Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Twenty-one-year-old Joey Suvaljko chalked up his 50TH driving success when he guided veteran pacer Hillview Bondi to victory in the $21,000 Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And on Monday he will begin a new chapter in his burgeoning harness racing career when he starts as a stablehand at Aiden De Campo’s new training property in Serpentine.
He is looking forward to gaining further experience from De Campo after stints with trainers Ryan Bell, Michael Young and Dylan Egerton-Green.
Suvaljko has a close association with seven-year-old Hillview Bondi, having handled him in trackwork for Bell for many months.
“Hillview Bondi is not the easiest horse to drive, and he does all his trackwork with Joey,” said Bell.
Hillview Bondi was the $1.80 favourite in Friday night’s 2130m event in which he began from the No. 4 barrier. Regal Cheval ($4.60) began speedily from the No. 6 barrier and led clearly after 100m before Gary Hall Jnr took the sit behind Hillview Bondi 350m later.
Suvaljko rated Hillview Bondi perfectly with opening quarters of 30.1sec. and 30sec. followed by two 28.7sec. sections. He won comfortably by just over a half-length from Regal Cheval, who ran home solidly. Hillview Bondi rated 1.56.7 and took his record to 88 starts for 18 wins, 20 placings and $193,068.
“Hillview Bondi is great in trackwork, and tonight he did it easily,” said Suvaljko. “I was happy to get to the front early when Gary Hall grabbed up with Regal Cheval.”
Bell said that he was planning to retire Hillview Bondi at the end of the 2024 season but changed his mind when he studied the new handicapping system.
“We thought that he was on his mark and were going to retire him at the end of the year,” said Bell. “The new handicapping system is going to help him win some more races. He will benefit from the system, and I feel he is capable of winning another three or four races.”