Gloucester Park review

Finvarra has Golden Nugget in his sights

Exciting young pacer Finvarra remained unbeaten as a three-year-old and emerged as a major player in harness racing’s rich Golden Nugget early next year when he scored a brilliant victory in the $100,000 Westbred Classic for colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The inexperienced colt has overcome nagging hoof problems and was a $5 chance at his sixth start in a race when champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr was seen at his best in guiding him to victory over fast-finishing $5.50 chance Seeryanfly and Talks Up A Storm ($12).

Finvarra began from barrier No. 6 and Hall did not push him at the start but was able to skillfully ease him into sixth position, one-out and two-back, while Overjoyed took the lead soon after the start and led from the $2.90 favourite Otis, who was left in the breeze after racing three wide for the first 300m.

Otis eventually got to a narrow lead 250m from home but faded in the home straight to finish seventh. Finvarra was seventh at the 400m, with Hall following the three-wide run of Talks Up A Storm.

Finvarra got to the front with 110m to travel and won by a metre from Seeryanfly, who sprinted home fast after enjoying the sit behind the pacemaker Overjoyed. Seeryanfly was driven perfectly by Maddison Brown, who won this event with Longreach Bay last year.

“I wanted to give Finvarra a soft run, and we just got the perfect run,” said Hall. “There was a good enough tempo up front, and everything worked out for him. He is really fast at home and he has the potential to develop into a Golden Nugget hope.”

Champion trainer Gary Hall snr said that he intended to give Finvarra a few more starts before giving the colt a break and then preparing him for the Golden Nugget.

“I think he is capable of going right to the top,” he declared.

“He has had a lot of problems, coffin bone problems and has been lame in the front feet for a long time. But with the help of my farriers Larry and Chris Boag we have been able to get on top of the problems. Finvarra races with aluminium plates with a bar across the middle to stop the pressure on his coffin bones.”

Finvarra is by American Ideal and is out of Hall’s former outstanding filly Nuala, who won at her only start in New Zealand and broke down after her 19 starts had produced 14 wins, two placings and stakes of $132,449. Her wins included the Group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic in February 2015 and the Group 3 Preux Chevalier final in October that year.

“Nuala was a star and was put to stud at an early age after breaking down,” said Hall. “She is in foal again to American Ideal.”

Finvarra was bred by her owners Beth Richardson, Gary Ralston, Glen Moore, Max Grynberg, Bill Paterson and Janeet Kollankandy, and he now has earned $78,226 from four wins and one third placing.

Finvarra is well named after King Finvarra, a benevolent figure in Irish folklore who ensures good harvests, is a master of chess and strong horses, and gives great riches to those who assist him.

Shockwave resumes in style

Shockwave reappeared after a seven-month absence in magnificent fashion at Gloucester Park on Friday night with a devastating victory in the $25,000 Winter Cup over 2536m.

In what was billed as a match race between Shockwave, having his first start as a five-year-old, and champion eight-year-old Chicago Bull, a winner of 61 races and $2,330,733 in prizemoney, developed into a one-act affair.

The Ryan Bell-trained Shockwave was second fancy at $2.40, with Chicago Bull the $2.35 favourite, with Michael Grantham, driving Shockwave for the first time as the replacement for the suspended Aiden de Campo, stealing the show by driving him to a runaway all-the-way win, beating $17 chance Perfect Major by just over seven lengths at a 1.55.5 rate.

Chicago Bull, who had defeated Shockwave in five consecutive starts late last year, began from barrier six and raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, for the first 1200m before Gary Hall jnr sent him forward three wide to move to the breeze with 1100m to travel.

Chicago Bull was third 400m from home before wilting to finish eighth, and his trainer Gary Hall snr said that he would now send the ageing champion for a spell after five starts without a win in his current campaign.

Star reinsman Gary Hall jnr was disappointed with Chicago Bull’s performance, saying: “He’s definitely not right and has a few niggles.”

Shockwave’s win gave Gloucester Park Harness Racing’s vice-president Kevin Jeavons a treble in consecutive events, following the wins of Blue Blazer and Rakasinc. Jeavons went close to earning a fourth win on the night when the Bell-trained Speedwagon finished second to Hope in an 1823m event for two-year-olds at Narrogin.

Plans to send Shockwave to Melbourne to contest the rich Victoria Cup at Melton in October are in the melting pot. “Ryan is keen to look at it, and we will keep our options open,” said Jeavons. “It’s possible, but with Covid it could be pretty difficult.

“Shockwave’s win was pretty impressive. I would’ve been happy to win by a length. But he is very fresh and keen. He didn’t pull that hard but was keen to go.”

Young’s bold move pays dividends

The decision by Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young to send Wonderful To Fly forward soon after the start of the $25,000 Westsired Pace for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night paid handsome dividends when she scored an impressive victory.

Wonderful To Fly, the second fancy at $2.20 from the outside of the back line, settled down in seventh position before Young decided to make his forward thrust 400m after the start and move into the breeze outside the pacemaker and $2.15 favourite Extraordinary Mary.

Wonderful To Fly, who is prone to overracing, settled quite well in the breeze before she dashed to the front 550m from home and went on to win by a length from $34 chance Bonstar.

“She got a bit keen, so I let her stride forward,” said Young. “Going to the breeze left her a bit susceptible, but I still thought she could sit outside Extraordinary Mary and beat her.”

His judgment proved spot on, and Extraordinary Mary disappointed in fading to finish seventh.

“Wonderful To Fly will now run in the $100,000 Westbred Classic next Friday night,” said Young, who races the filly in partnership with his daughter Alison and several stable clients.

Wonderful To Fly is by Fly Like An Eagle and is out of the unraced Allamerican Ingot mare Not Now Delilah, whose dam Queen Delilah raced 66 times for ten wins, 24 placings and $66,421 in prizemoney. Queen Delilah produced six winners, including Jumbo Operator, who earned $313,175 from 24 wins and nine placings from 43 starts.

Double Up is on the way up

New Zealand-bred four-year-old Double Up gave further proof that he will develop into a strong performer in better company when he scored an easy victory in the 2130m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

After racing without cover for the first 650m, Double Up, the $1.30 favourite, gave a splendid front-running performance to win by one and a half lengths from the $8.50 second fancy Alta Intrigue, who finished solidly from eighth at the bell. The winner was not fully extended and rated 1.56.5.

Double Up, prepared by star trainers Greg and Skye Bond and handled by outstanding reinsman Ryan Warwick, won twice from 14 starts in New Zealand before impressing with six wins and a third placing from seven starts in Western Australia to take his career record to 21 starts for eight wins, six placings and $55,689.

The American Ideal gelding is the second foal out of Vegas Delight, who raced 36 times for five wins, 14 placings and $48,071 in stakes. Vegas Delight is a half-sister to Lightning Ridge, who earned $286,552 from 28 wins and 31 placings from 128 starts.

Follow The Music in tune for classic

Jemma Hayman and Montana Stark made a wise decision when they outlaid $30,000 to purchase Follow The Music at the 2000 APG Perth yearling sale.

The Follow The Stars colt notched his third win from 10 starts and took his earnings to $33,817 when he started favourite at $1.80 from the prized No. 1 barrier and was untroubled to set the pace and beat $16 chance Tomlous Jambo by two and a half lengths in the Westsired Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Follow The Music, prepared by Hayman’s husband Ross Olivieri, is now firmly in tune for a strong showing in the $100,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic next Friday night.

Champion reinsman Chris Lewis was able to give Follow The Music a very comfortable time in front with a slow lead time of 38.9sec. followed by modest opening quarters of 31.5sec. and 30.1sec. He then increased the tempo with final sections of 29sec. and 28.8sec. to record a mile rate of 1.59.6 over the 2130m journey.

Follow The Music is out of the unraced Rocknroll Hanover mare Music Row, whose dam the American-bred Lindsey Leigh produced former top-flight pacer Maffioso, who amassed $609,907 in prizemoney from 24 wins and ten placings from 41 starts.

The highlight of Maffioso’s career was in the $200,000 Chariots of Fire at Harold Park in July 2009 when he beat champion pacer Im Themightyquinn by a head.

Al Guerrero is back on track

A favourable barrier has enabled speedy four-year-old Al Guerrero to bounce back to form after he had failed to flatter and finished at the rear in his first three starts after a spell after starting from wide barriers.

Al Guerrero, trained at Pinjarra by Kyle Anderson, has proved to be virtually unbeatable when he has led in his races, and from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Download The TABtouch App Today Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night he gave a typical bold frontrunning display to win by three lengths from $20 chance Allwoods Rocknroll, who trailed him throughout.

This was Al Guerrero’s 11th victory from 39 starts to boost his earnings to $98,029. All his wins have been when he has set the pace.

Punters rallied to support Al Guerrero, who started a hot $1.10 favourite. He was rated perfectly by Kyle Harper, who was able to give the Alta Christiano stallion a very easy early time with a dawdling lead time of 39.4sec. and opening quarter of 31.4sec.

Al Guerrero had plenty in reserve as he sprinted over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 28.3sec.

First-time owners celebrate

There were jubilant scenes at Gloucester Park on Friday night when a band of first-time pacing owners cheered five-year-old Major Artist all the way down the home straight on the way to a convincing victory in the 2096m TABtouch.com.au Pace.

Shannon Suvaljko had jumped in front with Major Artist from the inside of the front line in the standing-start event and he dictated terms to a nicety in guiding the solidly-built gelding to a 2m win over the fast-finishing $26 outsider Disco Under Fire.

Major Artist went into the race with a losing sequence of 17 and was having his third start for his new trainer Luke Edwards, who bought the gelding for $22,000 from his breeder Terry Ferguson on behalf of ten first-time owners, including his mother, Lisa.

“They bought a couple of yearlings at the sales earlier this year, and after they had been broken in and I explained that they couldn’t race until next January I suggested that they get a horse who is up and going,” said Edwards.

“I picked out Major Artist because I liked his three-year-old campaign when he was racing against some good horses like Sangre Reale. I have always liked the horse from afar.”

Major Artist, by Art Major, is out of Art On The Beach, who finished third behind Theo Aviator in the group 2 Three-Year-Old Pearl in May 2019.

Rakasinc looks destined for America

Tough New Zealand-bred six-year-old Rakasinc appears likely to be sold to American interests who are keen to race him in the United States.

That was the news that came out after Emily Suvaljko had driven Rakasinc, the $1.40 favourite, to a powerful victory in the 2130m Better Your Club With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Thereugo began with typical alacrity from the No. 6 barrier to dash to the front 80m after the start. Lindsay Harper then was content to take the sit behind Rakasinc, who surged to the front after 300m and proceeded to set a solid pace with quarters of 30.2sec., 29.2sec., 28.4sec. and 28.7sec. He went on to win by just over a length from $3.40 second fancy Alta Blues, who finished solidly from fifth at the bell.

Part-owner Kevin Jeavons said that Rakasinc loved to get out in front and run but moving up to Free-For-All company was likely to prove a different kettle of fish.

“He can run all day, but he hasn’t got the high speed that is required to compete strongly in Free-For-Alls,” he said. “We have someone interested in buying him and he may be going to America.”

Rakasinc, who gave Ravenswood horseman Nathan Turvey the second leg of his first Friday night training treble, raced 27 times in New South Wales before coming to Western Australia where he has blossomed under Turvey’s care and has had 41 starts in the State for 13 wins and ten placings to boost his career earnings to $140,357.

Turvey and Suvaljko are proving a highly successful combination, which was to the fore in the race before Rakasinc gave the 20-year-old Suvaljko her ninth win from 27 drives behind the son of Changeover when $10.30 chance Blue Blazer raced in ninth position before surging home, three wide, to get to the front 90m from the post and win easily from the $2.65 favourite Henwood Bay, who raced outside the pacemaker Baylan Jett before getting to the front at the 250m mark.

The win gave Suvaljko a record of two drives behind Blue Blazer for two wins, and it took the Auckland Reactor six-year-old gelding’s record to 80 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and $106,294 in stakes.

Blue Blazer won twice in New Zealand and six times in New South Wales, and his 38 starts ion WA have produced a further five victories.

Hall stars with Group 1 double

Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr took his record in Group 1 feature events to around the 60 mark when he was at his brilliant best in the sulky at Gloucester Park on Friday night, winning two $100,000 classic events in the space of 25 minutes.

He completed this notable performance by using all his skill to guide $7.10 chance Bettor Beach Belle to a fighting half-length victory over the $1.55 favourite Black Jack Baby in the 2130m Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies to give owner Mildred Malazarte her biggest success in harness racing.

This was no mean feat for Hall and trainer Nathan Turvey, who had a battle to get Bettor Beach Belle ready for the big assignment after he had to scratch the filly from an important lead-up event a fortnight earlier when she had filling in her offside front leg.

“So, it hasn’t been plain sailing,” said Turvey.

Bettor Beach Belle started from the No. 4 barrier and Hall was able to urge her to the front after 2150m. “She never felt all that good in front, but she just kept finding,” said Hall. “It was different to when I drove her two starts ago when she led and won easily. She then felt terrific.”

Better Beach Belle, who was having only her third start for Turvey, now has earned $132,377 from six wins and nine placings from 25 starts.

If she takes no ill-effects from Friday night’s performance Better Beach Belle will be one of the main fancies in the $100,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies next Friday night.

In the race before Bettor Beach Belle’s victory Hall was patience personified as he guided the inexperienced Finvarra to victory in the Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Black Jack Baby was the unlucky runner in the classic for fillies. She started from barrier two on the back line in the field of twelve and Chris Voak quicky got her into an ideal position, one-out and one-back, in fourth spot.

But Black Jack Baby was badly hampered for room in the last lap when hemmed in by three-wide runners Benesari Lane and Our Star Billing. Finally, Voak was able to reef Black Jack Baby out of the tight pocket about 380m from home. Black Jack Baby went five wide approaching the home turn and charged home down the outside to finish an eye-catching half length behind the winner.

By Ken Casellas for RWWA