Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr conceded that he was very lucky to drive $5.80 chance Raven Banner to victory over his stablemate Carana, the $2.10 favourite, in the 2503m Retravision For All The Electrical Stuff You Love Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The 20m starting strand failed to release, causing the starter to declare a false start. Carana, driven by Deni Roberts, had begun smoothly and was about to surge to the front as the false start was declared.
But when the race was re-started, Carana galloped and lost several lengths. He settled down in eighth place and was sixth in the one-wide line at the bell before finishing determinedly to be second.
“I was lucky,” said Hall. “Carana was going to lead easily at the first attempt when the 20-metre strand failed to release and was across my face.”
Raven Banner began smoothly from the 20m mark and settled down in fourth position in the one-wide line, without cover, before taking the lead after 600m.
“When I got away and Carana galloped and Otis ($4.40) wasn’t that fast, I thought I could get to the front,” said Hall. “I was thinking I was going to get beaten all the way around the home bend, but then on the line he was doing his best.”
Raven Banner, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was having his first start for 15 weeks, and was driven for the first time by Hall, and this was his first win in a stand. A winner of six races in New Zealand, the Bettors Delight five-year-old has had 12 starts in WA for four wins and four placings, taking his record to 43 starts for ten wins, 15 placings and $128,516.