Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Patience was a virtue for star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr, who was content to keep the $2.50 favourite Master Publisher at the rear while rank outsiders Mattjestic Star ($34) and Good Times Ahead ($61) fought for ascendancy at the head of the field in the 2130m Tom’s Ride For Ahlia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Master Publisher was seventh in the field of eight at the bell, with Vintage Blu ($5) enjoying a good run in the one-wide line behind Mattjestic Star for most of the way. Aldo Cortopassi sent Vintage Blu to the front 400m from home, but the four-year-old failed to hold out Master Publisher, who was saved up for a final burst by Hall and surged to the front in the final 60 metres before winning by a length from Vintage Blu.
“Master Publisher has had tendon issues and has always been a bit of a problem,” said Hall. “Tonight, everything worked out perfectly, we got a bit of luck, and he got the right run which is what he needed.”
Tendon issues have restricted the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Master Publisher, prepared by Gary Hall Snr, to 29 starts in Western Australia for nine wins and three placings.
The gelding, who is by A Rocknroll Dance, was bred and is owned by New Zealander Les Whiteside, who sent him to Hall’s stable after his three starts in New Zealand resulted in unplaced efforts in group events for two-year-olds in 2019.
Master Publisher is the ninth foal out of the unraced Badlands Hanover mare Neverland Franco, and he is closely related to Runaway Three, a winner of 15 races in WA.