Gloucester Park review

Cortopassi picks the right option

Astute trainer Ray Williams heaped praise on talented reinsman Aldo Cortopassi after he had driven rising superstar pacer Magnificent Storm to a superb victory in the group 3 TABtouch York Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon.

Williams and several part-owners of the New Zealand-bred four-year-old had lengthy discussions during the week as they contemplated the tactics Cortopassi should employ with the gelding, who had drawn awkwardly at barrier seven, with his chief rival Minstrel more favourably drawn at barrier No. 3 and appearing certain to be the leader.

“There were heaps of plans, and originally I thought maybe we should go back and get them at the end,” said Williams. “And then I said to myself that Aldo knows the horse, and when he suggested that he would prefer to go forward at the start, we agreed he should have the final say.

“And then with the scratching of Son Of A Tiger, it made it a bit easier for Magnificent Storm to go forward at the start.”

Cortopassi said: “I gave the guys a few options, regarding what we could do and what we couldn’t do. My opinion was that we should gun the gate and then be able to sit on the outside of Minstrel. I reckoned we couldn’t afford to come off the gate half-heartedly and look for a spot and give Minstrel lengths on us.

“I wanted to drive him positively, knowing that he had had three starts after a spell and that Ray would have him around a hundred per cent. I thought that if I could be parked outside of Minstrel I would be sharper than him, faster with a sheer turn of foot. And that’s the way it worked out.

“Coming off the back, I knew he had him. That was his 18th start in a race and he is still learning what the caper is all about. Some two-year-olds have had more starts. We play down about how good he is, and we know how good he is.”

Magnificent Storm is generally regarded as a speed horse. But Williams scoffed at that perception, saying: “That’s ridiculous because he is tough. He’s got everything you want in a horse. He’s exciting; he can sprint and he can stay, and he’s got gate speed as well. We hadn’t used his gate speed for a while, until today.

“He will have another couple of runs before going for a spell. And then we will get him ready for the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup in the summer.”

Williams said that Magnificent Storm would contest the $50,000 James Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park next Saturday night. “And if he pulls up well after that race he will start in the $50,000 Navy Cup the following Friday,” said Williams.

Minstrel, prepared by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $1.60 favourite, with Magnificent Storm at $2.20 ($2.90 on the fixed market), and Ryan Warwick sent Minstrel past the polemarker Ideal Liner and into the lead after 80m. Magnificent Storm immediately moved into the breeze alongside Minstrel, who after a 36.7sec. lead time was able to relax with opening quarters of 30.1sec. and 29.1sec.

The third quarter whizzed by in 27.7sec., but Minstrel was unable to shake off Magnificent Storm, who surged to the front 250m from home and dashed away to beat his rival by 7m at a 1.55 rate over the 2130m journey.

This improved Magnificent Storm’s record to 18 starts for 16 wins, one second and one ninth (on debut at his only New Zealand appearance) for earnings of $257,384. For Minstrel, it ended a winning streak of five.

Midnight Assassin gets Warwick’s nod

Star reinsman Ryan Warwick admits that he enjoys driving trotters — especially the better ones — and he declared that Midnight Assassin is the best square gaiter he has handled after guiding the New Zealand-bred five-year-old to an effortless victory in the $18,000 Better Your Industry With TABtouch Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon.

Midnight Assassin, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has won in fine style at his first three starts in Western Australia after racing 38 times in New Zealand for five wins (all in stands) and eight placings.

“I drove Backa Beyond for trainer Geoff Sharkey in 2009 and he was probably the best square gaiter I had driven until this fella came along,” Warwick said.

“The good ones trot differently; they’re more fluent, and Midnight Assassin is the best trotter I’ve driven.”

Warwick added that Midnight Assassin had the potential to be a major player in the next WA Trotters Cup, a feature event that he and the Bonds have yet to win. The closest Warwick has gone in the Trotters Cup was his third placing with Rocka Billy behind Risk And Reward in January 2007.

Midnight Assassin was the $1.60 favourite from the front line in the field of five in Friday’s 2096m standing-start trot, and he gave his supporters a few palpitations when he galloped for a couple of strides at the start.

But he quickly got into a trot and Warwick sent him to the front after 420m. It was a single file procession from then on, with Midnight Assassin winning by just under five lengths from The Male Model ($26), rating 2.4.4 after final quarters of 29.8sec. and 28.5sec.

