Gloucester Park review

Vampiro runs his rivals ragged

A flying start from the outside barrier paved the way for Vampiro’s impressive victory in the $25,000 August Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and the hardy veteran again appeals as a major player in the rich Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup in the summer.

Vampiro, favourite at $2.50, gave his rivals little chance when he began brilliantly from the No. 9 barrier, burst to the front after 220m and then set a fast pace on his way to winning by 2m from stablemate Patronus Star ($5), who ran home determinedly from eighth at the 500m.

Outstanding young reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green gave Vampiro’s rivals little chance when the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old sped over the final three quarters in 28.8sec., 27.9sec. and 28.9sec.

“It looked like we had the speed to cross,” said Egerton-Green. “There were a few inside of us who said they would like to run the gate, but they were horses having their first runs in fast class. And there’s a bit of difference in gate speed there.

“From the outside barrier Vampiro knows how to get across. He was full of running well and truly into the (first) corner, and he got across and became hard to beat.”

Egerton-Green said that he was more than happy to open up a commanding break on Vampiro’s rivals in the back straight in the final circuit. “The better ones were at the back of the field and so I decided to give them something to chase,” he explained. “He doesn’t look like he is doing it easy, but that’s not the case. He usually waits for them a bit.”

Vampiro, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond and raced by Mrs Bond and Rob Gartrell, has been a superb performer throughout his career of 75 starts for 28 wins, 24 placings and stakes of $630,249. This was his second victory in the August Cup, following his success two years ago when Ryan Warwick drove him in the breeze on the way to getting up and defeating the pacemaker Our Corelli by a half-head.

Four-year-old Al Guerrero, a $21 chance from the No. 1 barrier, did a good job to finish third after trailing the leader throughout in Friday night’s Cup.

Third time lucky for Miss Limelight

It was a case of third time lucky for Miss Limelight when she gave a spirited frontrunning performance to score an easy win in the $30,000 group 3 WASBA Four And Five-Year-Old Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“This was her third crack at a $30,000 feature events for mares this year,” said Blythewood trainer Michael Brennan. It followed seconds behind Savvy Bromac and Radiant Amber in the previous two features.

“She hasn’t had a whole bunch of luck lately,” said Brennan. “Her previous couple of runs were really good, and four starts ago when third behind Fifty Five Reborn and Balcatherine in a Free-For-All for mares, it was a really good run when she was blocked for a clear run.

“And last week in the San Simeon Classic against the boys she was very unlucky (when hopelessly blocked for a run and finishing tenth behind Alta Engen). When Dylan (Egerton-Green) got off he said ‘she’ll be winning next week’ and he was right.

“She has always been a good mare, but she hasn’t had much luck this preparation. I’ll probably give her a couple more starts before giving her a break and then preparing her for the big features for mares in the summer.”

“She is a good quality mare who will step up to that class. She might not be as good as Balcatherine, but she’s not without a winning hope in those events.”

Miss Limelight, the $2.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, was driven confidently by Michael Grantham, and after a modest lead time of 38.8sec. and a slow opening quarter, she stepped up a gear with final quarters of 29.2sec. 29.2sec. and 28.4sec. to win at a 1.58.2 rate over 2130m.

Alta Louisa, a strong winner at her two outings after a spell, dashed forward from the rear in the second lap to move into the breeze with 950m to travel.

And this helped Miss Limelight, according to Brennan. “The best thing about her is that she likes being eye-balled, and it helped her having a horse up there tonight,” he said.

Miss Limelight was not fully extended in winning from $31 chance Missplay, who finished solidly after trailing the leader all the way. Alta Louisa ($6) fought on gamely to finish third.

Miss Limelight, owned by Albert and Julie Walmsley, is the ninth foal out of the unraced New Zealand-bred mare Its Showtime, and is a full-sister to Elios, who earned $219,577 from ten wins and eight placings from 28 starts. His wins included the group 2 Supremacy Stakes at Invercargill in April 2013 and the group 2 Futurity Stakes at Waikato in January 2014 when he defeated the outstanding mare Christen Me.

Suvaljko’s plan turns up trumps

Star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko’s plan to dictate terms in front with Seven No Trumps and to make life difficult for the odds-on favourite Wonderful To Fly in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night worked out perfectly.

Seven No Trumps, the $4.50 second fancy, began speedily from the No. 5 barrier and burst straight to the front, while Wonderful To Fly ($1.32) was restrained from the outside barrier in the field of six and settled down last, about seven lengths from the leader.

Suvaljkjo was happy to get Seven No Trumps to amble through the lead time in a slow 39.3sec. and the opening 400m section in a dawdling 31.9sec.

Shane Young eased Wonderful To Fly off the pegs 1400m from home, and Suvaljko immediately increased the tempo, with the colt sprinting the second quarter of the final mile in 29.2sec. and the next section in 28.4sec.

