Gloucester Park review

Rare trifecta to de Campo

Capel trainer Aiden de Campo went to the APG yearling sale in Perth last year with the firm intention of purchasing a colt by American stallion Always B Miki, but he was bitterly disappointed when the youngster was withdrawn because of a badly swollen knee, an injury he received a couple of days earlier when he took fright during a violent storm and crashed into a fence.

His second selection was a colt by Sportswriter, who, like the Always B Miki colt, was bred by Mike Howie at his Copper Lodge establishment in Serpentine.

De Campo outlaid $30,000 to buy the Sportswriter colt — his only purchase from the 120 lots in the sales catalogue.

De Campo’s astute judgment was franked at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the abovementioned youngsters, now two-year-old geldings The Miki Taker and Floewriter finished first and second in the $100,000 Pearl Classic.

De Campo prepares both youngsters, and his third runner in the big race, Rock On Top, was a fast-finishing third, thus giving the 29-year-old horseman a perfect trifecta result to join champion trainers Gary Hall snr and Greg and Skye Bond as the trainer of a winning trifecta in a Group 1 feature event.

Hall landed Group 1 trifectas with Love of Glory, Possibly and Almagest in the 1989 Golden Slipper, and with Im Themightyquinn, Alzona and Dartmoor in the 2009 Fremantle Cup, while the Bonds celebrated a notable trifecta result with Ana Malak, Mighty Conqueror and Fizzing in the 2018 Gold Nugget championship.

This was the second trifecta result for de Campo as a trainer. He landed the trifecta with Artistic Scribe, Nowuseemerunin and Sport Sport Sport in the de Campo Memorial for two-year-old fillies at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on May 1 this year, an event run in honour of his late grandfather Ray de Campo.

“I went to the sales to buy The Miki Taker, but when I couldn’t, I bought Floewriter instead,” said de Campo, who opted to handle Rock On Top, a Rocknroll Dance gelding who was purchased for $18,000 at the 2020 yearling sale by Rob Tomlinson, Damian Keating and Peter Morris.

Dylan Egerton-Green was engaged to drive The Miki Taker, and Gary Hall jnr agreed to drive Floewriter, a $4.40 chance from barrier five who burst to the front after 150m. The Miki Taker, favourite at $3.70, began speedily from the No. 4 barrier and raced three wide for the first 400m before moving to the breeze.

Rock On Top ($6.50) started from the inside of the back line and de Campo eased him off the pegs and into the one-wide line after 350m. He was seventh with 400m to travel and was badly hampered for room until the final 110m before flashing home into third place.

The Miki Taker took the lead on the home turn and beat Floewriter by one and a half lengths to give Egerton-Green his seventh group 1 success as a reinsman.

“I didn’t have a set plan and I had to be content sitting in the breeze,” said Egerton-Green.

The Miki Taker suffered no ill effects from his damaged knee, and he is raced by the 58-year-old Howie as the managing owner of a syndicate of nine. Floewriter is raced by a syndicate of 14.

The Miki Taker is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Topless Beach Girl, who raced 21 times for one win, 10 placings and stakes of $21,810. Topless Beach Girl’s dam Copper Beach Girl was an excellent performer for Howie, her breeder and owner. She had 84 starts for 14 wins, 24 placings and $156,851. Howie also bred Copper Beach Girl’s dam Red Hot Copper and her granddam Copper Strike.

The Miki Taker now has earned $82,252 from three wins and two seconds from five starts, and his win on Friday night gave de Campo his third group 1 success as a trainer — after winning with Blue Chip Adda in the Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and gelding in June 2020 and with Floewriter in the Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings in February this year.

Mighty Conqueror resumes in style

Classy New Zealand-bred six-year-old Mighty Conqueror made a triumphant return to action after a spell when he raced without cover and scored a thrilling short half-head victory over his four-year-old stablemate Patronus Star in the 2130m Off The Track Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The American Ideal gelding was driven with great confidence by star reinsman Ryan Warwick, and he started at the remarkably good price of $9.30.