“He seemed to get one or two trots in and then went back off stride and galloped a bit,” Warwick said. “He is pretty bomb proof at home, so I think it’s my technique at the start and I reckon I’ll have to work on that and see how we go.”

Midnight Assassin, who arrived in WA seven weeks ago, is by the Canadian stallion Majestic Son and is out of Feathers First, who managed one win (in a stand at Ashburton in February 2009) and 14 placings in a 58-start career. He is a half-brother to Sundons Flyer, who had 138 starts for 14 wins, 33 placings and $149,656 in prizemoney.

Spell for Wonderful To Fly

Talented two-year-old filly Wonderful To Fly notched her ninth win from 16 starts when she outclassed her rivals in the 2130m Thank You Volunteers Of York Racing Inc. Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday morning.

“I decided on the way to Gloucester Park this morning that I would give her a spell after today’s race,” said trainer-reinsman Shane Young. “She will have about six weeks off and then I’ll bring her back and prepare her for the sales races for three-year-old fillies in February.

“She is a good filly; her manners are good, and she has good gate speed. Today she showed what she is capable of doing, and she did it all by herself.”

Wonderful To Fly, the $1.30 favourite, began speedily from the No. 5 barrier and dashed straight to the front. She gave her rivals very little chance by sprinting over the final quarters in 28.6sec. and 28.4sec. and she won by just over 16 metres from $6.50 chance Paul Edward, a promising colt who finished strongly from sixth the bell.

Wall Street Girl, the second fancy at $5, galloped badly at the start and was distanced.

Wonderful To Fly has earned $159,471 from her nine wins and three placings from 16 starts.

My Sweet Deal bounces back

Smart four-year-old mare My Sweet Deal bounced back to her best form and ended a losing sequence of nine when she rattled home out wide from sixth at the bell to get up in the final stride to beat Stormyskyes and Blissfullabbey in the 2130m Thank You Members Of York Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon.

Her victory at $14 made amends for her unlucky eighth behind Whatabro the previous Friday when she raced wide in the final circuit and was badly hampered in the final stages when she locked wheels with another runner.

The New Zealand-bred My Sweet Deal is owned and trained in Collie by 72-year-old David Hunter. All her 41 starts have been in Western Australia for 12 wins, 11 placings and $92,337 in prizemoney.

Polemarker Blissfullabbey ($3.60) set the pace, and Kyle Harper was content to give My Sweet Deal a comfortable trip in the one-out, two-back position before relying on her ability to produce a powerful finishing burst.

Alta Cinderella, the $1.70 favourite, finished seventh after starting from the outside barrier in the filed of eight. She was fractious in the score-up and she settled at the rear before Gary Hall jnr sent her forward after 750m to move to the breeze position where she was inclined to overrace. She faded over the final 250m.

My Sweet Dream gave Harper the first of three winners on Friday. He took off after My Sweet Deal’s win for the 200km trip to Narrogin where he drove the first two winners on the program, scoring with the Bob Mellsop-trained Allwood Wizard and Military Star. For good measure Harper had another five drives at Narrogin for four seconds and a third placing.

Six in a row for Double Up

Double Up, resuming after an 11-week absence, further illustrated his potential when he strolled to a comfortable victory in the 2536m Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary Joan and Graham Compson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon.

The $1.30 favourite started from barrier three and dashed to the front after 500m before setting a brisk pace and winning by almost a length from $11 chance Middlepage, rating 1.57.6 after final quarters of 29.1sec. and 28.2sec.

This extended Double Up’s winning sequence to six and took his WA record to eight starts for seven wins and a third placing.

“He is very fast and is going places,” said star reinsman Ryan Warwick. “He has a lot more depth now than before. I thought he was just fast, but now he’s a lot stronger as well.”

Doble Up is by American Ideal and is the second foal out of Vegas Delight, whose first foal Troubador has earned $60,465 from eight wins and five placings from 41 starts.

Powerplay gives Lewis a double

Versatile WA-bred three-year-old Powerplay completed a double for Hopeland owner-trainer Debra Lewis when her husband Chris drove the Rich And Spoilt gelding to an all-the-way victory in the Vili Milisits Memorial Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon.

