Gloucester Park review – 9th January

Gloucester Park harness racing review with Ken Casellas

Diego is ready for Fremantle Cup

Brilliant seven-year-old Diego (Bettor’s Delight) warmed up for the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup next Friday night in dashing style with a splendid victory in the $100,000 J. P. Stratton Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and his driver Maddison Brown declared that the New Zealand-bred pacer was spot on for the 2536m feature event.

Diego gave his rivals little chance when the gifted Brown rated him perfectly in front on his way to his win over stablemate Gambit and Mighty Ronaldo, rating 1.54.6 over the 2130m.

DIEGO REPLAY

This was Diego’s third highly impressive all-the-way victory from his past four starts, and Brown was quick to stress that the gelding was not purely a frontrunner and certainly did not have to set the pace to have a chance of winning the Fremantle Cup.

“He is versatile, and he showed that two starts before tonight’s win when he worked in the breeze and fought on to finish third behind Magnificent Storm in the 1730m Village Kid Sprint,” said Brown. Diego has also won several races when coming from behind.

“He felt strong tonight and he was tugging a little bit,” said Brown. “The lead time (35.4sec.) was fairly solid, and when Magnificent Storm wasn’t there (in the breeze) straight away, I thought I’d try to get away with a little bit. Mighty Conqueror put a bit of pressure on early, but that wasn’t an issue.”

Diego, the $2.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, ran the opening 400m section of the final mile in a leisurely 31.5sec. before Brown increased the tempo with quarters of 28.4sec., 27.9sec. and 28.5sec. Gambit ($7.50) trailed Diego throughout and ran home strongly to finish 2m from the winner.

Mighty Ronaldo ($31) finished solidly from sixth at the bell to be a length away in third place, and he was followed home by Jumpingjackmac ($16) and Patronus Star ($34), with those two runners impressing with stout-hearted finishing bursts.

“Initially, a lot of Diego’s early runs were when he raced sit-kick when he didn’t have good barriers,” said Brown. “It’s only of late when he has drawn barrier one at his past two starts that we have had the opportunity to lead with him.” Diego also started from the No. 1 barrier when he led and won over 1730m on July 29 and over 2130m on September 2.

Magnificent Storm, the pre-post favourite for the Fremantle Cup, was the $4.60 second fancy on Friday night when he started from the outside of the front line (barrier nine) and was restrained back to last soon after the start. He began a three-wide forward thrust 1200m from home to move to the breeze before wilting in the final stages to finish eighth.

This was the 73RD running of the Stratton Cupo and Brown created history by becoming the first female to drive the winner of the race. And Diego gave master trainer Gary Hall snr his sixth success in the Stratton Cup.

Stuart McDonald, who drove the Hall-trained Gambit in Friday night’s Cup, said that the seven-year-old was poised for a strong effort in the Fremantle Cup. “He was on the speed all the way and hit the line really well,” he said. “But he couldn’t catch Diego, who is flying. Gambit didn’t race last week, so I expect he will go better next week after tonight’s run.”

Deni Roberts was also enthusiastic about Patronus Star’s performance, saying: “It was a perfect run before the Fremantle Cup. He warmed up really sharp, felt good in the run and finished off as good as he could when it was mathematically impossible to beat Diego, with the times he was running out in front. I couldn’t have asked any more from him, and we will be going into the Cup with confidence.”

Star Of Diamonds bounces back after setback    

Talented six-year-old Star Of Diamonds (Bettor’s Delight) ended a 20-month drought when she unwound a spirited late burst to win the Fireworks Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It was an impressive victory which rewarded Busselton trainer Barry Howlett for his patience in caring for the big Bettors Delight mare after she had been laid low when she tied up after a fast workout several months ago and was out of action for ten months.

“She tied up really badly and lost a lot of weight,” said Howlett, who races Star Of Diamonds with his wife Lynley and their children Jim and Katy. “Everything just wasted away, so we just jogged her for a few months to build her up — and then she got very fat. She is still quite huge, and she’s only going to get better.”

Star Of Diamonds was a $12.10 chance from the outside barrier on the back line. The polemarker Free Wheeling ($9.50) led for the first lap before Jocelyn Young sent Cherishthememories ($11) to the front 1150m from home.

At the bell Kyle Symington had Star Of Diamonds pacing easily in seventh position in the one-wide line. She then sustained a powerful burst and went four wide on the home turn before getting up to snatch a head victory over Cherishthememories.

