Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr heaped praise on Im Stealthy after driving the New Zeeland-bred gelding to an easy win in the Finals On Big Screens Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Im Stealthy, the $1.04 favourite, led from barrier two, with stablemate D Mac ($7.50) in the breeze, before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27.9sec. to win by a length from $17 chance Proposition Joe, who finished gamely after enjoying a perfect sit in the one-out and one-back position. The winner rated a smart 1.54.9.
This took Im Stealthy’s record to ten starts for seven wins and one third placing for earnings of $71,062. “I think he is the No. 1 three-year-old in WA,” declared Hall. “There are a lot of nice three-year-olds around, so when it comes to the crunch (in the WA Derby on October 30) the barrier draw is going to be important.
“Im Stealthy did what he felt comfortable doing tonight. It felt like we were going a fair bit slower. He is still a work in progress, and he has a Murphy (blind) to help him to get around the (home) bend. I expect him to go right through the classes and be a Cups horse when he matures.”
Skinny Dippin, prepared by Hall of Fame trainers Greg and Skye Bond, enhanced her prospects of winning the $150,000 WA Oaks on October 2 when she revealed sparkling speed to win the 2130m Taste of WA Pace, rating 1.55.7.
Deni Roberts gave Skinny Dippin plenty of time to settle down after starting from the No. 4 barrier while the polemarker and $6.50 third fancy Im Category Five ran a fast lead time of 36.5sec.
Skinny Dippin zoomed to the front after 550m and after comfortable sections of 30.5swec. and 29.6sec. she sprinted over the final quarters in 28sec. and 28.5sec. to win by two lengths from the $4.60 second favourite Miss Leopatra, who finished strongly from sixth at the bell. Manuka Bay ($12), a stablemate of the winner was a good third after racing without cover.