Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Cyclone Jordy left champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr searching for superlatives after he had driven Cyclone Jordy to a runaway victory in the 2130m Vili’s Family Bakery Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I don’t think I’ve ever run a 26.8sec. quarter on a two-year-old, particularly with the plugs still in,” Hall said after the high-priced New Zealand import, the $1.20 favourite, had beaten the $6 second fancy Como El Viento by four lengths, rating 1.57.8. Last Hard Copy ($12) was three and a half lengths farther back in third place.
“Cyclone Jordy’s work at home has been super. He has an electric turn of foot as well as having electric gate speed.”
Cyclone Jordy was produced in splendid condition by Gary Hall Snr for his Australian debut and for his first start for 20 weeks. His sparkling performance was an outstanding trial for the $150,000 Golden Slipper next Friday night.
“I was planning to sit quietly in the breeze and drive him conservatively, not wanting to get in a war with Como El Viento,” said Hall Jnr. “However, Cyclone Jordy felt good, coming out (from barrier four), and he got three-quarters of a length on Como El Viento (the polemarker) without asking him, so I went on with it.”
After a modest lead time of 37.4sec. Cyclone Jordy dawdled through the opening quarter of the final mile in 32.3sec. and the second 400m in an ambling 30.9sec. before he sprinted the third 400m in 28.5sec.