Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented reinsman Stuart McDonald did not have a drive at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he was looking forward to attending a musical concert — until a most unexpected opportunity arose during the day when he was offered the drive on Acharne Girl in the $30,000 Harry Capararo Four and Five-Year-Old Westbred Pace for mares.
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr was laid low by a debilitating virus, and the 28-year-old McDonald was called into action to handle Acharne Girl, the hot favourite for Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr.
McDonald made the most of this opportunity and he delivered the goods in style, guiding the $1.30 favourite to an effortless all-the-way victory.
After opening quarters of 30.6sec. and 29.9sec. Acharne Girl sprinted over the final 400m section in 28.9sec. and 27.9sec. to win by five metres from $34 chance Champagne Everyone, rating 1.56.6 over the 2130m.
Acharne Girl was smartest into stride from the No. 2 barrier and led for the first 120m before McDonald relinquished the lead to Champagne Everyone, who had begun speedily from out wide at barrier seven.
However, McDonald was not happy to be trailing Champagne Everyone, and he sent Acharne Girl back into the lead 150m later.
McDonald was driving Acharne Girl for the second time, after he had driven the filly, a $26 outsider in the group 1 $150,000 WA Oaks last October when she finished strongly, out four wide, to be third in a three-way photo finish behind Taking The Miki and Little Darling. The margins were a half-head and a head.
McDonald, a harsh self-critic, said that he was to blame for Acharne Girl’s defeat in the Oaks, saying: “I should’ve won. It was my fault.
“So, I didn’t want to get things wrong tonight. I nearly did. I could have pushed a bit harder to hold the lead. I nearly went down to the rail and locked myself up. But I didn’t. I knew that the front was there for me.
“Acharne Girl was in cruise control all the way. I didn’t pull the plugs; she did it easily and was just jogging. She loves running and did it on her ear. She will be close to favourite for the big race for mares at the end of the year (the $150,000 Mares Classic over 2536m on November 24).”
Acharne Girl is by former brilliant pacer Alta Christiano and is the fourth foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Slick Bird, who finished third to Artemis Belle in the WA Oaks in May 2011 and was retired with a record of 34 starts for ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $89,999.
She is a full-sister to While They Pray (39 starts for 16 wins, 12 placings and $170,788) and Faster Than Dad (35 starts for ten wins, seven placings and $77,049) and is a half-sister to Slick Artist (143 starts for 29 wins, 50 placings and $370,303).