NOW FOR THE INTERDOMINION SERIES FOR IM THEMIGHTYQUINN

NOW FOR THE INTERDOMINION SERIES FOR IM THEMIGHTYQUINN

Bring on all the challengers! That was the message loud and clear issued by superstar Im Themightyquinn after he had annihilated his rivals in a record-breaking victory in the $250,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Champion trainer Gary Hall sen. and star reinsman Gary Hall jun. are bubbling with enthusiasm about the sensational seven-year-old’s prospects in the $1.78 million V75 interdominion championship series which gets under way at Gloucester Park on February 17.

And the Halls have every right to be brimful of confidence after Im Themightyquinn gave one of the most spectacular performances in the history of WA harness racing to score an effortless victory in the group 1 Fremantle Cup.

The champion, warm favourite at even money, was in 11th position, three wide, with a lap to travel in the 2906m event. Then, in a twinkling of an eye, Im Themightyquinn unleashed an amazing burst of speed to sprint past his rivals and charge to the front 380m from home before careering away to win by three lengths from Raglan (16/1), with Lombo Navigator (33/1) fighting on to be a splendid third, just ahead of the gallant Washakie (16/1). Veteran star Mr Feelgood (5/2) was a battling fifth.

Im Themightyquinn’s paralysing burst was quite bewildering and left the opposition floundering. The New Zealand-bred gelding dashed over the third 400m section of the final mile in 29.4sec. before sprinting the final quarter in 27.6sec., even though he was eased down in the home straight.

Im Themightyquinn’s rate of 1.56.5 smashed the WA record for 2906m, bettering the 1.57.5 rate he recorded in winning the Cup from Washakie 12 months earlier.   

Im Themightyquinn became the first horse to win the Fremantle Cup three times in the 84-year history of the event. The 62-year-old Hall sen. now is the most successful trainer in the Cup’s history with five wins and the 29-year-old Hall jun. has won the race five times to equal the record of Chris Lewis.

Hall jun. struggled with superlatives to describe Im Themightyquinn’s dazzling performance, saying: “It’s been a long time since I got a feeling like that. It was very exciting and I can’t believe it. He’s WA’s horse now, if he wasn’t already. And let’s hope he can win the home-town inters and give something for everyone to cheer about.

“It was probably as good as it looked. I don’t think he can really go any better than that. I doubt if anything can.”

Part-owner Glen Moore praised the gelding, saying: “I can’t believe what I’ve seen. I think we’ve just seen something that we may not see again. The way he did it was just astonishing.”

Hall jun. said that everything fell into place for Im Themightyquinn, who started from the inside of the back line. “They ran it upside down early, which was good for us,” he said. “It put a bit of tempo in the race and I was pretty confident a long way out. He also settled really, really well which was another big key.”

Hall made sure that Im Themightyquinn did not become hemmed in on the pegs by restraining the gelding as soon as the mobile barrier sent the field of 12 on its way.

Polemarker Crombie led for the first 120m before the flying Has The Answers charged to the front. Dasher VC was trapped three wide for the first 650m before getting to the breeze. John McCarthy sent Washakie forward after 900m, but his bid to move alongside the pacemaker was thwarted by Chris Lewis, who was in no mood to surrender the breeze with Dasher VC.

Washakie then had a torrid run, out three wide and his run was followed by Lombo Navigator, with Rocket Reign moving into the three-wide line behind Lombo Navigator at the 1500m mark.

But no horse was able to match the sizzling speed of Im Themightyquinn. Has The Answers began to fade in the final circuit and Crombie was inconvenienced behind him.

Mt Feelgood, who raced in the breeze for the first 650m, then enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back. But the nearside tyre of his sulky was punctured with about 600m to travel and then he was inconvenienced at the 400m post.

On the recommendation of Hall sen., Im Themightyquinn was purchased for $190,000 by a syndicate comprising Beth Richardson, Glen Moore, Garry Ralston, Mark Congerton, Joe Barber, Henry McManus and Karen Hall. The gelding had earned $110,224 from six wins and eight placings from 27 New Zealand starts. Im Themightyquinn has now earned $2,584,506 from 35 wins and 27 placings from 80 starts.

WILLIAMS HAS CROMAC JOHNNY ON TARGET FOR RICH SERIES

Five-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Cromac Johnny clinched a start in the $1.78 million V75 interdominion championship series next month when he gave a brilliant frontrunning display to score a runaway victory in the $25,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup Consolation at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He’ll be having a short let-up now before coming back for the inters,” said Karnup trainer-reinsman Grant Williams. “And if he maintains this form he’ll be pretty competitive in anything he contests.”