Wonderful To Fly got to within a neck of the leader with 550m to travel but was unable to sustain her effort at her first appearance for 34 days, and Seven No Trumps coasted home with a final quarter of 30.1sec. to win by just under three lengths from $16 chance Hokulani. Wonderful To Fly wilted late to finish fourth.

“Shannon thought that if we could get across (to the front) and get an easy lead time and then slowly increase the speed, we could beat Wonderful To Fly,” said trainer Peter Tilbrook. “We wanted to make it hard for Wonderful To Fly to do the work and come around. And that’s the way it worked out.”

Seven No Trumps, owned by Leanne Lapworth, is enjoying an excellent first season of racing. He made his debut in the first two-year-old event of the season, as a $21 chance in a 1684m event at Pinjarra on January 4. From barrier six, he raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning by a half-length from Eagle Royalty.

He now has had 13 starts for five wins, two placings and $55,406 in prizemoney. “He is healthy and racing well,” said Tilbrook. “And he will have next start here in a fortnight.”

Medieval Man set for Binshaw Classic

Freewheeling pacer Medieval Man strengthened his claims for a start in the $50,000 Binshaw Classic next Friday night when he gave a strong frontrunning performance to win the 2130m Simmonds Steel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This followed the West Australian-bred four-year-old’s splendid victory over Carrera Mach and Lord Rosco the previous week when he finished strongly after working hard in the breeze in the 2536m event.

Thereugo, the $4.20 favourite, led for the first 200m before surrendering the lead to Medieval Man, the $5 third fancy, who had begun speedily from barrier five.

Emily Suvaljko then was able to get Medieval Man to relax after a moderate lead time of 37.8sec., and the opening quarter of the final mile was covered in a slow 31.3sec.

After a moderate second quarter of 30.1sec., Medieval Man sprinted over the next 400m in 27.8sec. and the final section was covered in 29.2sec. as the gelding held $6.50 chance Henwood Bay at bay to score by just over a length at a 1.58 rate.

Medieval Man, part-owned and trained by Kiara Davies, now boasts an excellent record of 57 starts for 12 wins, 13 placings and stakes of $90,520.

First-up win for Saleahs Comand   

Upper Swan trainer Michael Munro produced veteran pacer Saleahs Comand in fine fettle for a first-up victory in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Saleahs Comand, making his first appearance for five months and favourite at $2.70, was rated perfectly in front by Mark Reed, and he fought on tenaciously to beat the $2.75 second fancy Robbie Easton by a head at a 1.59 rate.

The WA-bred eight-year-old, a noted frontrunner, was having his 104TH start and now has earned $144,378 from 15 wins, 17 seconds and seven thirds.

Five-year-old Robbie Easton extended his losing sequence to 16 after racing without cover throughout and fighting on manfully. That was his fourth start after a spell and should pay to follow.

Disco Under Fire, an $8 chance from barrier seven, caught the eye when he finished strongly from eighth at the bell to be third.

Mandy Joan just scrapes home

Smart mare Mandy Joan, a hot $1.30 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m TABtouch Better Your Bet Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, gave her supporters some anxious moments over the final stages before she held on grimly to win by a nose from $7 chance Euphoric Moment.

She set a moderate pace for the first 1200m before final quarters of 28sec. and 29sec. and was fully extended by Euphoric Moment, who challenged hard in the final stages and just failed to gain the verdict.

“She got the cash, but she can go better,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “She won but I was still a bit disappointed with her run. Maybe I might have knocked the top off her a little bit, more than I expected, two weeks ago (when she started out wide at barrier seven, raced wide for the first 500m before getting to the front and then fading to finish eighth in a field of nine).”I think she is a better horse than she showed tonight.”

Mandy Joan, a five-year-old by Art Major, was bred and is owned by Steve Johnson, and she has earned $147,228 from 12 wins and 11 placings from 45 starts.

She is the sixth foal and the fourth winner out of the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey, who also produced Isaiah Artois (26 starts for nine wins, 16 placings and $117,350) and Dibaba, who has raced 147 times for 16 wins, 20 placings and $94,744. Dibaba has raced 14 times in New South Wales this year for 11 wins and two placings, as well as having two starts at Brisbane’s Albion Park for a third and an eighth placing.

Endless Journey’s dam Hold Tight produced Fake Embrace, who was retired with a record of 178 starts for 37 wins, 40 placings and $240,249. Fake Embrace had 26 starts in Western Australia for 11 wins and three placings before continuing his career in America. His major success was in the group 1 WA Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings in March 2004.

