IM THEMIGHTYQUINN MAKES A DAZZLING START
Home-town hero Im Themightyquinn is on target to win his second successive interdominion pacing championship after his devastating obliteration of his rivals in the fourth heat of the V75 championship series at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A bumper crowd of about 8000 roared its approval as the WA-owned and trained superstar slipped into overdrive in the final circuit to destroy the opposition, winning by 5m from the pacemaker Has The Answers at a 1.55.8 rate over the 1700m sprint.
“The 2506m of the final will be more in our favour,” said jubilant reinsman Gary Hall jun. “And I wouldn’t swap my drive for any other horse.”
As expected, Has The Answers led easily from the prized No. 1 barrier, but Shannon Suvaljko surprised most pundits by setting a comparatively slow pace in the first circuit, wisely reserving the nine-year-old’s energy.
The first two 400m sections of the final mile went by in leisurely times of 30.4sec. and 30.8sec. before Suvaljko went for broke and increased the lead by almost three lengths in the back straight. But Im Themightyquinn, enjoying a perfect passage, one-out and one-back, was like a cobra, poised to strike.
Hall set Im Themightyquinn alight half-way down the back straight and he unleashed a dazzling finishing burst to charge to the front on the home turn and then race away from his rivals, covering the final two 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 26.8sec.
Son of Fergie, who trailed the leader throughout, finished gamely into third place, while Lombo Navigator wilted to sixth after working in the breeze. Former star pacer Lombo Pocket Watch raced one out and two back before dropping back to finish last in the field of nine.
“If you scripted the race for him, that’s how you would like it to be run,” said Hall. “We were a bit worried that maybe something would come and flush us out at the 1000m, but then again who would want to do that?
“It was good to get an easy run like that and be able to drive him the ay he’s best suited. I always thought he would run whatever quarter he needed to do to pick up the leader, and it’s just unbelievable how easily he did that tonight.
“I was probably going to wait until the 400m mark to pull him out because Quinny corners better than any other horse going around. But when we got into the back I noticed Shannon cut the ribbons and got going and Has The Answers got a good couple of lengths on me further than what I would’ve liked.
“I did have a little concern at first and as Quinny always does when he’s saved up for a sprint like that, he turns your concern into joy.”
Hall admitted he was impressed with the wins of Smoken Up and Auckland Reactor, saying: “I think Smoken Up is going to be the horse to beat, really. He can play a lot more cards than we can and he handled the track with ease. But I wouldn’t swap my drive for anything.”
Trainer Gary Hall sen. was thrilled with Im Themightyquinn’s performance, but said that he was also highly impressed with Smoken Up’s victory. “He was just awesome,” he declared.
JOHN JUSTICE IN AWE OF SMOKEN UP
Victorian reinsman John Justice is awestruck at Smoken Up’s remarkable speed, strength and will to win.
After driving aggressively to land Smoke Up a brilliant winner of the third heat of the V75 interdominion championship at Gloucester Park on Friday night Justice declared: “He’s unbelievable, this horse. He’s got such a big motor and such a good lung capacity. I’m in awe of him, the way he goes.
“He can drop the bit for a few strides and all of a sudden he’ll pick it up, just like he’s joined in. This half-mile track is not much of a problem for him. He’s such a great horse. He did it comfortably and he should keep improving as the carnival goes on. This horse is no normal horse.”
Justice now has driven Smoken Up twice, for his record-breaking victory in a 1720m Free-For-All at Melton earlier in the month and again on Friday night when the amazing nine-year-old, making his debut at Gloucester Park, delivered a powerful statement in charging to the front after 550m and speeding through the first 400m section of the final mile in a sparkling 27.3sec.
Justice is substituting for his brother Lance, the gelding’s trainer and regular driver, who has been in a wheelchair for the past several weeks after fracturing both ankles in a race fall at Melton on December 23.
Smoken Up, hot favourite at 3/1 on from barrier seven in the nine-horse field, was stirred up by Justice as the mobile barrier released the field and polemarker Saucy Legend shot straight to the lead.
Gary Hall jun. had little or no option but to surrender the lead when Smoken Up issued his spirited challenge going down the back straight the first time. Smoken Up then cruised through the next two quarters in 30sec. and 29sec. before he sprinted the final section in 28.2sec. and held the fast-finishing WA-trained Dasher VC (8/1) at bay to score by a half-length at a 1.53.7 rate over the 1700m sprint journey.
This was the champion’s 58th victory from 107 starts and boosted his earnings to $2,961,218.
