Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr made the most of an unusual stroke of luck to drive Water Lou to a decisive victory in the $100,000 APG Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was engaged by veteran trainer Mike Reed and owners Jim and Wilma Giumelli to handle Water Lou after Shannon Suvaljko elected to handle brilliant stablemate Lion Queen, the pre-post odds-on favourite from the favourable No. 2 barrier.
However, six hours before the 1730m classic Reed was shocked to discover swelling in Lion Queen’s near foreleg, and after a vet’s inspection and scans a decision was made to scratch the filly, which left star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko without a drive.
Suvaljko, who had handled Water Lou at her first three race starts for three effortless wins, revealed genuine sportsmanship when he approached Hall before the race and discussed the filly’s racing characteristics.
Water Lou was the $1.40 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line and Hall got the filly away to a flying start on her way to getting to the front after 400m and setting the pace, with opening quarters of 29.5sec. and 31.2sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.9sec. and 29sec. to win by 4m from $7.50 second fancy Xceptional Arma, rating 1.57.8.
“I had the benefit of a bit of luck,” said Hall. “It was bad luck for the connections and for Shannon.”
It wasn’t completely all plain sailing for Hall, with Water Lou resenting her nearside lugging pole and threatening to run up the track. “So, I had to let her go a bit,” said Hall.
Thirteen months earlier Hall made the most of an unexpected offer to drive the Reed-trained and Giumelli-owned Cabsav in the Sales Classic final for two-year-old fillies after Suvaljko had opted to drive stablemate and odds-on favourite Temukas Girl, who set the pace before wilting and finishing third behind the $16 chance Cabsav.
“It was about 2.30 this afternoon when we got Lion Queen out of her box, and when I went to shampoo her, I looked at her leg and saw that right on the bottom of the tendon was a little cut and the joint was up,” said Reed.
“So, I rang Kim Rose the vet, and he came out and scanned the tendon. There was swelling in the joint, and the decision was made to scratch her. It was very disappointing because I expected Lion Queen to win the race. And I feel for Shannon, who has missed out again.
“Further scans will be taken on Tuesday, and hopefully Lion Queen will be okay and be able to contest some of the upcoming races for two-year-old fillies.”
For Hall, this was his fourth success in the Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies, following wins with Soho Cannes in 2011, Red Hot Roxy (2016) and Cabsav (2022).
Water Lou is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the eighth foal out of The Live Or Die mare Living Hei. Water Lou, purchased for $65,000 at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, is unbeaten at four starts and has earned $76,191. She is a half-sister to the Colin Brown-trained and driven pacer Erskine Range, who had 95 starts for 25 wins, 18 placings and $255,480.
The $100,000 APG Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings was declared a no race after $10 chance Greatgreat Boulder choked down and fell about 1150m from home.
The race will be re-run next Friday night, with the runners starting from the same barriers as they did in Friday night’s event.