Cromac Johnny, whose price eased from 6/4 to 5/2 before starting at 9/4, bounded straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier when polemarker Real Life (backed from 13/2 to 7/2) jumped into the lead when the mobile barrier released the field, but immediately broke into a fierce gallop.

Cromac Johnny then made it a one-act affair as he bowled along in front, sprinted the final 800m in 57.8sec. and strolled to victory by just under five lengths from Tsunami Lombo, who fought on doggedly after trailing the leader throughout. 

The 10/9 favourite Mysta Magical Mach worked hard outside the pacemaker before fading very badly over the final 250m to finish seventh, 62m behind the winner. He was badly distressed and had an elevated heart rate.

“I thought we were going to have to sit outside Real Life,” Williams said. “But when he galloped and we got to the front it was a huge bonus.”

Cromac Johnny is in the best form of his career and now has earned $189,115 from 21 wins and 17 placings from 59 starts.

FRANCO RENEGADE CHARGES HOME FROM LAST TO SNATCH VICTORY

A scorching lead time of 33.5sec. and a fast tempo played into the hands of noted sit-sprinter Franco Renegade, who produced a typical powerhouse finishing burst to snatch victory in the 2100m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“No one was laughing more than me when I was sitting at the back of the field,” said Darling Downs trainer-reinsman Aldo Cortopassi.

“I wanted a bit of early speed and when Ohokas Bondy was scratched I thought that there might not be that much speed. But they did it for me and I always knew that Franco Renegade could get over them.”

Polemarker Sunsets West led for the first 500m before Donald Harper sent Sir Artsplace to the lead. Aussie Reactor (11/4) raced three wide for much of the first lap, while 2/1 favourite Sneakyn Down Under was trapped four wide early and then three wide until he moved outside the leader after a lap had been completed.

Gary Hall jun. then was able to give Aussie Reactor a breather in the one-out, one-back position before he sent the gelding forward 650m from home. His three-wide run was followed by Captain Jack Sparrow (Morgan Woodley) and Cortopassi was happy to follow the pair in the three-wide line.

Aussie Reactor got to the front on the home turn and then Captain Jack Sparrow got his nose in front just 1m from the post. But Franco Renegade lunged right on the line to beat Captain Jack Sparrow by a nose, with Aussie Reactor a head away in third place. The winner rated 1.55.6.

Franco Renegade, by Christian Cullen, now has had 63 starts for 15 wins and 21 placings for stakes of $127,058. His win took him to an M5 mark.

“There are no real plans for him,” said Cortopassi. “We’ll just keep dodging the good ones at the moment and he’ll tell me when he’s ready to have a crack at the better horses.”

ANOTHER CITY WIN FOR LINLEY VOAK AFTER 21 YEARS

West Swan trainer Linley Voak was all smiles after landing her first winner on a city track for more than 21 years when her 23-year-old elder son Chris drove Rare Temptation to a smart win over Chocolatto and Im In Luck in the 1700m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Chris Voak was only two years old when his mother celebrated her previous city win --- when his father Danny drove Sagittarian Son to victory in a C5-class event at Richmond Raceway on November 20, 1990.

Linley Voak’s first and only other city winner was Len Barwell at Richmond Raceway in 1987. She has only recently resumed as a trainer after a 15-year absence while she ran a poultry farm in Bullsbrook.

During that time her husband trained a few pacers and enjoyed plenty of success with Northern Direction and Jessica Jasper.

After Rare Temptation’s win on Friday night the mother-son combination went close to completing a double when Uncle Kracker, a 12/1 chance, ran home strongly from sixth at the bell to finish a 1m second to Packed Safely in the Yes Loans Discretionary Pace.

Rare Temptation and Uncle Kracker are newcomers to the Voak stables. They were previously trained in Moora by part-owner Graham Tanner.

Tanner had to give up his training duties recently when he took a mining job on an island near Darwin. Chris Voak had driven horses for him and he offered Rare Temptation and Uncle Kracker to Voak’s mother to train.

The Voaks had immediate success when Uncle Kracker scored at Northam early this month to end a losing sequence of 12. Rare Temptation, who on Friday night was having his fourth start for Linley Voak, ended a losing sequence of 19. It was his second win from 25 starts in WA after he had won twice from 12 starts in New Zealand and six times from 39 starts in Victoria.

“Barrier No. 1 at Gloucester Park certainly plays in favour of that horse,” Chris Voak said.

Rare Temptation was backed from 4/1 to equal favouritism at 3/1 with Chocolatto and Voak had Rare Temptation in the lead for the first 250m before Morgan Woodley had Chocolatto in front by a half-length.

