Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Smart WA-bred six-year-old Finvarra relished his frontrunning role when he proved the master of his three New Zealand-bred stablemates in the $31,000 Flying Jett To India Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The race was a triumph for champion trainer Gary Hall Snr who prepared Finvarra ($3.20) for his victory over the $2.10 favourite Jumpingjackmac, Diego ($8.50) and Wildwest ($26). The first four tote dividend was a handsome $284.50.
Gary Hall Jnr, who drove Finvarra, was delighted with the runs of the four stablemates, saying: “Finvarra settled very well and performed very well; Jumpingjackmac went enormous, while Diego and Wildwest were impressive.
“Racing in the breeze is not Jumpingjackmac’s style, yet he chased Finvarra all the way down the straight. All four horses look super and will keep racing.”
Finvarra resisted an early challenge for the lead from last-start winner Hampton Banner ($12), and he gave his rivals little chance by running the final three quarters in 28.6sec., 27.1sec. and 28.6sec.
Jumpingjackmac began from the outside barrier in the field of nine and settled down in eighth position before dashing forward to move to the breeze after 550m. He fought on with commendable tenacity.
Diego ran on solidly after enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, to finish third, while Wildwest caught the eye, running home powerfully, five wide, to be fourth after being last at the bell.
For Finvarra this was his first win for ten months and took his record to 39 starts for 14 wins, 14 placings and $268,997 in prizemoney. He is by American Ideal and is the first foal out of former star mare Nuala, who was retired after 19 starts for 14 wins, two placings and $132,449.
Nuala won at her only start in New Zealand, in May 2014, before being trained by Hall Snr in WA when she twice excelled with winning streaks of six.