Saucy Legend (7/2) battled on gamely to finish third, ahead of veteran New South Wales gelding and 33/1 outsider Hesa Buzzin, who started from the outside barrier and fought on doggedly from fifth in the one-wide line at the bell.
AUCKLAND REACTOR CONTINUES HIS COMEBACK IN GRAND STYLE
Champion New Zealand pacer Auckland Reactor continued his comeback in grand fashion at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he finished full of running to win the opening heat of the V75 interdominion pacing championship.
He was driven a perfect race by star New Zealand reinsman Anthony Butt, who was handling the seven-year-old for the first time in the absence of Christchurch trainer Mark Purdon, who is looking after a big team of horses at home.
Concerns that Auckland Reactor would have difficulty in handling the 805m track were dispelled when he paced smoothly throughout.
“He’s been a fantastic horse his whole career,” Butt said. “It was a bit of a buzz when I was asked to drive him. They just burned and set the race up for him. He was nice and relaxed and travelled beautifully.
“He’s the best horse to have come out of New Zealand in the past ten to 15 years, probably since Courage Under Fire. It’s well documented he’s had some issues and to come back and still be racing at this level is fantastic.”
Auckland Reactor started from barrier three and was supported from 5/4 to 10/9, with veteran Washakie (barrier two) starting favourite at 6/4 on after punters had snapped up the 10/9 on.
John McCarthy, as expected, had no trouble in sending Washakie straight to the front. But then the old warhorse was put under extreme pressure by Sneakyn Down Under (Darren Duffy), who challenged hard for the lead for most of the 1700m journey.
Sneakyn Down Under had his head in front at the bell and was giving Auckland Reactor, in the favourable one-out, one-back trail, a perfect trip. Sneakyn Down Under increased his advantage to a half-length at the 600m mark and to three-quarters of a length with 400m to travel.
But Washakie responded superbly and regained the lead approaching the home turn. He was a length in front with 100m to go, but was unable to withstand the strong finishing burst of Auckland Reactor, who charged to the front inside the final 30m.
Butt timed his run to perfection. He remained cool and confident until he finally switched Auckland Reactor out three wide with 250m to travel. Auckland Reactor then sprinted strongly. He covered the final 800m in 56.7sec. and rated 1.53.7 over the 1700m.
Washakie fought on grandly to be second, 2m from the winner, with local hope Wrongly Accused (25/1) finishing solidly into third place after Morgan Woodley had followed Auckland Reactor every inch of the way.
Auckland Reactor now has won at 30 of his 43 starts for earnings of $1,647,678 in stakes.
CROMBIE CHARGES HOME FROM LAST TO CAUSE AN UPSET
WA trainer Peter Tilbrook landed his most important winner when smart five-year-old Crombie unleashed a powerful finishing burst to surge home from last at the bell to win the second heat of the interdominion pacing championship at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred Crombie, unplaced at his previous four starts, was a 15/1 chance from the outside barrier in the field of nine in the 1700m sprint.
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis bided his time at the rear while veteran Rocket Reign (5/1) set a solid pace, with 6/4 second favourite Mr Feelgood in the breeze and the 5/4 favourite Raglan poised to strike in the one-out, one-back position.
Morgan Woodley sent Mysta Magical Mach (8/1) forward approaching the bell and Lewis astutely followed that run with Crombie. Mysta Magical Mach then put Raglan in a pocket at the 600m mark and from then on Raglan was hopelessly blocked for a run and finished, full of running, in sixth position.
Rocket Reign was still in front when the field turned for home, but he wilted slightly to finish third behind the fast-finishing Crombie and 20/1 chance Can Return Fire, who thundered home, six wide.
Lewis admitted that he felt Crombie faced a difficult task from the outside barrier. “And I thought I had made a bit of a blue by easing back at the start when perhaps I should have gone forward,” he said. “But everything panned out well in the end. Crombie has got a very good sprint and he could be a horse on the way up.
“He’s strengthened up since his three-year-old season and I’d say the best is still to come.”
Crombie, owned by Gary and Leanne Elson, covered the final 800m in 56.4sec. and rated 1.55.9 to take his record to 45 starts for 18 wins, 12 placings and stakes of $425,583. He won twice from 14 Victorian starts and now has had 31 starts in WA for 16 wins (including the WA Derby in April 2010) and six minor placings.
