Quality lead up racing for WA Pacing Cup

The Group 1 WA Pacing Cup is just four short weeks away and its starting to heat up, with WA’s top harness racing contenders all vying for their chance at the $450,000 purse.

Tonight’s $100,000 James Brennan Memorial is the next golden ticket opportunity, with the winner getting an automatic start in the prestigious feature, and just two weeks later, they’ll go to battle again with the $100,000 JP Stratton the final chance for some runners to gain access into the Cup.

Andy and Kate Gath took home plenty of prizemoney when they hit WA shores with Catch A Wave back in April this year, with the star pacer claiming both the $1.25million Nullarbor and then the Fremantle Cup just a week later, but trouble catching a plane could stop the eastern raider from invading our border for the WA Pacing Cup.

Gath is currently awaiting news of a flight to Perth, but with the Cup fast approaching, the impressive $450,000 in stakes could remain on WA soil.

Gary Hall Snr was bullish in his comments this week, stating that Mister Smartee NZ should be favourite for the WA Pacing Cup and that he believes he will win it, despite the gelding currently ranked in 14th position.

Mister Smartee NZ has been nothing but impressive since joining the astute stables of Gary Hall Snr and beaten just once in his 11 starts here in WA, this Friday night could be his biggest test to date, with the lightly raced gelding racing against the best in WA.

“He doesn’t have the reputation yet, but I think he’s as good as Never Ending.” Hall Snr said.

Lavra Joe has drawn barrier 12 in the James Brennan Memorial and like many others in the race, is making his return after five months away from the track.

Finishing sixth in the Narrogin Cup back in May, Kyle Harper is back on this start, with the westbred six-year-old currently sitting seventh in the rankings.

Speaking with trainer Ray Jones, Lavra Joe is going into tonight’s race slightly under done and will need the hit out tonight.

“He’s carrying a little bit too much weight,

“He’s only going to be driven soft tonight, and its just a good opportunity to have a hit around without knocking him around too much.”

Pinny Tiger’s Pacing Cup campaign is on track and Coolup trainer Michael Brennan couldn’t be more impressed with the horse.

“The horse is going really well, probably as good as I’ve ever had him, but we’re pretty much in the hands of the gods from that draw.” Michael Brennan said

Racing WA’s Head of Harness Racing Cam Brown is excited about this years WA Pacing Cup, with the lead in races already looking to be of top quality with WA’s FFA horses all starting to make their return, with both James Brennan Memorial and JP Stratton almost a preview of what’s to come.

The 2024 WA Pacing Cup Rankings: 2024 WA Pacing Cup Rankings – 8th October.pdf (harness.org.au)

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA