Gloucester Park review

Brilliant lightly-raced mare Balcatherine stamped herself as a genuine contender for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups early next year when she gave a superb frontrunning display to score an easy victory in the $50,000 Simmonds Steel City of Perth Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Champion trainer Gary Hall snr declared that the New Zealand-bred five-year-old was the best mare he has ever trained and said: “Her win tonight showed that she is worthy of a start in those big races.

“It was a feather in her cap, beating some of the State’s best pacers. She was most unlucky to miss selection for a start in the Cups last summer, and she now certainly deserves to get a start in those races in the New Year.”

And a buoyant Hall also served notice that superstar millionaire pacer Chicago Bull was firmly on track to contest the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup on January 21 and the $50,000 WA Pacing Cup on February 4.

“Chicago Bull is the best horse in the State, and he is poised to make his comeback in a 1730m Free-For-All at Gloucester Park next Friday night,” he said.

“He has overcome a few slight setbacks and is ready to go.”

Balcatherine’s victory on Friday night gave Hall a record ninth win in the group 2 City of Perth Cup, which was formerly known as the Lord Mayor’s Cup. And Balcatherine’s win in the 45TH running of the event was quite significant, with her being only the third mare to win the race, following the successes of Windy Jean in 1978 and Another One For Me in 2012.

Hall’s previous wins were with Tricky Bey (1994), Abit Rich (1997), Live To Reign (2007), Talk To Me Courage (2010), Livingontheinterest (2014), Northview Punter (2015), Cyamach (2016) and Chicago Bull (2018).

Balcatherine, the $5.70 second fancy in Friday night’s Cup, upstaged the highly-acclaimed four-year-old Magnificent Storm (the $1.55 favourite), last season’s WA Pacing Cup winner Vultan Tin and other recent winners Hurricane Harley, Hampton Banner, Savvy Bromac, Wildwest and Galactic Star.

Driven with great confidence by Gary Hall jnr, Balcatherine began quickly from the No. 2 barrier, but was beaten out by Magnificent Storm, who challenged hard for the early lead after starting from the No. 3 barrier.

Magnificent Storm, a winner at 18 of his 20 starts, led by almost a full length but was unable to cross Balcatherine, and was left in the breeze until Hampton Banner, three wide early, assumed that position.

Then with Hampton Banner dropping back, Aldo Cortopassi eased Magnificent Storm three wide to dash forward and again move to the position outside the pacemaking Balcatherine.

After a fast lead time of 36.1sec. the opening quarter of the final mile was a slow 32.1sec. before Hall revved up Balcatherine, who sped over the final three 400m sections in 28.9sec., 27.4sec. and 28.1sec.

Balcatherine beat $12 chance Motu Premier by more than a length, rating 1.55.3 over the 2130m.  Motu Premier, who trailed Balcatherine throughout, finished strongly to finish almost a length ahead of a wilting Magnificent Storm in third place.

Balcatherine, who is raced by Steve and Tina Chapman and their children Danielle and Ben, has raced only 28 times for 11 wins, ten placings and $260,481 in prizemoney.

Bargain buy brings up Hall treble

Heez Our Perseus, purchased for $15,000 about nine months ago, is proving a bargain, and he completed a training treble for Gary Hall snr at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he set the pace and won the 2536m The Trots WA, Harness The Dream Pace.

This was the New Zealand-bred five-year-old’s 13TH start for the Hall stable and took his record for his new owners Karen Hall, Maddison Brown and Glen Moore to four wins and four seconds for stakes of $35,680.

The win also completed a driving double for Brown, who was successful earlier in the night with the Justin Prentice-trained Manning.

Brown took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier, and Heez Our Perseus, the $1.40 favourite, relished his frontrunning role on his way to a narrow victory over the $9.50 chance Beat City, who ran home strongly from sixth at the bell.

Heez Our Perseus, who is by Alta Christiano, now has raced 36 times for nine wins, seven placings and $63,252. He is a half-brother to Sweet N Fast, who earned $158,066 from 17 wins and 27 placings from 102 starts.

