Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Few pacers in recent years have warmed up for the WA Pacing Cup in such commanding fashion as has harness racing’s latest superstar Mister Smartee, who overcame an early scare before romping to victory in the $100,000 Trotsynd J. P. Stratton Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mister Smartee, prepared by master trainer Gary Hall Snr, is the $1.85 favourite on the TABtouch market for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup to be run over 2536m next Friday week.
The lightly-raced and inexperienced New Zealand-bred four-year-old dominates betting on the big race in which his six-year-old stablemate Jumpingjackmac and the visiting eastern states star Captain Ravishing share second favouritism at $7, with Minstrel at $8.50, Lavra Joe at $9, Tenzing Bromac at $9.50 and Pinny Tiger at $10.
From the No. 2 barrier on the front line in Friday night’s Group 2 Stratton Cup, Mister Smartee began so speedily that his nose touched the mobile barrier arm, causing the gelding to pace roughly for a few strides as he was being tackled fiercely by the $4.40 second fancy Pinny Tiger.
Mister Smartee, driven hard by Gary Hall Jnr, resisted the challenge and settled down in front after Pinny Tiger had led by a half-length before breaking under pressure 250m after the start.
Hall then restrained Mister Smartee, who dawdled through the opening 400m section of the final mile in 32.7sec. and coasted through the second quarter in 30.6sec. before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.2sec. and 27sec. He won by just over a length from $51 chance Jumpingjackmac, who raced in the breeze for much of the way and fought on grandly.
Mighty Ronaldo ($8.50) trailed Mister Smartee throughout and was hampered for room in the home straight before finishing third, a half-head behind Jumpingjackmac.
“I thought I had timed the start perfectly,” said Hall Jnr. “But we got too close to the mobile barrier and Mister Smartee got a bit rough. It was good to see how he was able to balance and show the acceleration to get to the front.
“He then got a bit keen, and that was probably me making him go too slowly. I knew he had spent a lot early, and I wanted to give him the easiest time I could.”
Before the race Hall Snr was extremely confident that Pinny Tiger would be unable to muster sufficient speed to outpace Mister Smartee at the start.
“I know that Mister Smartee got away with murder tonight,” he said. “It’s hard to come back and run a 32.7sec. quarter after burning early, and then run fast sectionals at the end of the race.
“Nothing will beat Mister Smartee in the Pacing Cup if he leads. His main aim after the Cup will be the Golden Nugget (on December 13). He might run in the Four-Year-Old Classic a fortnight before the Nugget.”
Hall Snr now has trained the winner of the Stratton Cup a record eight times, while Hall Jnr has won the race a record six times as a driver.
Mister Smartee has amassed $288,246 in prizemoney from his 13 wins from 15 starts.