It took 550m and a scorching first 400m section of the final mile in 27.6sec. before Chocolatto was able to cross Rare Temptation and take a clear lead. Lavros Conquest (6/1) raced in the breeze and when he began to wilt Voak was able to get Rare Temptation off the pegs with 250m to travel.

Rare Temptation finished strongly to get to the front 50m from the post and he scored by just under a length from Chocolatto, who fought on grimly. Rare Temptation rated a smart 1.56.7.

SVILICICH CLAIMS BAKERANDTHEFATMAN FOR $10,000

Cagey Byford trainer Tony Svilicich has added veteran pacer Bakerandthefatman to his team. He claimed the Victorian-bred eight-year-old for $10,000 before he set the pace and won the Yes Loans Claiming Pace over 2100m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Bakerandthefatman, who had faded to finish last after racing in the breeze at Northam the previous Saturday night, appreciated the prized No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park and Gary Hall jun. rated him perfectly in front before the gelding held on grimly to beat the strong-finishing Tee Pee Village by a half-head at a 1.58.6 rate.

Bakerandthefatman was favourite at 11/4, with ten-year-old Tee Pee Village firming sharply from 7/1 to 7/2. Tee Pee Village trailed Bakerandthefatman throughout and he battled on doggedly.

“He’s just a barrier draw horse who can look ordinary when he doesn’t get the right marble,” Hall explained. “Tonight looked his race on paper.”

Hall said that York trainer Maryann White was sad that Bakerandthefatman had been claimed. “I think she’s pretty upset,” he said. “She has grown to love this horse and it is sad news for her to lose him. But it’s good that he goes out on a winning note.”

Bakerandthefatman has earned $136,424 from 21 wins and 25 placings from 124 starts. He has won 12 times in WA after winning nine races in South Australia.

GRACIAS PARA NADA CONTINUES HIS CHARGE TOWARDS WA DERBY

Lightly-raced lanky gelding Gracias Para Nada gave further convincing proof that he will be hard to beat in the $200,000 Sky Channel WA Derby on April 20 when he outclassed his rivals in the Yes Loans Three-Year-Old Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His victory completed a treble for reinsman Gary Hall jun., who had been successful earlier in the ten-event program with Bakerandthefatman and Im Themightyquinn.

“He’s definitely right up there with the best three-year-olds I’ve driven,” Hall said after Gracias Para Nada had coasted to nine-length victory over Soho Daytona.

Gracias Para Nada, trained by Gary Hall sen., has won in effortless fashion at his first three starts as a three-year-old. He began from the outside of the front line and settled at the rear before Hall sent him forward to take up the running 700m after the start.

After sprinting the second 400m section of the final mile in 28.5sec., he went through the next two quarters in 28.6sec. and 29.3sec. and simply coasted to the line to record a slick mile rate of 1.57.1 over the 2100m.

Gracias Para Nada, hot favourite at 8/1 on, has won five times from nine starts for stakes of  $53,846.

PACKED SAFELY GIVES THE YOUNG FAMILY REASON TO CELEBRATE

West Australian-bred six-year-old Packed Safely, unplaced at his previous seven starts at Gloucester Park, landed several good wagers when he was backed from 5/1 to 11/4 before winning the 2503m Yes Loans Discretionary Pace on Friday night.

It was a family affair, with the winner bred, owned and trained at Pinjarra by Karen Young, driven by her husband Ron and raced in partnership with their son Matthew.

“He’s been very unlucky at his past couple of starts,” said Ron Young. “We also had a lot of trouble with him early, with a leg. That’s now standing up wonderfully and we’re starting to get him fit like we’d like to have him --- and he’s producing it on the track. I think he will go a bit further yet.”

The lightly-raced son of Safely Kept, has had only 36 starts for 11 wins, eight placings and stakes of $104,779. He is now realising the promise he showed when he won the South-West Derby at Bunbury and the Country Derby at Gloucester Park early in 2009.

His dam Packed And Ready had 68 starts for seven wins (five in WA) and nine placings for stakes of $36,919.

Shardons Rocket galloped at the start, enabling 7/2 chance Salliwood to bounce straight to the lead. Young dashed Packed Safely forward to move into the breeze after 550m and when Callan Suvaljko made a strong challenge, out three wide, with two laps to travel, Young urged Packed Safely past Salliwood and into the lead.

Packed Safely maintained a strong pace in front and went on to win in good style by 1m from Uncle Kracker, who finished solidly from sixth at the bell.

JOHNNY DIAMOND A $500 BARGAIN FOR CHRIS BUTT

Young Hazelmere trainer Chris Butt made an astute decision early last year when he outlaid a mere $500 to buy Johnny Diamond, who is proving a tremendous bargain for Butt and his co-owner Michael Young.