Arma Indie relaxes at last

Throughout her career Arma Indie has been an irascible, temperamental pacer and a handful to control in her races.

But she is now in foal to Bettors Delight and was on her best behaviour when Mark Reed drove her to an all-the-way victory in the Etch Coatings Commercial Spray Painting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Arma Indie, unplaced at her previous nine starts since winning at Gloucester Park just over 13 months ago, was the $1.70 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier.

She won the start, and after a slow lead time of 38.2sec. and moderate opening quarters of 30.9sec. and 30.4sec. she sprinted over the final 800m in 57.2sec. to win by a half-length from Black Jack Zac, who finished strongly from last at the bell.

Trainer Mike Reed explained that Arma Indie had raced only sparingly over the past 12 months because of a leg injury. “We patched her up and do not hopple her, restricting her work to cantering at home,” he said.

“Mark said that tonight was the best she has behaved. She didn’t buck or swish her tail and didn’t want to kick him out of the cart. Getting her in foal has enabled her to relax and settle down. She will probably race for another two to three months, and she might win another race or two.”

Arma Indie, who is by American sire Well Said, has earned $172,590 from 11 wins and nine placings from 41 starts. She won twice in New Zealand and her 31 WA starts have resulted in nine wins and six placings.

Suing You always in control

Four-year-old mare Suing You, a beaten $1.10 favourite at Wagin a week earlier, was unwanted from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the $19,000 Etch Coatings Professional Powder Coating Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

She was a $16 chance when part-owner and trainer-reinsman Shane Young drove her to an easy all-the-way win from Delightfull ($4.20) and Sheez Our Hope ($2.65 favourite) in the 2130m event restricted to mares.

“She was unlucky at Wagin the previous Friday when she drew barrier one and was crossed at the start by the speedy Sammys Ideal, and then she never got a look in when a close third behind Another Vinnie,” said Young.

“At her previous start a fortnight earlier she locked wheels, broke and was retired in the first lap in a race at Gloucester Park.

“However, I didn’t expect to have such a comfortable time when leading tonight. I thought I could hold the lead early and then one of the fancied runners would come and have a crack for the lead. But they all went back at the start, and I had a soft lead (38.4sec.) and a soft first quarter (31sec.). So, after that Suing You was always in control of the race.”

Suing You, by Alta Christiano, is out of Tiger Su, who won once from 11 starts in New Zealand before racing nine times in WA for three wins and two placings.

Tiger Su’s dam Tigerish amassed $491,957 in prizemoney from 15 wins and 21 placings from 79 starts. She won three group 1 events and three group 2 features in New Zealand. Suing You now has earned $96,752 from 11 wins and seven placings from 40 starts.

Jumpingjackmac ends run of seconds

Exciting three-year-old Jumpingjackmac broke a frustrating sequence of four second placings when he outclassed his ten rivals in the 2536m Simmonds Steel Industrial And Mining Fabrication Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Trainer Gary Hall snr has a high opinion of the Mach Three colt, and said he was contemplating setting him for the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in the New Year.

“He could be a Cups horse,” said Hall. “I haven’t made up my mind whether to have a go for the Cups, or whether to wait for another year. He is a very good horse.”

Jumpingjackmac was the $1.30 favourite from barrier six, and Gary Hall jnr urged him forward to dash to the front 250m after the start. From then it was a stroll in the park for the colt who sped over the final 800m in 56sec. to win by two lengths from stablemate Finvarra ($8.50), rating 1.58.8.

Machnificent ($12) impressed in finishing fast from ninth at the bell to be third.

Jumpingjackmac’s past 14 starts (all at Gloucester Park) have resulted in eight wins and six seconds. He has earned $128,159 from nine wins and six seconds from 16 starts.

Manning in top form

Four-year-old Manning, often underestimated, maintained his splendid form when he scored an easy victory in the 2536m Vale Percy Johnson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His past five starts have produced two wins, a second and two thirds to take his career earnings to $192,136 from 13 wins and seven placings from 46 starts.