Mrs Lewis was successful earlier in the program with Pierre Whitby, who was driven by Jocelyn Young.

“It all went to plan,” said Chris Lewis. “We got things comfortably with a lead time of 37.7sec. and an opening quarter of 31.2sec.”

Lewis had planned to set the pace with Powerplay after he had drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier. Last-start winner Otis, the second fancy at $3.70, raced in the breeze but was unable to overhaul the pacemaker, who sprinted over the final 800m in 56.4sec. and rated 1.57.1 over the 2130m journey.

Powerplay, who was purchased cheaply after he was passed in when he failed to reach his modest reserve price of $4000 at the 2019 Perth APG yearling sale, has earned $106,389 from 13 wins and seven placings from 39 starts.

Whatabro repeats the dose

Former South Australian pacer Whatabro provided plenty of excitement for his part-owner Ian Goddard when he set the pace and held on grimly to defeat Euphoria by a head in the 2536m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday morning.

It was a carbon copy performance by the Four Starzzz Shark four-year-old who was an all-the-way winner over 2130m the previous Friday night.

Whatabro, trained by Michael Brennan and driven by Michael Grantham, is owned by Goddard, Julie Billinger and Heather Howe, and Goddard and members of his family were delighted that they had made a special trip from Adelaide to Perth to watch the gelding race on Friday.

Whatabro now has earned $112,576 from 20 wins and 35 placings from 78 starts, and his success rate is nothing new for Goddard and Billinger, who were part owners of former champion South Australian pacer Come On Frank, who was retired in December 2016 with a marvellous record of 130 starts for 61 wins, 26 seconds and 12 thirds for stakes of $404,650.

Whatabro is a half-brother to Come On Frank, with both pacers being out of Whatacorka, a What’s Next mare who had a modest 28-start career of three wins and 11 placings for earnings of $7797.

Miracle Moose does it easily

Five-year-old Miracle Moose set the pace and won the 2130m Vili’s Gourmet Pies Pace by a neck from the gallant Fanci A Dance at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon, but he did it easily according to his driver Emily Suvaljko.

“He will let a horse get close to him, but he won’t let him get past him,” said Suvaljko. “He was first-up after a bit of a freshen-up, so I didn’t let him kick away and win by a mile.

“Around the corner I hadn’t turned the stick on Moose who was doing it quite comfortably. Then, half-way up the straight I got a bit worried when Fanci A Dance got near me. But as soon as I asked Moose (for an effort) he kicked away, and he did it really easily.”

Miracle Moose was the $1.30 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and he easily withstood a brief early challenge from $31 chance Jaspervellabeach and was able to amble through the lead time in 38.3sec. and the opening quarter in 31.5sec. After a 29.3sec. second 400m he dashed over the next quarters in 28.2sec. and 28.3sec. and rated 1.57.5.

Miracle Moose is trained by Nathan Turvey and after two wins from 14 starts in New Zealand, he has blossomed in WA, with his 29 starts in the state producing ten wins and 12 placings.

He is by Mach Three and has inherited a good deal of his ability from his dam, the Bettors Delight mare Minnie Moose, who raced 43 times fore six wins and 15 placings for stakes of $92,348.

A first for Emily Suvaljko

Outstanding young driver Emily Suvaljko chalked up a notable first at Gloucester Park on Friday morning when she landed her first winner for eight-time WA leading trainer Ross Olivieri.

The 20-year-old was at her patient best when she brought Boom Time, third favourite at $4.30, home with a spectacular jet-propelled burst from last on the home turn to snatch a last-stride victory, out five wide, by a head from the $3.20 second fancy Lord Rosco in the 2536m Happy 80th Birthday Joan Compson Pace.

Boom Time started from the outside barrier in the field of nine and was immediately restrained back to last while Gary Hall jnr shot Lord Rosco to the front from barrier four.

The early pace was modest, and the opening quarter of the final mile was run in a slow 31.4sec. before Hall lifted the tempo with Lord Rosco, who ran the final three 400m sections in 28.8sec., 29.2sec. and 29.1sec.

Boom Time was still last 250m from home and facing a seemingly impossible task when Suvaljko eased the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old three wide. He was still last on the home turn before he thundered home out wide.