MOTHER AND SON COMBINE FOR SURPRISE VICTORY
Lightly-raced New South Wales-bred four-year-old Shamrock Tango, placed at only one of his previous seven starts, caused a major upset when he finished strongly from seventh at the bell to beat Zenthura and Trunkey Daydream in the $50,000 San Simeon Championship at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Twenty-three-year-old reinsman Chris Voak brought the gelding home with a solid three-wide burst from seventh at the bell to hit the font 90m from the post. He races Shamrock Tango in partnership with his mother Linley, who trains the pacer at her West Swan stables.
This gave Mrs Voak her biggest success in harness racing and only her fourth metropolitan success --- after wins with Len Barwell in 1987, Sagittarian Son in 1990 and Rare Temptation four weeks ago.
Shamrock Tango, who started from barrier five on the front line, was a 20/1 chance with bookmakers who returned tote odds of 74/1.
Polemarker Chocolatto, backed from 9/4 to second favouritism at 2/1 behind Go West U Terror (7/4), led for the first 200m before the speedy Sir Mick Sloy (8/1) stormed to the front and set the pace with Trojan Bromac in the breeze for the first lap before Gary Hall jun. dashed forward with Go West U Terror to race outside the leader after a lap had been covered.
Trojan Bromac vacated the one-out, one-back position at the bell to start a three-wide move which was followed by Shamrock Tango. Go West U Terror got to a narrow lead 370m from home before he began to hang on the home turn where Sir Mick Sloy was badly checked.
Chocolatto, hopelessly buried behind a wall of horses after moving off the pegs approaching the home turn, was checked on the turn and had nowhere to go all the way down the straight to finish an unlucky eighth. Topnotch Dan (sixth) and The Feather Foot (seventh) also were hopelessly blocked for clear passage.
“Shamrock Tango has come a long way since running around in C0 events at Kellerberrin last year,” Voak said. “Mum and Dad have done a super job with him and all credit to them. Dad was pretty confident and told me to drive him a bit more aggressively. I was hesitant to do so, but I did.”
Shamrock Tango earned first prize of $33,500 to boost his earnings to $52,759 from four wins and 11 placings from 32 starts.
Chris Voak continued in winning vein at Bunbury on Saturday night, landing a double with Elsu Sheila (7/1) and Strident (17/1).
BONDS QUALIFY FOUR RUNNERS FOR BINSHAW CHAMPIONSHIP
Ace reinsman Colin Brown and Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond made a flying start to the meeting at Gloucester Park on Friday night when they combined to win the first two heats of the Binshaw Championship with hot favourites Dundee Three and Seel N Print.
Both New Zealand-bred pacers gave powerful frontrunning displays and Brown will not decide on his drive in the $50,000 final next Friday night until after the barrier draw on Tuesday.
The Bonds also qualified two other runners for the final when Brown drove Borat into second place behind Please Release Me in the third heat and Kim Prentice finished fourth with Nimrod.
All four finalists are raced by Bond, Kevin, Rob and John Gartrell, Craig Hampson and Andrew Foster.
Dundee Three was at 7/4 on in the opening heat on Friday night and he gave his supporters little cause for concern after he burst to the front after 250m, set the pace and sprinted the final 800m in 57.4sec. to win by almost three lengths from Touch Me Toes and Sir Artsplace at a 1.57.4 rate over 2100m.
Dundee Three, a half-brother to the speedy Scruncher (64 starts for 19 wins, 18 placings and stakes of $130,742), has had 15 starts in WA for eight wins and four placings to take his record to 41 starts for 14 wins, 12 placings and $105,445.
Seel N Print, winner of the WA Derby last April, started from the No. 1 barrier and gave a bold frontrunning display to win the second heat by one and a half lengths from Never Waver Lombo at a 1.57.2 rate after dashing over the final 800m in 57.2sec.
“He’s felt a bit flat recently, but I think he’s now not far away from his best,” Brown said after Seel N Print’s victory.
PLEASE RELEASE MAKES
The huge advantage of the No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park was further emphasised on Friday night when Please Release Me won the start easily, dictated the terms in front and strolled to an easy victory over Borat and Elite Angel in the third heat of the Binshaw Championship.
“Fingers crossed for a decent draw in the final,” said reinsman Chris Brew. “Please Release Me has been running very consistently from very bad draws for a long time and we made use of the draw tonight.
“But he’s a very versatile horse, who can do it from anywhere. He’s a pleasure to drive. He’s in his own little world out in front. He actually travels off the bit, but when they come at him he starts to concentrate. There’s room for improvement next week.”