Drama surrounds Carrera Mach’s victory

There was considerable drama and a tinge of good fortune before $1.40 favourite Carrera Mach was guided by star reinsman Chris Voak to victory in the 2130m Intersport Slater Gartrell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It was generally anticipated that The Ross Olivieri-trained Carrera Mach would take advantage of the No. 1 barrier and would be able to score a comfortable victory.

But Emily Suvaljko, driving the Brad Lynn-trained Joey James, a $9.50 chance from out wide at barrier No. 8, had different ideas.

Carrera Mach led for the first 130m before Joey James charged to the front, leaving Carrera Mach trailing the frontrunner, but in a tight pocket with Baylan Jett in the breeze and Machs Gold in the one-out, one-back position.

Carrera Mach’s prospects appeared forlorn as the field raced down the back straight for the final time, with the favourite still under lock and key.

It was then that Voak pulled a masterstroke. “I pulled the leader’s bluff at the 450m,” Voak explained. Voak eased back in a move that indicated that Carrera Mach was about to ease off the pegs.

“I checked him back and it looked as though we were going to go wide — and the leader kicked away— and I took my time and stayed on the pegs,” Voak said. “Eventually the breeze horse dropped back, and I was able to get out. It was a good win, taken with a bit of luck.”

Carrera Mach, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old, ended a losing sequence of 14 and improved his record to 75 starts for 12 wins, 25 placings and stakes of $142,053.

Alta Intrigue back on song

Injury-plagued New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Alta Intrigue has bounced back to top form after recovering from three bowed tendons, injuries that threatened to end his career.

He ended a losing sequence of 12 which included five seconds from his previous eight starts when finished strongly to win the 2130m Etch Coatings Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The Mach Three gelding rated 1.56.9 and gave his patient trainer Gary Hall snr plenty of hope that he will continue to improve and develop into a candidate for some feature events in the summer months.

Alta Intrigue, the $1.60 favourite from the No. 5 barrier, was beaten for early speed by $17 chance Just Makemine Diamonds. Gary Hall jnr then made a calculated decision to abandon the breeze position, and 500m after the start he manoeuvred Alta Intrigue to the pegs to follow Just Makemine Diamonds.

Alta Intrigue got into the clear approaching the home turn and he finished strongly to take the lead with 50m to travel and went on to win by 4m from Just Makemine Diamonds.

The gelding has now earned $168,918 from nine wins, 18 seconds and five thirds from 52 starts. His 26 WA starts have produced five wins, eight seconds and two thirds. He also raced 26 times in New Zealand for four wins and 13 placings.

He showed abundant promise as a two and three-year-old. At his fifth start he finished fourth behind More The Better in the group 1 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park in March 2016. Twelve months later he finished third to Raukapuka Ruler and Ultimate Machete in the group 1 Northern Derby at Alexandra Park.

Our Star Billing on the way up

Promising three-year-old filly Our Star Billing continues to improve, and she has obviously inherited much of her ability from her sire Follow The Stars, a son of Art Major who was the 2014 Australian and New Zealand two-year-old of the year and was retired after 29 starts produced 19 wins seven seconds, two thirds and $707,237 in stakes.

She is out of the Mach Three mare Adaptability, who failed to win a race from 24 starts and managed just three placings on WA country tracks.

However, a more in-depth study of her pedigree reveals that Our Star Billing is bred to be a good winner. Her maternal great granddam Chaangerr produced ten winners, including Changeover (66 starts for 29 wins, 16 placings and $2,321,676), Change Gear (138 starts for 22 wins, 29 placings and $190,884) and Change Stride (172 starts for 30 wins, 48 placings and $409,733).

Change Stride raced 41 times in WA for 15 wins and seven placings before continuing his career in America. Chaangerr’s elder half-brother Chokin was a champion pacer, who was retired with earnings of $1,801,685 from 34 wins and 11 placings from 59 starts.

Our Star Billing was the $1.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 21309m Allwood Stud Farm Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and was driven with great confidence by Byford trainer Donald Harper.

Our Star Billing was untroubled to set the pace and win by almost a length from stablemate Star For Me, rating 1.59.9. This improved her record to 25 starts for four wins, six placings and $50,589 in stakes. She has also amassed many tens of thousands of dollars in Westbred bonuses.

“It worked out good,” said Harper. “It looked her race on paper, and there was no point going quicker than we had to in the early stages (40.2sec. lead time and 32.1sec. for the opening quarter of the final mile).

“There was no point in burning time when you don’t have to. You have to think about the longevity of the horse as well. She got to the line really strongly (with final sections of 28.4sec. and 27.4sec.). She pulled up good and her heart rate was good.

“Our Star Billing will continue to race, and she is not just a frontrunner. She can come from behind and is capable of peeling off a 55sec. quarter.

“She has come a really long way from her first preparation to her second preparation, and to this current preparation. You can see the improvement in her every time he races.”