“You rarely see a horse coming from last on the home turn to win,” said a surprised Olivieri. “I told Emily to drive Boom Time soft, and to sprint home and aim for fourth place, with anything better a bonus.

“And half-way through the race (after the slow early pace) I felt like running down to the fence and yelling to Emily to pull out and get going around them. But what would I know?

“I engaged Emily to drive Boom Time after Chris Voak decided to drive Major Stare and Chris Lewis was down to drive Our Sequel.”

Suvaljko said she was delighted to drive her first winner for Olivieri. “I think I had driven in only about four or five races for Mr Olivieri,” she said. “I wanted to get going around earlier because they were going that slowly. But Mr Olivieri said he wanted me to drive the horse, sitting up because he had had only one start after a freshen-up.

“So, I drove to instructions, and approaching the home turn I thought we could run a place. But once we straightened up the horse went like a rocket.”

Boom Time has had 44 starts for 13 wins, 13 placings and stakes of $123,943, and Olivieri, who is recovering from surgery to his right shoulder, said he was grateful for the efforts of his wife Jemma Hayman and the stable staff in looking after his team of pacers.

“I think Boom Time will be capable of holding his own against the top ones when he hits top form,” he said. “And based on today’s run, he’s not far off top form.”

Lewis strikes gold with Pierre Whitby

Unsung, unheralded and underrated; that’s Pierre Whitby, who is proving to be an iron horse and a wonderful bargain for Mark Lewis.

And sharing the path of gold with the West Australian-bred five-year-old is outstanding young driver Jocelyn Young, who has formed a remarkable association with the gelding, having driven him to 13 of his 14 victories.

Pierre Whitby, a fast-finishing winner at Gloucester Park last Tuesday, was a popular $1.90 favourite in the 2536m York Racing Inc Pace at harness racing’s headquarters on Friday morning.

He started out wide at barrier seven, and after racing three wide early, Young cleverly manoeuvred him into the favourable one-out, one-back position, with Bee Seventeen setting the pace from Regal Cheval in the breeze.

Pierre Whitby unleashed a spirited finishing burst to hit the front 50m from the post on the way to scoring by a half-length from Regal Cheval after a final quarter of 28sec.

The victory took Pierre Whitby’s record to 102 starts for 14 wins, 32 placings and stakes of $136,018. He was bred by Ed Dewar and Geoff Groenenberg, and Lewis, a keen judge of horseflesh, took a liking to him when he began his career as a three-year-old under the care of Dewar.

Pierre Whitby had six unplaced starts for Dewar in March and April 2019. “I called Ed and asked him about the horse, and was able to buy him for $7500,” said Lewis, whose mother Debra has trained Pierre Whitby for 96 starts for 14 wins, 32 placings and earnings of $134,678.

“Jocelyn was driving him before I bought him, so we have kept her on him.”

Pierre Whitby has inherited much of the staying ability of his dam Party Date, who was an excellent performer, earning $256,008 from 25 wins and 27 placings from 111 starts. She won the group 3 Ladyship Cup at Moonee Valley in May 2004 and revealed tremendous staying ability in starting off 60m and winning the 3309m Marathon Handicap at Gloucester Park in August 2004 and winning the 2005m Easter Cup over 2907 after starting from the 20m mark.

Ten of Pierre Whitby’s 14 wins have been over distances between 2536m and 2692m.

“I think that his wins over those distances is basically because of the way we drive him,” said Lewis. “When he was young before I bought him he was getting fired up early, so we decided to take him off the gate and racing him back in the field, which suited him.

“That’s his racing pattern. He is also very quick, but he hasn’t been used for his early pace for a long time. He thrives on racing and had 55 starts in last season’s extended racing season, and he has had 26 starts this season.”

Lewis, who assists his mother with the preparation of the stable’s pacers, celebrates his 40th birthday on Tuesday of next week. It is a little-known fact that he landed his first winner as a reinsman when he was successful with his fifth drive in a race, scoring with Kurt Hanover in a C2 2150m event at Pinjarra on January 5, 1998.

That remains his only winner from 50 drives in Western Australia, but he enjoyed considerable success as a trainer and reinsman in America between 1999 and 2014 when he had 2217 drives for 245 wins, 275 seconds and 247 thirds for $2,733,745 in prizemoney. He had 372 starters as a trainer for 61 wins.