The 20-year-old Butt drove a patient race before bringing Johnny Diamond home with a spirited last burst to snatch a nose victory over Puhinui Rainbow in the 2503m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Johnny Diamond, a WA-bred seven-year-old by Resonator, now has had 31 starts for Butt for three wins and 13 placings for earnings of $31,010.

Butt jumped at the opportunity to buy Johnny Diamond when he saw the gelding advertised for $500 on the internet. The pacer had managed just two wins at Busselton from 68 starts.

Johnny Diamond was an 8/1 chance who returned tote odds of 23/1 on Friday night. He started from barrier three on the front line in the stand and Butt quickly had him racing on the pegs in fifth position while Chris Voak had 14/1 chance Mach My Words bowling along in front, with Puhinui Rainbow (11/2) in the breeze, Arden Bannister (5/1) behind the leader and Miss Azooma in the one-out, one-back position.

Tosti Boy, the sole backmarker off 20m, had been strongly supported from 6/4 to 5/4 on, but he lost all chance when he galloped badly at the start and lost 100m.

Colin Brown got Puhinui Rainbow to the front 50m from the post before Johnny Diamond finished strongly to gain the upper hand with 35m to travel. Mach My Words held on to finish third, with Arden Bannister getting clear late, finishing on to be fourth.

“He’s been a great horse,” Butt said. “He has been in work for about nine months and he just gets a little bit better each week. It’s going to be a bit hard in town from now on, but he should be suited going back to the country.”

TURVEY USES CLAIMING BUCHANAN TO GOOD EFFECT

Baldivis trainer Nathan Turvey’s decision to engage 21-year-old Tom Buchanan to drive Armbro of Wagin to make use of his claim as a junior driver paid handsome dividends when the eight-year-old gave a bold frontrunning performance to win the 1700m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The event was restricted to M1-class pacers, but Buchanan’s claim enabled M2-class pacer Armbro of Wagin to gain a start.

Armbro of Wagin was a 40/1 tote outsider who started at 14/1 with bookmakers. Polemarker Smooth Jasper was heavily supported from 5/2 to 5/4 on, but despite the urgings of Gary Hall jun. he was unable to hold the lead.

Armbro of Wagin paced a little roughly early but was able to get straight to the front and lead from Smooth Jasper, with Talk It Up in the breeze. Then, after 600m, Borat dashed forward to race outside the pacemaker.

Smooth Jasper was hampered for room until the final stages when he finished determinedly to be second, with Franco Jazzman running on from ninth at the bell to be third. Armbro of Wagin sprinted the final 800m in 57.9sec. and rated 1.56.

Buchanan said that Turvey had given him great confidence before the race when he told him he expected Armbro of Wagin to be too good for his rivals. “Nathan was quite confident and he said he would not mind if I raced in the breeze if I was unable to cross to the front,” he said.

“He travelled beautifully in front and always felt the winner.”   

Armbro of Wagin, having his third run after a spell, had been driven twice before by Buchanan for two second placings. The eight-year-old ended a losing sequence of seven and took his record to 92 starts for 21 wins and 23 placings for stakes of $116,952.

His dam Kinda Racy won four times (once at Bunbury and three times at Kalgoorlie in 1996) from 28 starts. Her younger half-sister Kinda Red was retired after earning $225,202 from 29 wins and 57 placings from 202 starts. At Gloucester Park in June 1997 she won the $60,000 State Sires Series for three-year-old fillies.

RONAN MAGUIRE ENDS LOSING SEQUENCE OF 22

Consistent six-year-old Ronan Maguire ended a losing sequence of 22 when he gave a solid frontrunning display and held on to score in a thrilling three-way photo finish to the 2100m Yes Loans Pathway pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Third favourite at 3/1, he beat Arden Major (11/4) by a head, with the even money favourite Domino Bromac a half-head away in third place.

Shannon Suvaljko sent Ronan Maguire to the front soon after the start and he was able to stroll through the lead time in 36.4sec. and the first two 400m sections of the final mile in 30.9sec. and 30.4sec. before covering the final 800m in 59.2sec.

Arden Major raced in eighth position before Morgan Woodley sent him forward, three wide, 1000m from home. He finished resolutely and just failed to overhaul Ronan Maguire. Domino Bromac fought on determinedly after racing wide early and then in the breeze.

The New Zealand-bred Ronan Maguire has been a consistent performer for Forrestdale owner-trainer Ralph Johnson and his losing sequence of 22 included six seconds, two thirds and five fourths. He is a full-brother to Davy Maguire (64 starts for 15 wins, 12 placings and $171,001) and a half-brother to Finn Mac Cumhail (114 starts for 15 wins, 26 placings and $73,994).

by Ken Casellas