Minstrel rules again and another WA Cup beckons

Its fair to say that most of the top features in this last half of the season have been in the Eastern states, but last night it was Perth’s premier track Gloucester Park that turned in one of the finest open class races with the staging of the Group 2 $100,000 James Brennan Cup for open class pacers.

The West’s iron pacer Minstrel who started a warm favourite was pitted against the State’s best mare Penny Black as well as his great rival Magnificent Storm. Throw in the proven classic winner Mister Smartee and up and comers Waverider and Gee Heza Sport and we would be assured of one great race. And how it turned out to be just that with the mighty Minstrel (Rocknroll Hanover) asserting his superiority with a tough and courageous performance to land the winning honours.

To the surprise of many Magnificent Storm showing dazzling speed was able to just head off Minstrel and Penny Black sticking to the inside from the pole draw. Deni Roberts wasn’t going to get caught behind the leader and she came off the fence to race outside the leader.

Minstrel’s stablemate Gee Heza Sport had a one out and one back with Mister Smartee weaving through the pack early to secure the one out two back and Waverider three back on the rails. It didn’t seem to concern Minstrel to race outside the leader, in fact at various stages he was eye balling Magnificent Storm. Gee Heza Storm pulled out three wide but at the business end of the race on turning for home Minstrel moved into another gear and he showed all his class winning by three metres from Mister Smartee who finished well for second in front of Gee Heza Sport.

MINSTREL NOV 28 REPLAY

Minstrel returned 1.54.7 for the 2536 metre journey including his last two quarters in 27.5 and 28.1 seconds.

Despite the wonderful effort of Minstrel there were a number of hard luck stories. Penny Black was looking for a run everywhere down the home straight and Waverider was also running into dead ends. An illustration of how competitive the race turned out to be was the fact that Mighty Ronaldo who only beat two home was hard held five back on the rails trying to obtain a clear run.

Deni Roberts was full of praise for Minstel.

I had no hesitation getting away from the inside and I thought he would get away with it. I’d mapped out my lead times and didn’t want any slower than 1.07. He’s such a strong horse and he can run that trip from start to stop. And I thought I could get Storm on toughness, he’s got speed in at the start. He’s just the bravest horse. When he’s all out he finds something else where other horses just don’t have. He’s such a special horse to me.

On the strength of that winning performance Minstrel is bound to start a short priced favourite and repeat his success of last year in this year’s Premier event the $450,000 Group 1 Western Australian Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park on 12 December.

Trained by Greg and Skye Bond Minstrel has a truly formidable record with 30 wins and 26 placings from 78 starts and over $1.765 million in stake money.

Minstrel has that special quality that you see with horses like Leap to Fame, Swayzee and of late Kingman with that ability to relentlessly grind his rivals into the ground even after doing a ton of work.

If he draws the front row then its hard to see him getting beaten. Perhaps the only prospect is for something to be sitting right on his back with an easier run and then outsprint him at the finish. That could well turn out to be a pacer like Mister Smartee but again it would depend on the draw and how the run turns out.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink