sea at her previous outing. She will pay to follow.

Americans rejoice in Lucapelo’s win

While punters at Gloucester Park on Friday night were cheering home the hot favourite Lucapelo (Sweet Lou) in the opening event, the 2130m Lugarno Gumby Punters Club Pace, the three-year-old’s American owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover were up and about at 5 o’clock in the morning watching the race on satellite television 18,320km away in Miami, Florida.

The New York-born Banks and Hanover are cousins and leviathan owners, who have raced pacers with considerable success in America, New Zealand and Australia since 1982.

About 15 years ago they were racing 99 horses all over the world. But now they have reduced their involvement to about 40 horses.

They purchased Lucapelo, a black colt by American sire Sweet Lou, for $34,000 at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale, and the youngster is showing considerable promise for Mundijong trainer Michael Young.

“I haven’t met the owners,” said Young. “They called me and asked me to take Lucapelo (who has now had 13 starts for three wins, four placings and $39,219). They ring me at ungodly hours, but they’re good owners.”

Lucapelo was the $1.04 favourite for Friday night’s $20,250 event, in which he started from the No. 5 barrier and was surprising beaten for early speed by $8 chance Bronzed, who began brilliantly from barrier eight and burst straight to the front.

Bronzed, a winner at his four previous starts, inexplicably broke into a gallop when in front after 200m and dropped back to last. Gary Hall Jnr then dashed Lucapelo to the front and the black gelding was not extended in ambling through the opening quarters in 32.8sec. and 29.6sec. before increasing the tempo with final 400m sections of 29.3sec. and 28.4sec. He went on to win easily by just under a length from the fast-finishing $23 chance Lukes Mistake, rating 1.58.7.

“I wasn’t too concerned when Lucapelo didn’t lead early,” said Young. “I actually didn’t mind when he got crossed. This enabled me to see how good he is.”

The first pacer that Banks and Hanover raced in Australia was the New Zealand-bred Tupelo Rose, who won the Victoria and Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley and the Queensland Oaks at Albion Park in 2000. Tupelo Rose then went to America where she won many more races before being retired with a record of 101 starts for 35 wins and 25 placings for stakes of $879,867.

In recent years the owners have enjoyed great success with New Zealand-bred pacers Amazing Dream and American Dealer.

Amazing Dream won the $250,000 Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 2021, beating Copy That by a head, and then later in the month she won the $250,000 Blacks A Fake Championship at Albion Park before winning the Kilmore Cup in September and the Group 1 Queen Of The Pacific in October.

Then four days after finishing third behind King Of Swing and Spirit Of St Louis in the Hunter Cup at Melton she left for America on February 9, 2022. Her record now stands at 63 starts for 26 wins, 25 placings and $1,658,276.

American Dealer has earned $508,430 from 16 wins and 18 placings from 56 starts. As a three-year-old he won the Group 1 Sires Stakes final at Alexandra Park, beating Krug by a head, two Group 2 classics at Alexandra Park and the Queensland Derby at Albion Park.

De Campo celebrates thousandth winner

Much water has flowed under the bridge since Aiden De Campo had his first drive in a race, finishing third with Christian Vance in a 2100m mobile event at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on August 29, 2009. He was beaten home by Capelight, driven by his long-time mate Ryan Bell.

Christian Vance then provided De Campo with his first success in the sulky, at his fifth drive in a race, beating Dilinger Magic and Full Moon Tonight in a 1609m event at Donaldson Park on September 22, 2009.

It was significant at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with the moon shining brightly, only two days before reaching Full Moon status, that the 30-year-old De Campo was shining on the track, landing a double.

The first leg winner was nine-year-old veteran Handsandwheels, who gave De Campo his one thousandth victory in a wonderful career by scoring a narrow victory in the 2536m Media Guild Leading Tipster Wayne Currall Pace.

“It’s a great thrill to reach this milestone with my favourite horse, who has given me lots of thrills and a lot of wins,” said De Campo. “I love the horse and he loves racing.”

Handsandwheels was the $3.30 second fancy from out wide at barrier seven, with the polemarker Cordero the $2.60 favourite. De Campo got Handsandwheels away brilliantly, and the old warrior burst straight to the front and was able to coast through the opening quarters in 31.1sec. and 29.6sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28sec. and 27.6sec. He held on to win by a head from the fast-finishing James Butt ($4.60).

“Handsandwheels has still got gate speed, and it helped tonight when nothing else went forward,” said de Campo. “I daresay this will be his last preparation. And it will be nice to get him ready for the Bunbury Cup (on March 23).”

The win by Handsandwheels was his first for almost three years — since he led and won the group 2 RWWA Cup at Gloucester Park on February 21, 2020.

“He was out of action for a long time after twice breaking down with a damaged hind suspensory ligament,” said de Campo. “His legs are now fine, but the old boy probably has lost a bit of his high speed.”

Handsandwheels, a WA-bred Mach Three gelding who is related to Lombo Pocket Watch (83 starts for 45 wins, 17 placings and $1,522,638), now has had 96 starts for 29 wins, 31 placings and stakes of $694,740.

He won on debut, as a two-year-old at Pinjarra, when he beat Sergeant Oats in February 2016. As a three-year-old he won the 2017 WA Derby as a $30.20 outsider (beating Rock Diamonds by a head) and the $100,000 Westbred Classic two months later.

Friday night’s win rekindled memories of de Campo’s first win at Gloucester Park (at his third city drive) when he set the pace with the Ryan Bell-trained four-year-old Barnetts Secret, who beat Jayares Lad by one and a half lengths.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park