Punters rallied to support Please Release Me, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old, and his price firmed from evens to 5/4 on.
Please Release Me, owned and trained at Collie by David Hunter, has earned $99,257 from 15 wins and 21 placings from 56 starts.
MON GEE GIVES TILBROOK AND LEWIS A DOUBLE
Seven-year-old WA-bred pacer Mon Gee landed a plunge when he overcame the outside barrier and proved far too good for his rivals in the 2100m V75 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
An M5-class pacer and considerably better performed than his nine opponents, Mon Gee was backed from 3/1 to 5/4 and his victory completed a double for Byford trainer Peter Tilbrook and star reinsman Chris Lewis, who had combined earlier to win a heat of the V75 interdominion championship with Crombie.
Miss Azooma led early before Gary Hall jun. sent Kamwood Girl to the front after 650m, leaving Another One For Me in the breeze. Mon Gee raced wide for much of the first lap before Lewis got him into the breeze at the 1200m mark.
Mon Gee charged past Kamwood Girl 250m from home and won by five lengths from Another One For Me (3/1) and Kamwood Girl (5/1). This took Mon Gee’s record to 97 starts for 19 wins and 18 placings for stakes of $215,361.
“His form has been very good and he’s gone super tonight,” Lewis said. “It was a big drop in class and he was able to do a bit of work. On that run there’s definitely a few more wins in him. Obviously when he’s up in class he will have to be driven a bit differently.”
Callan Suvaljo, who drove Miss Azooma, was suspended for 19 days for having caused interference to Nullabor Song 250m after the start. The stewards reduced a 28-day suspension after taking into account that Suvaljko had had more than 1300 drives since his previous suspension 84 weeks previously.
The suspension will take effect at midnight on Tuesday night to enable Suvaljko to drive at Bunbury on Saturday night, at Gloucester Park on Monday night and at Harvey on Tuesday night (when he will handle promising filly Myheidi.
Suvaljko drove a 15/1 winner Life Boat at Bunbury on Saturday night. Life Boat, having his first start for trainer Amanda Suvaljko, ended a losing sequence of 19 when he finished solidly to win from Trojan delight.
PACIFIC BLACK ENDS LOSING SEQUENCE OF 13
Experienced seven-year-old Pacific Black ended a losing sequence of 13 when he enjoyed a perfect sit, one-out and one-back, before finishing strongly to score a runaway victory in the 2503m Extraordinary Western Australia Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Pacific Black started from 10m and Kim Prentice quickly slotted the Victorian-bred gelding into fourth position in the one-wide line as Salliwood set the pace from 2/1 favourite Master Metallica in the breeze.
Pacific Black, who was having his second start after an eight-month absence, burst to the front on the home turn and won by 13m from To Transcend, who ran home gamely after trailing the winner throughout. Im Percy The Punter, the lone backmarker off 20m and second favourite at 5/2, was a somewhat unlucky third.
Im Percy The Punter was ninth in the one-wide line at the bell under lock and key, sandwiched between Turbo Gold on the pegs and Out Red Baron, out three wide. Im Percy The Punter was seventh at the 400m mark before he finished with a strong late burst.
Pacific Black dropped back from an M2 mark to an M1 classification when his current losing sequence reached ten. He now returns as an M2-class pacer for West Swan trainer Sonia Zucchiati. He was a 14/1 outsider who returned handsome tote odds of 27/1. He has earned $133,524 from 18 wins and 32 placings from 91 starts. He won once in Victoria and six times in New South Wales before arriving in WA where he has won 11 times from 69 starts.
ENJOY A MALABU UPSTAGES HIS STABL
Enjoy A Malabu caused an upset when he started at 10/1 and beat Idle Maple (13/2) and his better-performed stablemate Ushaka Bromac, the 5/2 on favourite, in the Sundons Gift Trotters Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Wundowie trainer Bruce Stanley drove Ushaka Bromac, with Matt White in the sulky behind five-year-old Enjoy A Malabu.
White stole a march on his rivals by dashing Enjoy A Malabu to the front soon after the start, while Ushaka Bromac was unlucky, with Stanley having to swing her very wide on the track 150m after the start to avoid the galloping Betty be Good.
Ushaka Bromac settled down at the rear and she battled on doggedly from sixth at the bell to finish third. The Victorian-bred Enjoy A Malabu now has won at three of his first six starts in WA and has an overall record of 58 starts for nine wins, 15 placings and $57,495.
by Ken Casellas