The $1.85 favourite Nevermindthechaos was restrained to the rear from barrier seven before she followed the three-wide run of Cherishthememories in the first lap to get her head in front at the 1200m. But she was unable to cross Cherishthememories, who took a clear lead with 1150m to travel. Nevermindthechaos fought on gamely to be a close-up third.

STAR OF DIAMONDS REPLAY

Star Of Diamonds was the highest-priced filly ($52,500) at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale, and she now has earned $190,726 from nine wins and 20 placings from 53 starts. She is the first foal out of Maddy White, who had 51 starts for eleven wins, 20placings and $110,824. Maddy White’s second foal is Floewriter, who has had 24 starts for ten wins, two placings and $152,511.

The win by Star Of Diamonds was her first since she won the group 2 Breeders Stakes from Heavens Showgirl in May 2021. This followed her success in the group 3 Races For Roses at her previous start. She had taken her time to develop, managing only three placings from 15 starts as a two-year-old.

Veteran ends losing run of 23

Age is not a problem for ten-year-old Disco Under Fire (Courage Under Fire), who raced with youthful enthusiasm to score an easy win in the 2130m Book Beau Rivage For CNY Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Starting the second favourite at $4.40, Disco Under Fire began speedily for Chris Voak and set a solid pace before winning by almost two lengths from the fast-finishing Walsh ($9.50) to end a losing sequence of 23.

“He has been screaming out to lead in a race, and he finally got the chance (from barrier two) tonight, and he won like I believed he would if he led,” said Voak.

The win gave Voak’s father-in-law Frank Vanmaris his first metropolitan win as a trainer since Rabchenko was successful at Gloucester Park on September 24, 2021. The 59-year-old Vanmaris, a retired crane driver at Alcoa, prepares Disco Under Fire at Pinjarra where he helps Voak with his team of pacers.

Vanmaris is the eighth trainer Disco Under Fire has had in his 176-start career of 16 wins, 53 placings and $177,137 in prizemoney. He has won six times at Gloucester Park, four times at Albany, three times at Pinjarra and once each at Bunbury, Narrogin and Wagin.

Disco Under Fire, by former champion pacer Courage Under Fire, is the first foal out of Midnight Disco, who had 55 starts for seven wins, 13 placings and $45,351. He is closely related to Disco Force, who earned $268,416 from 27 wins and 20 placings from 99 starts. He won at his eight starts as a two-year-old in 2000, with his major victories being in the Golden Slipper, the Pearl Classic and the State Sires Series final.

Consistency is a virtue

Glenledi Chief maintained his standing as one of the State’s most consistent pacers when he finished full of running to win the $23,750 APG Perth Yearling Sale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

After winning at three of his 22 New Zealand starts, the six-year-old Glenledi Chief has excelled under the care of champion WA trainers Greg and Skye Bond, with his 30 starts in the State producing 13 wins and nine placings to boost his career earnings to $192,269.

“He is very consistent, but he does have a bit of trouble putting his nose in front sometimes,” said his reinsman Ryan Warwick. “He seems to go better in a better grade which is encouraging.”

Glenledi Chief, a $7.20 chance from barrier two on the back line, began fast and Warwick quickly had him in a commanding position, one-out and one-back, while $6 chance Typhoon Banner was setting the pace after charging straight to the front from barrier three on the front line.

Typhoon Banner survived an early challenge for the lead from $17 chance Handsandwheels, and then kept Sugar Street ($7) at bay after that pacer had raced four wide early before moving to the breeze.

Glenledi Chief started a three-wide move approaching the bell, and he sustained that effort to take the lead 110m from the post and win by a half-length from $6.50 chance Beat City, who raced wide early and then dropped back to tenth before finishing fast, out five wide. Typhoon Banner held on to finish a close third, with Beat City’s stablemate Moonlite Drive ($7) running home strongly to finish fourth after trailing the pacemaker.

GLENLEDI CHIEF REPLAY

Glenledi Chief is by American sire Well Said and is out of New Zealand-bred mare Its Forever Now, who won the $95,000 Bathurst Gold Tiara final in April 2004 before retiring with earnings of $106,288 from seven wins and 18 placings from 41 starts.

Pradason capitalises on fast start

A flying start rom the No. 2 barrier paved the way for Victorian-bred pacer Pradason’s (Shadow Play) victory in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Pradason was the $4.20 second favourite, and trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo’s ability to use his sparkling gate speed from the No. 2 barrier to take the lead after 100m from the polemarker and noted frontrunner The Kraken ($4.40) was a decisive factor in the Shadow Play six-year-old’s win.

De Campo made life tough for Pradason’s rivals with second and third quarters of 28.8sec. and 28.5sec. Pradason covered the final 400m in a modest 29.8sec., but he carried too many guns for the opposition and won by 2m from $4.40 chance Valentines Brook, who fought on determinedly to be second after racing without cover all the way. Lucky Galleon ($11) finished determinedly from seventh at the bell to be third.

Pradason is in the best form of his career, having won at seven of his past 20 starts to boost his record to 71 starts for 17 wins, 21 placings and stakes of $157,676. His WA record stands at 54 starts for 12 wins and 13 placings, following five wins from 15 Victorian starts and one placing from two appearances in New South Wales.

Run For Mercy gets up

A succession of unfavourable barriers resulted in Run For Mercy managing just two third placings from her ten starts since winning the 1140m Dash For Cash at Bunbury early last May — and then a handy draw at barrier three was a major factor in her breakthrough victory in the 1730m Trotsynd Syndication Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Run For Mercy, a $12.50 chance, was beaten for early pace by Woodlea Ragnar, Mea Culpa and Heza Chance, and Chris Voak was happy to take the sit in the advantageous one-out, one-back position, following Mea Culpa, who was racing on the outside of the $1.32 favourite Armed Reactor, who had settled five lengths from the early leader before dashing forward to take up the running with 1200m to travel.

Voak switched Run For Mercy three wide 270m from home and the mare ran home strongly to get up and win in a tight three-way photo finish, beating $14 chance Mea Culpa by a head, with Armed Reactor a half-head away in third place.

“Run For Mercy was very tenacious and under hard driving she responded resiliently in the final 100 metres,” said Voak. “She is a better horse over the short course.”

Run For Mercy is trained by Jemma Hayman and the win took her record to 68 starts for 11 wins and 20 placings for stakes of $108,582. The victory completed a double for Voak, who had been successful earlier in the night with Disco Under Fire. Voak kept up the good work with another double at Albany on Saturday night when he scored with the Barry Howlett-trained pacers Sugarloaf ($1.50) and Just For Love ($1.45).

Strauny overcomes bad start

Strauny (Indominable Saab), a big, strong five-year-old pacer, was a hot $1.60 favourite in the 2503m standing-start TABtouch WA Pacing Cup Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night when his task appeared hopeless when he galloped badly at the start, losing about ten lengths.

But he overcame the odds and went on to score a fighting victory, holding $10 chance Aussie Scooter at bay in the final stages to win by just under a half-length.

Strauny, from barrier five on the front line, broke into a gallop after a couple of strides and settled down in ninth position while the $3.80 second fancy Cooper was setting a modest pace.

Gary Hall jnr, driving the Peter Tilbrook-trained Strauny for the first time, seized the initiative by sending Strauny forward after Master Yossi ($13) had taken the lead 600m after the start. Strauny moved to the breeze 1500m from home and he eventually got to the front with 320m to travel.

STRAUNY REPLAY

Aussie Scooter came from eighth in the middle stages to sustain a solid three-wide burst to finish a close second to Strauny.

“Strauny stepped away for four strides and then he couldn’t hold his gait and broke,” said Tilbrook. “He is just learning how to race in stands. In these races you’re under high pressure, with good standing-start horses around you. And that puts a horse under pressure.

“I’ll persevere with stands. He is now out of the draw which is probably not a bad thing because it will give Strauny a bit of room, and he may be able to follow them out and learn a bit more about it. Ideally, it will be better now coming from the 10m or 20m marks.

“After that bit of a burn from Master Yossi, and when Gary made the move to the breeze at the right time I was confident. Strauny doesn’t let horses pass him very often. Aussie Scooter looked a danger for a while, and then couldn’t pass him.”

Strauny is by Indomitable Saab and is the first foal out of the Badlands Hanover mare Caval Ridge, a winner of 13 races in Queensland. Strauny has earned $73,681 from nine wins and six placings from 31 starts.

Middlepage is maturing

WA-bred six-year-old Middlepage (Tintin In America) was a slow learner who couldn’t pace as a two-year-old, according to trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper.

But the son of New Zealand-bred stallion Tintin In America is proving to be a handy performer who impressed when he finished with a spirited burst to win the 1730m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He has been very slow maturing,” said Harper. “He had one start as a two-year-old (when he broke three times in running and was distanced in a race at Gloucester Park in February 2019). He couldn’t pace as a two-year-old, and as a three-year-old he still had trouble with his gait.”

Middlepage’s first win came at his tenth start in a race and he now has had 58 starts for 11 wins, 16 placings and $87,157 in prizemoney. He is the seventh foal and one of eight winners out of New Zealand-bred mare That’s The Spirit, who had 105 starts for 22 wins, 30 placings and $134,334. She won eleven times in Victoria, ten times in Queensland and once in New South Wales.

Middlepage is proving a good buy for Harper and several stable clients. He was bought for $20,000 at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale.

“He is an above average horse who has a few more wins in him. I think he will get to open company, but I don’t know how he will go when he gets there,” said Harper. “He used to have good gate speed but he’s a bit dicey with that lately, so we’ve being going back with him at the start.”

Acoltnamedsu ($5.50) set the pace in Friday night’s event in which Harper restrained Middlepage, the $2.60 second fancy, back to fifth and into the one-out, one-back position. Middlepage still fifth and hampered for room at the 300m before he got into the clear 75m later and finished strongly with a three-wide burst to win by a half neck from $11 chance Carrera Mach, who had taken the lead 120m from the post.

Middlepage is a half-brother to Patrickthepiranha, who has earned $472,643 from 24 wins and 19 placings from 75 starts. In 2019 Patrickthepiranha won the group 3 Caduceus Club Classic, the group 2 Sales Classic, the group 1 Westbred Classic and the group 2 Christmas Gift as well as finishing a head second to Shockwave in the group 1 Golden Nugget.

Patrickthepiranha won 13 races in Western Australia before leaving in July 2021 for America where he has won another eleven times.

Steele celebrates first city win

Yarloop plumber Shane Steele, whose first sporting love was as a motocross rider, celebrated his first metropolitan-class victory as a breeder, trainer and reinsman when he guided Stormyskyes (Mr Feelgood) to an all-the-way win in the $20,250 APG Industry Owned Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Stormyskyes, the $2.70 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, withstood an early challenge for the lead from $5 chance Tumblin Dice and was rated in fine style by the 34-year-old Steele on her way to holding off a late charge from Wall Street Girl and beating the $3.70 second fancy by a neck.

Steele comes from a family with a long involvement in harness racing, with his father Jeff and mother Jerime being active as owners, breeders, trainers and drivers.

“I used to work horses on the track when I was at primary school in Pinjarra, but I wasn’t into harness racing from the outset,” he said. “I was into motocross, but I was getting hurt too much, so I decided to drive horses about nine years ago.”

It was then that Steele wanted a pacer he could drive in trials to gain a licence to compete in races. In June 2014 the family purchased Dreamy Eyes, a mare by American sire Modern Art.

Steele gained his licence and he made his race debut driving Hurricane Zuki, who finished sixth in a race at Bunbury on November 8, 2014. Hurricane Zuki gave Steele his first win in the sulky when she scored at Pinjarra on October 12, 2015. Steele also drove Dreamy Eyes without success at her final 15 starts in 2015 before she was retired to the breeding barn.

“I bought a farm in Yarloop, and Dreamy Eyes produced my first pacer I bred from the farm,” said Steele. This foal was Stormyskyes, named after Shane and Stacey’s nine-year-old daughter Skye.

Stormyskyes is by the American-bred and former champion pacer Mr Feelgood, who amassed $3,366,157 from 39 wins and 33 placings from 114 starts. Mr Feelgood’s wins included the Interdominion Championship on the Gold Coast (beating Blacks A Fake) and the Hunter Cup at Melton in 2009, the Victoria Cup in December 2010 and the Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park in October 2011.

Mr Feelgood also competed in the Interdominion Championship series at Gloucester Park early in 2012 when he won a 2506m heat.

Steele gained a service from Mr Feelgood when he was the leading bidder in a silent auction at a fund-raising  auction at Byford.

Dreamy Eyes, who raced 52 times for five country wins, seven placings and $28,610, had her second foal in November 2018, a colt by Fly Like An Eagle, who is named Me Flash and has shown plenty of promise, with his 23 starts producing four wins (at Pinjarra, Northam, Narrogin and Gloucester Park), six placings and $28,364.

Unfortunately, soon after that the Steeles lost Dreamy Eyes when she broke a leg in a paddock.

Stormyskyes has proved an excellent performer, and her win on Friday night took her career record to 77 starts for ten wins, 19 placings and stakes of $84,119.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park