The polemarker Ideal Liner ($4.20) was the smartest to begin, and Warwick got Mighty Conqueror away fast from barrier six and quickly assumed the breeze position, with Cyclone Banner enjoying an ideal trail behind the leader, and Patronus Star in the favourable one-out-one-back position

Chicago Bull, favourite at $3.70, was not bustled early from his outside barrier (No. 8) and was ninth in the one-wide line at the bell before finishing strongly to be an eye-catching third.

Mighty Conqueror, making his first appearance for nine weeks, was produced a splendid fettle by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, with the gelding impressing with his smart 1.54.2 rate.

Warwick said that Mighty Conqueror had been given an easy trial at Byford the previous Sunday when he won at a modest 2.0.7 rate. “But he certainly had the fitness to perform strongly in tonight’s race after winning trials in 1.54.9 and 1.56.6 before last Sunday’s trial,” he explained.

“Racing in the breeze was no concern. His ability has never been an issue and his racing patterns can be adaptable. Naturally, the big Cups in the summer will be his main aim.”

There is no doubt that Mighty Conqueror will be a leading candidate for the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park’s summer carnival. He showed his class in winning the WA Pacing Cup in January 2020 and then finishing third behind Vultan Tin and Chicago Bull in the next WA Pacing Cup last December.

A winner at three of his four starts as a three-year-old in New Zealand in April and May 2018, Mighty Conqueror has had 35 starts in Western Australia for 16 wins and nine placings. He has already amassed $595,161 from his 19 wins and nine placings from 39 starts.

Patronus Star, winner of the WA Derby in April of last year, also gives every indication of being a major player in the rich summer carnival feature events. He challenged Mighty Conqueror and got on terms with his stablemate with 300m to travel in Friday night’s event before going to the line locked together and failing by the barest possible margin.

Rakasinc just too strong

Six-year-old Rakasinc enjoyed a drop in class when he gave yet another exhibition of his toughness to score a splendid victory in the 2536m Go One Better With Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He just likes to run and he’s got a good engine,” declared trainer Nathan Turvey after Emily Suvaljko guided the New Zealand-bred gelding to a win by just under a length from Henwood Bay, rating a smart 1.55.2. The consistent Vespa ran on solidly from tenth and last at the bell to finish third.

Rakasinc, favourite at $1.40, started from barrier five and raced wide early before forging past Bee Seventeen and into the lead after 600m. He then dashed over the final four quarters in 29.2sec., 29.1sec., 28.9sec. and 28.4sec.

Turvey said that there was no point in restraining Racasinc, who was at his best when allowed to set a brisk pace. The victory ended a losing sequence of six and improved his record to 67 starts for 15 wins, 18 placings and $130,080 in prizemoney.

Rakasinc, the eighth and last foal out of Son Of Afella mare Rakarach, lacks the brilliance of his retired half-brother Rakarebel, a winner of 15 races in Western Australia for trainer Gary Hall snr, including eight victories at each of his first eight appearances in the State in 2011. Rakarebel raced 177 times for 25 wins, 50 placings and $349,607.

Princess Mila sparkles

Former Victorian mare Princess Mila relishes racing in Western Australia, and she took her record in the State to nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 19 starts when she outclassed her ten rivals in the 2536m Vili’s Pies Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

A winner at seven of her 33 Victorian starts, she has flourished under the care of champion trainer Gary Hall snr and she should prove hard to beat in the $50,000 Trotters Cup at the Christmas carnival — a standing-start event she won from Sunnys Little Jestic last New Year’s eve.

Princess Mila, having her third start after a spell, after two unplaced runs in May, was great value at $7 from out wide at barrier No. 8. She began brilliantly but failed in an early bid to wrest the lead from the polemarker and $1.70 favourite Son Of A Whiz.

However, Gary Hall jnr was able to angle the mare across to the inside to enjoy an ideal trip three back on the pegs. Hall bided his time before Princess Mila unwound a spirited burst to dash to the front with 370m to travel. She went on to defeat Son Of A Whiz by four lengths at a 2.0.7 rate.

“She went super,” said Hall jnr. “At her previous start (when seventh behind Malabar Spur) we maybe had her a bit too fresh. Her work at home was really good in the past week.

