Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Recent Victorian import Dalvey Robyn, who bears a striking resemblance to former superstar pacer Im Themightyquinn, impressed at his second WA appearance when he sprinted home strongly to win the Nova Boy’s Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He reminds me a lot of Quinny, but not in any way, shape or form in ability,” said his trainer Gary Hall Jnr, who drove Im Themightyquinn to 50 of his 58 career wins from 111 starts for earnings of $4,567,456.
“Sitting in the cart behind Dalvey Robyn reminds me of a young version of Quinny, in colour, looks and everything about him. He is about the same size of Quinny but is definitely more narrow.”
Im Themightyquinn and Dalvey Robyn are by the American sire Washington VC, with Dalvey Robyn being the first foal out of unraced New Zealand mare Casey Robyn.
Dalvey Robyn had twelve starts in New Zealand for two wins, five placings and $17,992 before racing 36 times in Victoria and New South Wales for seven wins and 16 placings. His one win from two starts in Western Australia has taken his record to 50 starts for ten wins, 21 placings and $110,051 in prizemoney.
Hall Jnr, who is now preparing a team of six pacers, was also represented in Friday night’s event with last-start winner Ventura, who was drawn on the inside of the back line, with Dalvey Robyn more favourably drawn at No. 3 on the front line.
Hall opted to handle Ventura, the $2.45 favourite, with Maddison Brown driving the $4.70 second fancy Dalvey Robyn.
Brown had driven Dalvey Robyn at his WA debut the previous Friday night when the six-year-old raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before finishing a sound fourth behind smart performers Skylou and Street Hawk.
“Dalvey Robyn showed more speed tonight than he did last week,” said Brown. “He travelled nicely although he didn’t get around the track all that well, and I was a bit worried around the (home) turn, but it didn’t seem to worry him.”
Tommy Waterhouse, a $7.50 chance driven by Trent Wheeler for trainer Gary Hall Snr, set the pace from barrier No. 2, with Dalvey Robyn enjoying a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position, and Ventura locked in three back on the pegs.
Brown eased Dalvey Robyn out three wide 400m from home and the gelding sprinted home with a 27.6sec. final 400m to get up in the final couple of strides and win by a neck from Tommy Waterhouse, with Ventura held up until late, charging home, three wide, to finish an unlucky fifth.