Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Im Stealthy in preference to that gelding’s star stablemate D Mac in the 2130m JP’s With AFL finals on Big Screens Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Hall has handled D Mac (trained by Gary Hall Snr) in all of his seven WA starts, including a brilliant all-the-way success in the Group 1 Golden Slipper last September. D Mac had a tough run last Friday week when he challenged Havtimeformiki unsuccessfully for the early lead when the lead time was run in a scorching 33.8sec.
This caused him to race keenly and he did well to finish third behind Im Stealthy and Havtimeformiki, with the winner rating 1.55.1 after final 400m sections of 28.3sec. and 26.9sec. Im Stealthy, driven by Stuart McDonald, raced without cover in the middle stages before taking the lead with 450m to travel.
McDonald will handle D Mac this week when the gelding begins from the No. 4 barrier.
“It wasn’t a difficult choice, considering the draw,” said Hall Jnr. “From the better draw Im Stealthy should win. I will be looking to lead. There are some good horses in the race but Im Stealthy has the draw advantage which should make it hard for the others.
“Im Stealthy’s last-start win was super, and D Mac went super as well. The top three in that race were outstanding.”
Hall is looking for Never Ending to return to winning form when the six-year-old begins from the No. 5 barrier in the $25,000 JP’s Drink Specials Pace over 1730m.
“He showed he was on the way back at his last start (when he raced outside the pacemaker Lucca before wilting to finish sixth behind Sweet Pins over 1730m last Friday week),” said Hall. “He went good enough when he just tired over the final 50 metres.”
Skylord, trained and driven by Jocelyn Young, has good gate speed and will be suited from the No. 1 barrier. The six-year-old has been out of the winning list for two years.
“Two starts ago Skylord set the pace from barrier two before fading to sixth behind Alta Allure over 2130m,” said Young. “Apparently, he didn’t like leading, and he keeps me guessing.
“His trackwork has been quite good, so I hope I am on the right track with him. I might make a few gear changes this week and we will come out (at the start) and assess things from, there.”