Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Inexperienced five-year-old Mister Smartee became Australia’s latest pacing millionaire when he triumphed in the $1.25 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park on Friday night in a grand performance which has his Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr contemplating setting the New Zealand-bred gelding for the rich Interdominion championship at Brisbane’s Albion Park in July.
“I’ll wait and see how he performs in the Fremantle Cup next Friday night before considering an Inters campaign,” said an ecstatic Hall after his son Gary Hall Jnr produced a brilliant and flawless exhibition in the sulky to win the 2536m Nullarbor.
Mister Smartee, a $7.90 chance from the awkward barrier at No. 7, was sent forward, three wide, by Hall Jnr to move to the breeze after 400m and then take the perfect sit, one-out and one-back, 150m later after the star Sydney pacer Swayzee ($3.60) had surged forward to move alongside the pacemaker and $2.30 favourite Minstrel.
After an opening quarter of the final mile in 29.4sec. Swayzee applied considerable pressure on Minstrel, with the next 400m sections being run in 27.8sec. and 28.4sec.
Hall bided his time before switching Mister Smartee three wide with 300m to travel. Mister Smartee sprinted strongly to surge to the front 50m from the post and win by 2m from $31 chance Gee Heza Sport, rating 1.54.4 after a final quarter of 28.4sec.
Gee Heza Sport, driven by Luke McCarthy, trailed Mister Smartee in the one-out, two-back position before flashing home, out four wide. A gallant Minstrel was a head farther back in third place, with Swayzee a head away in fourth place after being held tight in restricted room in the final stages.
Mighty Ronaldo ($23), who raced three back on the pegs, was hopelessly blocked for a clear run and was an unlucky fifth.
“It was awesome and the win rates right up there with my best big-race victories,” said 42-year-old Hall after his 68TH success in a Group 1 feature event. It was also 75-year-old Hall senior’s 49TH Group 1 victory as a trainer.
“Dad’s the best; he knows what the horses need and when they need it. He does all the slow work with Mister Smartee, and I do the fast work. It was the same with Quinny (Im Themightyquinn) and Bully (Chicago Bull).
“I was pretty nervous during the week. At first, I thought the draw (No. 7) was no good at all. But then I thought that there was a pretty easy map to work out, and that we were a big chance just the way the race was set up.
“Minstrel and Swayzee did amazing jobs, and Mister Smartee still had to do a good job, following that speed and coming off their backs. I got excited half way up the straight but I held my nerve because I know that Swayzee and Minstrel can always come back.”
Mister Smartee had two starts in New Zealand for a win and a second placing at Addington in October and November 2022 before being purchased for $250,000 by Hall for eight stable clients.
His 20 starts for the Hall stable in WA have produced 16 wins and two seconds, taking his career record to 22 starts for 17 wins, two seconds and $1,090,770 in prizemoney. He is by American sire Always B Miki and is the second foal out of unraced mare Luna Danza, whose dam Lento was a two-time Group 1 winner who raced 64 times for 15 wins, 15 placings and $272,110.