Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The all-conquering combination of champion trainer Gary Hall Snr and his son Gary Jnr emphasised their standing as all-time greats of Western Australian harness racing when they combined to win the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup with Diego at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
They are establishing records that could well stand for time immemorial — 13 WA Pacing Cup triumphs for the 73-year-old Hall Snr and nine for his 40-year-old son.
Diego’s all-the-way victory as the $3.60 favourite ended an emotion-charged fortnight full of drama for the Hall family — including the shock death of leading Cup candidate Gambit, Hall junior’s suspension for causing interference in a minor event followed by his subsequent successful appeal three days before the big race which came five days after his partner Maddison Brown spent several minutes motionless on the Gloucester Park track after being sent flying in a race scrimmage.
Brown suffered concussion, and under medical protocols was ruled unfit to drive in the Cup after she had driven Diego at his past 21 starts for seven wins and seven placings.
Meanwhile Hall had to endure lengthy stewards’ inquiries as he pleaded his innocence before he appeared before the appeals tribunal and had to wait almost a week to be informed the outcome.
“There is no truer saying than a week is a long time,” said Hall Jnr. “Being suspended; Maddy falls, and Gambit dies. It was a weird feeling. I was super nervous on the day of the race; it was more so to do with Maddy and her being unable to drive in the Cup.
“This morning (Friday) after we had finished work at the stable we went out for lunch. Maddy is sore and not feeling great, but she ate her lunch. However, I was so nervous and just couldn’t eat my roll (roast beef, pickle and salad).
“I usually get nervous once I get to the track, but not that early. Maddy’s fall shook me; it was a horrible sight, seeing her lying on the track, knocked out.
“Maddy has made Diego who has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since she has been driving him. I would have much preferred if it was her driving him tonight.”
Diego, who was an orphan after his dam Sakura died when foaling him on December 6, 2015, will now be given a let-up for a couple of weeks before being prepared for the $1 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park on April 14.
Diego, a seven-year-old gelding by champion sire Bettors Delight, was bred and is owned by Syd and Shona Brown, who bred and owned My Field Marshal, who won the 2019 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park.
The Browns, who come from Wingatui, a small town 15km west of Dunedin, were at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and said that they were looking forward to returning to WA in April for the Nullarbor slot race when they would be delighted to have Brown in the sulky behind Diego.
“Diego has made his way to this class, purely through the results of Maddy,” said Syd Brown. “Diego’s mother died when foaling him, and he was raised by a foster mother, and we never thought he would get to these heights. We named the horse after our granddaughter Ellie used to shout ‘Go Diego’ while she was watching a children’s television program It’s Dora The Destroyer.”
Hall Snr admitted that he was overwhelmed at having won the WA Pacing Cup 13 times, saying: “It was a race I tried to win as a driver, but I wasn’t good enough. I feel sorry for Maddison; she’s the one who has got Diego to this stage.”
Diego now has earned $664,759 from 21 wins and 20 placings from 77 starts. He won at three of his 17 New Zealand starts, and his 60 WA starts for the Hall stable has resulted in 18 wins, 15 placings and $638,009.
Friday night’s Cup was a pedestrian affair, with Hall Jnr dictating the terms in front as he took full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier. Diego was smartest into stride and was quickly joined by the $4.20 second favourite Magnificent Storm.
Magnificent Storm made a brief but unsuccessful challenge for the lead before Aldo Cortopassi was content to race in the breeze, with the Fremantle Cup winner Mighty Ronaldo ($9.50) trailing the pacemaker and Minstrel ($6) enjoying the perfect one-out, one-back trail.
After a leisurely first lap and modest opening quarters of the final mile of 31sec. and 29.1sec. Hall lifted the tempo and Diego dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.4sec. and 28.1sec.
Ryan Warwick eased Minstrel three wide 420m from home but he did not threaten danger. He was inconvenienced in the home straight when he locked wheels with stablemate Patronus Star. But the bird had flown, and it was left for Diego to hold on and beat his stablemate and $11 chance Jumpingjackmac, who was sixth at the bell and finished powerfully.
“I didn’t think it was going to be that easy,” said Hall Jnr. “We felt like we were crawling early. It was one of those races when you’re confident that no-one is going to pull out and do something silly. The 2936m really is a bit too far, and without being negative, the Pacing Cup probably should be run over 2500m. And I’d love to see the Fremantle Cup run as a 2900m stand.
“Tonight, everyone (the rival drivers) was trying to maximize their earnings. No other horse was going good enough to put pressure on Diego, and win the race. Ideally, you would need a horse like Chicago Bull, Im Themightyquinn or Magnificent Storm to be going good and able to create pressure.
“I preferred having Magnificent Storm outside of me, instead of Minstrel. Ryan (Warwick) was not going to pull out of the one-one to go to the breeze. I was not particularly worried about Minstrel because I knew he would have to come out three wide. He seems to be a better horse when he’s not wide.
“Jumpingjackmac was huge. Diego tends to shut off a bit, and I saw that there was only one coming, and when I saw it was Jack, I said ‘who cares?’ I would’ve been just as happy if Stu (Stuart McDonald) had won because he is a huge part of our team who takes a lot of pressure off Dad, and, therefore, me as well.”
Jumpingjackmac’s second placing gave Hall Snr his second WA Pacing Cup quinella, the first being when Hokonui Ben beat Toretto in 2014.
“Nine wins in the Cup — now I’ve got to get to the magical ten,” said Hall Jnr who was the star of the night with a quartet of winners — Nevermindthechaos, Diego, Walsh and The Ideal Touch.