Promising WA pacer faces another setback

Bettor Times has made it two in a row but unfortunately sustained another tendon injury during his run at Pinjarra on Monday putting a halt his career once again.

Resuming two weeks ago after a lengthy spell after injuring his tendon three times, the five-year-old will be heading back to the paddock for a spell, with the Hall camp hoping to bring the young horse back for another try.

“He’s only a small horse too and fairly light framed, so I have no idea why it hasn’t stood up,” Gary Hall Jnr said.

Trained by Gary Hall Snr and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, the $1.45 favourite ran down the leader in the final strides, to claim the first by a half-head in 1:58:8 over the 2185m trip. See Pinjarra results here.

“I don’t think he’s a star, but he definitely has toughness on his side.” He said.

From short-priced favourites to extremely long odds, $101 shot Sunpatra took out the two-year-old maiden pace over the 2185m.

Winning by 6.1m, The David Simmonds trained youngster settled in the one-out-one-back position and with around 700m to go, the horse in front of him ducked down to the pegs, giving him a clear run to the top, with Shannon Suvaljko steering the gelding home to claim race two on the card in 2:00:4. The win gave Suvaljko the first leg of his winning double on the card.

Having just her second start in a race, Westbred three-year-old Call Me Heaven took out the open maiden in 2:00:9 over the 2185m journey for trainer Barry Howlett and driver Chris Voak. After restraining after the start, she ended up in the one-one position and with 800m to go, Voak made his move three wide, getting to the lead with 500m to go, going on to win by 4.6m.

Three-year-old filly Petrified took out the fourth on the card to record her first career victory for trainer Peter Tilbrook and driver Emily Suvaljko. Placing just three times in her last 24 starts, the $4 favourite in what appeared to be a very open betting field managed to find the front early from barrier three, recording a mile rate of 1:59:2 over the 1684m sprint.

The maidens continued, with Roll Em saluting at just start number two, continuing a great run for trainer Sonia Zucchiatti, bringing up her third training win in just three days. Driven by daughter Deni Roberts, the race favourite settled around midfield, with Roberts patiently awaiting her run, taking off on the turn to be four wide, going on to win by a narrow margin in 1:58:6 over the 1684m.

After being three-wide early, Diamond Daze did plenty of work to get to the front, but it didn’t seem to worry the $2.10 favourite, with the three-year-old filly getting the win for trainer Leeann Lee and driver Mitchell Miller. After recording her first win just four starts before, the filly came off a last start fourth in town and clearly appreciated the step down in company, taking out race six in 1:59:6 over the 2185m by 3.2m.

Cowboys N Bandits NZ continued his winning form, with the recently imported gelding making it three in a row since entering WA earlier this year. Recording his fourth career victory, the short-priced favourite was just too good for his rivals, getting the win for trainer Michael Brennan and giving driver Gary Hall Jnr a double on the card.

Not even a black cat to stop Michael Young Pacing, with the stable taking out race eight with Nearis Green NZ. Starting of the front line in the stand, Shannon Suvaljko stepped the seven-year-old almost blemish free, but after mustering quickly, found themselves at the front of the field and that’s where they stayed, taking out the 2116m standing start by 18m in 2:03:3.

Goodtime Pe Rabbit was on his best behaviour in the mobile trotters’ race, with the seven-year-old returning to the winners’ circle for Tony Svilicich and Chris Lewis. In a mile rate of 2:04:2 over the 2185m trip, the seasoned square-gaiter settled three back on the pegs throughout, making his run with 500m to go, he managed to run down the leaders, winning comfortably by 5.2m in the last on the card.

By Ashleigh Paikos for RWWA