Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred five-year-old Finvarra gave a strong indication that he should be a leading candidate for the BOTRA and Winter Cups next month when he was not extended in setting the pace and winning the $23,750 WAFL Word Sport Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The $1.60 favourite was smartest into stride from the No. 2 barrier and relished his frontrunning role before beating the $8 third fancy Himself by two and a half lengths, rating 1.55.9 over the 2130m.
Himself, racing first-up after a five-month absence, fought on gamely after racing in the breeze. He finished a half-length ahead of $19 chance The Mustang, who led early and then enjoyed a perfect trip behind the pacemaker.
“Finvarra did what we expected him to do,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. “He got away with a bit, and it is good to get a soft run for an easy win.”
Finvarra is by American Ideal and is out of the New Zealand-bred Changeover mare Nuala, who had a brilliant 19-start career of 14 wins, two placings and stakes of $132,449 before being retired to the breeding barn.
Finvarra is trained by Gary Hall Snr, who prepared Nuala for her 18 starts in WA for 13 wins and two placings. Her main win was in the Group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic at Gloucester Park in February 2015.
Nuala was an all-the-way winner on debut at her only appearance in New Zealand when she beat Analeigh by two and a half lengths, rating 1.58.8 over 2000m at Oamaru in May 2014. This was a track record for a two-year-old filly.
Nuala’s dam Forever Blue won four races in New Zealand before her owners and trainers Greg and Nina Hope sold her for $100,000 to America where she won another 13 races between 2003 and 2005 and ended her career with a record of 83 starts for 17 wins, 28 placings and $244,742 in prizemoney. The astute Hopes then bought Forever Blue for just $5000 for a career as a broodmare.