Pacing relatives gives trainer a Gloucester Park double

Highly-promising New Zealand-bred pacer Ezana (Bettors Delight) enhanced his reputation and showed that he would be a leading harness racing contender for the rich classics for four-year-olds in the summer when he scored a superb victory in the $30,000 group 3 Simmonds Steel Im Themightyquinn Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night (June 17).

The gelding is bred to be a star. He is the first foal out of handy mare Hartofdixie, who won at six of her 25 starts for stakes of $50,299. Ezana has inherited much of the ability of Hartofdixie’s half-sister Our Splendour, the dam of rising WA superstar pacer Magnificent Storm and his full-brother Stamford, a talented four-year-old who finished powerfully from last in the middle stages to be an eye-catching fourth behind on Friday night.

Ezana, the $5 second favourite, was driven with extreme confidence by Emily Suvaljko, who settled the gelding down in ninth position in the one-wide line while Iamthefirecracker ($5.50) was setting the pace from Socrates ($6) in the breeze and the $4.20 favourite Markham Eye trailing the pacemaker.

Socrates led by a half-length, out four wide, in the early stages. But he was unable to cross to the front, with the fast lead time of 35.8sec.

Suvaljko sent Ezana forward, three wide, to be sixth at the bell, and soon after that the gelding surged into second place, outside Socrates, who had forged to the front 650m from home. Ezana finally burst to the front half way down in the home straight and drew away to win by two lengths from $21 chance Moonlite Drive, who followed Ezana over the final 1000m. Socrates fought on gamely to finish third.

Iamthefirecracker wilted to finish twelfth and last, with Markham Eyre finishing an unlucky ninth after being shuffled back behind the tiring pacemaker in the final circuit.

EZANA REPLAY

Ezana has now earned $71,330 from 10 wins and five placings from 22 starts. He won once from nine starts in New Zealand, and his record in WA for Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams is nine wins and two seconds from 13 starts. Suvaljko did not rest on her laurels. She travelled to Kellerberrin on Sunday and landed a treble, winning with Love To Fly, Lets Rock Tonight and Tux And Tails.

Magnificent Storm shines, first-up

Astute Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams gave further proof of his skill in producing pacers in wonderful condition after a spell when champion pacer Magnificent Storm (American Ideal) scored a thrilling victory in the $30,000 Etch Coatings Professional Powder Coating Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Magnificent Storm was the $2.60 favourite from the No. 2 barrier at his reappearance after a 19-week absence, and he revealed all of his brilliant natural speed and his outstanding competitive nature to score a head victory over the pacemaker While They Pray ($16).

Gary Hall jnr got While They Pray away to a flying start from barrier five in the field of six, and the six-year-old coasted through the opening quarters of the final mile in 31sec. and 29.7sec. before lifting the tempo with the final 400m sections being covered in 27.7sec. and 28.5sec.

The race was run in Indian file until Dylan Egerton-Green eased $3.10 chance To Fast To Serious away from last into the one-wide line with 1050m to travel. Magnificent Storm raced in third position on the pegs before Aiden de Campo moved him off the pegs to gain the trail behind To Fast To Serious 900m from home.

Magnificent Storm then raced alongside While They Pray in the final lap before he took a narrow lead on the home turn. The two horses then raced locked together all the way up the straight, with Magnificent Storm retaining his advantage to gain the verdict by a head.

MAGNIFICENT STORM REPLAY

This improved Magnificent Storm’s record to 27 starts for 20 wins and three placings for stakes of $385,542. It also gave Williams the first leg of a double. Thirty minutes later the Williams-trained Ezana scored an effortless victory in the Im Themightyquinn Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park