“We baled out of a challenge for the early lead and we were lucky to find a spot (on the pegs) because she couldn’t have won from the breeze, considering the times they ran.”

The win gave the Hall father-and-son combination the first leg of a double which they completed in the following event when the $1.40 favourite Nota Bene Denario was not extended in scoring an easy victory in the 2130m Catalano Truck And Equipment Pace.

Nota Bene Denario started from barrier four and Hall jnr sent the New Zealand-bred six-year-old to the front after 100m. After a casual first 1200m Nota Bene Denario dashed over the final 800m in 56.5sec. to win by more than a length from $8.50 chance Bettor Copagoodone, rating 1.57.9. This improve the gelding’s record to 59 starts for nine wins, 28 placings and stakes of $111,688.

Louie The Horse on the way up

Promising four-year-old Louie The Horse made the switch from standing-start racing to a mobile event without any problems when he coasted to a comfortable victory in the 1730m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He is progressing and is getting a bit more belief in himself,” said star reinsman Ryan Warwick after driving Louie The Horse, the $1.70 favourite, to a win by almost a length from $17 chance Fanci A Dance, rating 1.54.4. “The switch to mobile racing didn’t worry him.”

The New Zealand-bred Louie The Horse had excelled in stands, with his previous eight starts, all in stands, producing four wins, three seconds and one third placing.

Chris Voak got Fanci A Dance away brilliantly from the outside barrier (No. 9) but the eight-year-old was unable to wrest the lead from Louie The Horse. Fanci A Dance then worked hard in the breeze and fought on with great determination to finish second.

Louie The Horse is by American stallion Sweet Lou and is the second foal out of Bettorkeepthefaith, who managed one win from 12 starts in New Zealand.

Bettorkeepthefaith’s dam Running On Faith won the group 1 Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park in April 2007 before being retired with earnings of $326,890 from eight wins and 19 placings from 33 starts.

Black Jack Baby warms up for classic

Brilliant pacer Black Jack Baby warmed up for next Friday night’s $100,000 Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies in grand style with an effortless victory in the $25,000 Westsired Pace for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“It was a perfect lead-up for next Friday,” said star reinsman Chris Voak. “She should be cherry ripe. I didn’t release the plugs and she had plenty left.”

Breeder-owner-trainer Shane Quadrio agreed, saying: “Her trial win at Byford last Sunday and this run tonight should have topped her up nicely for next week. She has a lot of strings to her bow and has always got a chance with the weapons she’s got.”

Black Jack Baby was perfectly drawn at barrier one and was a hot $1.10 favourite in a field of six. Voak gave the filly an easy time in front in the early stages with a dawdling lead time of 39.9sec. followed by ambling opening quarters of 31.1sec. and 31sec. He then allowed Black Jack Baby to stretch out in the final circuit when she dashed over the final sections in 28.1sec. and 27.3sec.

She rated 1.58.9 and finished more than a length ahead of $5.50 second fancy Our Star Billing, with Cluster Star ($41) a further six lengths astern in third place.

Black Jack Baby, who was having her first start for nine weeks, has raced 22 times for 12 wins, four placings and stakes of $169,485.

Black Jack Baby’s win completed a double for Voak, who had won earlier in the night with the Ross Olivieri-trained Born To Boogie in the 2130m Retravision Pace.

The New Zealand-bred Born To Boogie was the $1.20 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier, and though she did not pace as fluently as she had in winning very easily at her first two starts in Western Australia, she was not extended in setting the pace and scoring by a half-length from $10 chance Triroyale Brigade, rating 1.56.7 after covering the final 800m in 56.6sec.

Arma Einstein back to his best

Arma Einstein bounced back to his best form and ended a losing sequence of 10 when he unwound a powerful burst to score a runaway victory in the $25,000 Westsired Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“His numerical form wasn’t super impressive, so I am pleased he has earned a start in the $100,000 Westbred Classic next Friday night,” said ace trainer-reinsman Colin Brown.

“The only recent run in which he went unders was two starts ago when I chased him out of the gate and put him in the breeze and he faded to finish last behind Lavra Joe. In all his other runs he has been making up good ground and running terrific sectionals when he has been running against the best three-year-olds.”

Arma Einstein, a $3.60 chance from out wide at barrier No. 7, was not bustled early, with Brown content to have him pacing easily in sixth position in the one-wide line while the $2.25 favourite Powerplay was setting a solid pace after beginning fast and taking the lead after 150m.

Brown bided his time until the final 300m when he set Arma Einstein alight and the Renaissance Man gelding charged to the front on the home turn and raced away to win by four lengths from $31 chance Per Ardua Ad Astra, rating 1.56.9.

This improved Arma Einstein’s record to 22 starts for four wins, seven placings and $46,006 in prizemoney.

Smooth Rye bred to shine

Talented reinsman Corey Peterson is rapidly developing into one of the State’s best young trainers, and he maintained his recent run of successes when he prepared and drove Smooth Rye to an impressive victory in the 2130m Specialised Equipment Funding Solutions Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Smooth Rye’s dashing victory as an $8 chance over the pacemaker Bettor Pack It ($4.20) and Star Of The Class ($101) was the four-year-old mare’s fourth win from five starts for the 20-year-old Peterson’s Mundijong stable.

The New South Wales-bred Smooth Rye, who has a fine record of 28 starts for eight wins, four placings and $40,336, is bred to be a star.

He is by former American star pacer Tintin In America (16 wins and $934,305 in prizemoney and the sire of champion Shartin, twice the US Harness Horse of the Year) and is out of the American-bred mare Rye Hanover, the dam of Blazin N Cullen, who earned $576,352 from 27 wins and 45 placings from 198 starts.

Rye Hanover’s dam Rich And Elegant, a winner of five races in Canada and America, is also the mother of former American pacer Rocknroll Hanover, who raced 26 times for 15 wins, ten placings and stakes of $3,069,093. Rich And Elegant also produced other outstanding performers in Rustler Hanover (31 starts for 14 wins, seven placings and $971,638), Richess Hanover (14 starts for nine wins, three placings and $557,537) and Red River Hanover (39 starts for 15 wins, four placings and $1,394,626).

Rocknroll Hanover is the sire of 731 American winners and more than 200 Australian winners, including King of Swing, Foreclosure and WA Pacing Cup winners Rocknroll Lincoln and Vampiro.

To Fast To Serious enhances his reputation

Talented and lightly-raced five-year-old To Fast To Serious further enhanced his reputation as one of the State’s rising stars when he scored a decisive victory over champion three-year-old Lavra Joe in the 2130m Direct Trades Supply Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The Ray Williams-trained gelding was second favourite at $3.50, with Lavra Joe dominating the betting and starting favourite at $1.65 despite the disadvantage of the outside barrier in the field of seven.

Aldo Cortopassi sent To Fast To Serious from barrier five to the lead 120m after the start before Chris Lewis urged Lavra Joe forward with a powerful three-wide burst. Cortopassi then surrendered the lead to Lavra Joe who stormed to the front 450m after the start.

After opening quarters of 30.4sec. and 29.6sec. Lavra Joe dashed over the next 400m section in 28.7sec. with To Fast To Serious enjoying the run in the strong colt’s slipstream. Cortopassi eased To Fast To Serious off the pegs with 220m to travel and the gelding sprinted brilliantly to take the lead at the 40m mark before drawing away to beat Lavra Joe by just under a length, rating 1.54.5. Boom Time, who had raced four back on the pegs in the Indian file event, was a distant third.

The victory took To Fast To Serious’s record to 26 starts for 15 wins, four placings and stakes of $174,779.

“I wasn’t concerned when I didn’t lead,” said Cortopassi. “When you are driving good horses you have multiple options, and being a small field, I wasn’t too stressed, knowing that after surrendering the lead to Lavra Joe, that we could sit on him and have the last shot at him.

“I know how fast To Fast To Serious can be when he comes off a soft trip. He has always been like this since he was a two-year-old; he can always sit on speed and sprint home. He’s a Cups horse and will; be dangerous in those big races in the summer, especially when he has a good trip. All he needs is a race to be run upside down and he’ll be sailing home.

“After a winter campaign he will have a break before coming back to get ready for the big Cups.”

By Ken Casellas for Gloucester Park