This is a wonderful return for the members of the Trotsynd No. 16 syndicate who race the Sportswriter gelding who was bred by Steve Johnson and was sold for $19,000 at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale.

Manning, the $2.40 favourite, was again handled with great aplomb by Maddison Brown, who dashed the gelding forward, three wide, from the No. 4 barrier before enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.

Brown then eased Manning three wide approaching the bell and he overhauled the pacemaker Im Soxy ($6.50) 300m from home before winning by one and a half lengths from $34 chance Tyler Brett, who started out wide at barrier nine and was last at the bell before charging home, out six wide.

Carrera Mach ($6) trailed the pacemaker and locked sulky wheels with The Kraken in the back straight in the final lap before finishing solidly to be third.

Rupert Of Lincoln makes amends

Former Victorian pacer Rupert Of Lincoln was a certainty beaten as a $1.45 favourite last Friday week, and he made amends in emphatic style when he scored an easy win in the 2130m Simmonds Steel Fencing And Gates Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He began out wide at barrier seven and was a $7 chance, with Rock Me Over the $3.20 favourite from the No. 3 barrier.

Chris Voak settled Rupert Of Lincoln down in eighth position, with Shadow Roll ($8) setting the pace from Rock Me Over in the breeze. Voak urged Rupert Of Lincoln forward with a three-wide burst from the 1100m mark.

Rupert Of Lincoln sustained his strong effort to get to the front 100m from the post, and he won by more than a length from Shadow Roll. Rock Me Over faded to finish ninth.

Trainer Ross Olivieri explained that Rupert Of Lincoln was most unlucky the previous week, saying: “He was bottled up (behind the leader) and did not have an opportunity to get off the pegs until the race was virtually over.

“He finished third (behind Rockaball) and it turned out to be a very soft trial. Tonight, they went hard and set it up for Rupert Of Lincoln, who went really good. He’s got a good future and there are more wins in store. He used to race against very good horses in Victoria.”

Rupert Of Lincoln, who ended a losing sequence of eleven, has earned $109,547 from 13 wins and 14 placings from 41 starts.

Bonnett’s filly catches the eye

Bunbury trainer Frank Bonnett is renowned for his successes with two-year-old fillies and Catch The Red Eye rekindled memories of his brilliant fillies of yesteryear, Sovereign Beejay and Sheza Clout, when she won the $18,000 Simmonds Steel Laser And Tube Cutting Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Catch The Red Eye, second fancy at $3.40, impressed when Deni Roberts drove her to an easy victory over the $2.65 favourite In the Spotlight and Five Bangles ($8) to give Bonnett an early 70TH birthday present.

Bonnett, who will celebrate his milestone birthday on Wednesday week, prepared Sovereign Beejay (2004) and Sheza Clout (2006) for their victories in the Diamond Classic for two-year-old fillies.

He also was the trainer of Party Date early in her career which saw her win 25 races and $256,003. Catch The Red Eye is closely related to Party Date, whose dam Boom Or Bust is the granddam of Red Hot Go, the mother of Catch The Red Eye.

Party Date’s wins included the group 3 Ladyship Cup at Moonee Valley in May 2004 and the 2005 Easter Cup at Gloucester Park. She has produced eight winners, including Bettor Party (40 wins and $351,417), Rocknroll Whitby (20 wins and $234,786) and Pierre Whitby (14 wins and $139,511).

Bonnett, whose previous Gloucester Park metro-class winner was Bee Jays Boy, winner of the $20,000 Westbred Classic Consolation for two-year-old colts and geldings on June 28, 2019, has been winding down his training commitments in recent years, and he has only two pacers in his Bunbury stables.

His daughter Maree is the mother of outstanding young reinsman Bailey McDonough, who is enjoying plenty of success in the sulky since moving to Victoria earlier this year.

Bonnett, who has more time now for his favourite pastime of fishing, also helps with the track maintenance at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park. He said that Catch The Red Eye would now go for a three-month spell before being prepared for her three-year-old season next year.

Papinik overcomes setback

Eight-time WA premiership trainer Ross Olivieri acknowledged a wholehearted team effort for his three winners at Gloucester Park on Friday night and was particularly grateful for the work of farriers Tommy Sheehy and his son Jack to get outstanding lightly-raced five-year-old Papinik back in action after the gelding was suffering from hoof problems.

Papinik reappeared after a four-week absence when Chris Voak guided him to a commanding victory over Bracken Sky and Boom Time in the 2130m $20,000 Etch Coatings Mobile Sandblasting And Painting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Papinik, the $1.20 favourite, set the pace and sprinted over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 27.4sec. to improve his record to 16 starts for 11 wins, four placings and stakes of $80,051.

“Tommy and Jack have done a marvellous job on Papinik’s feet; they have always been a bit troublesome,” said Olivieri. “Papinik missed a fair bit of work after his previous win a month ago. He pulled up sore in a front leg. But we have rectified that, and there might be a nice race for him somewhere.”

Papinik appreciated the No. 1 barrier on Friday night when he was one of the winners of the final five events on the program when they all started from barrier one and led all the way.

Punters who pin their faith in pacers starting from the No. 1 barrier went home extremely contented following the consecutive wins of Heez Our Perseus ($1.40), Suing You ($16), Arma Indie ($1.70), Papinik ($1.20) and Catch The Red Eye ($3.40).

Double Expresso responds to a change

Talented young mare Double Expresso was heading for the breeding barn a few short weeks ago — unless her form improved dramatically.

Ross Olivieri, an eight-time leading trainer in WA, decided to change her work in a last-ditch bid to prolong her career, and the four-year-old has responded to the change and burst back to form with a most impressive victory in the 2130m Harnessthedream.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Double Expresso went into the race with a losing sequence of 13, stretching back to her all-the-way win over Gardys Legacy at Gloucester Park last April.

“The cream rises to the top,” declared a happy Olivieri after Chris Lewis had produced a splendid drive to land Double Expresso, a $10.80 chance, a two-length winner over Alta Rhett ($7).

“The race was set up for her, with the fast early pace favouring horses coming from behind, and she had the class to do it.”

Double Expresso started from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and she settled down in tenth position while the $2.80 favourite and polemarker Blue Blazer defied a spirited challenge for the lead from $8.50 chance Thereugo as the lead time was covered a fast 34.9sec.

After solid opening quarters of 30sec. and 29.4sec. from Blue Blazer, Lewis sent Double Expresso forward, three wide, approaching the bell, and for a while in the back straight the mare enjoyed a respite in the one-out, one-back position before she got to the breeze at the 300m and dashed to the front on the home turn and careered away to win in effortless fashion.

Olivieri explained Double Expresso’s return to form by saying: “We have tweaked her training a bit. Instead of looking after her and being careful with her, we decided that she only got to a certain level doing that. So, we had to change her training by working her on the track at Byford and get her on top of the ground and get her out of the heavy sand.

“We have been doing that for two weeks. She has had two hoppled runs at Byford, the first one was good and the second one was extra good.

“Two starts ago I said that if she didn’t improve, she would go to the breeding barn. But she put her hand up, and she will now keep racing and go to stud towards the end of next year.

“It is always difficult to win from barrier nine, but Chris (Lewis) made all the right moves.”

Lewis has handled Double Expresso in all of her 30 starts that have produced 13 wins, eight placings and stakes of $327,644. She was an outstanding two-year-old when she won two $100,000 classics before winning the group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic as a three-year-old in February 2020.

Double Expresso is by the American stallion Sweet Lou and is out of the Rich And Spoilt mare Here For The Money, who had 79 starts for seven wins, 18 placings and $81,874 in stakes. Double Expresso is a half-sister to the brilliant Shockwave (47 starts for 19 wins, 17 placings and $514,802).

By Ken Casellas for Gloucester Park