Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr has laid down the challenge to rival owners and trainers that they will need to have their young pacers on song when the $200,000 WA Derby is run on October 30.
This message came through loud and clear when Hall produced four classy three-year-olds, all by boom American sire Downbytheseaside, in the1730m Calcio Italiano Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and they filled the first four placings.
Im Stealthy, the $2.80 second fancy from out wide at barrier eight, was driven confidently by Stuart McDonald for an impressive victory.
He won by almost a length from the $2.35 favourite and last year’s Golden Slipper winner D Mac, driven by Gary Hall Jnr, with $9 chance He Is Talking (Dylan Egerton-Green) 4m away in third place and just a nose ahead of Bumrah ($4.80; Deni Roberts).
Bumrah led early before Egerton-Green sent He Is Talking to the front after 350m. And then Im Stealthy, after racing four wide early, zoomed to the top 200m later.
The opening 400m section was covered in a blistering 27.2sec. before the next two quarters were run in 29.7sec. and 29.6sec. The final quarter whizzed by in 27.9sec., with the winner rating a smart 1.53.3.
“Im Stealthy is a big dummy and is still learning,” said McDonald. “To run a mile like that, first-up (for four and a half months) and to run the first quarter in 27.2sec. shows that he is a horse on the way up.”
D Mac began from the outside barrier (No. 3) on the back line and settled down at the rear before starting a three-wide burst after 750m. He was seventh at the bell and finished determinedly.
Im Stealthy now has had seven starts for five wins and stakes of $45,958. He is the seventh foal out of the unraced Jeremes Jet mare Bay Jet, whose first foal Wildwest was a star for the Hall stable and was retired with a fine record of 66 starts for 17 wins, 14 placings and earnings of $619,218.
The highlight of Wildwest’s career was his last-stride victory as a $91 outsider in the WA Pacing Cup in February 2022 when he beat Miracle Moose by a half-head, with that pair beating home Chicago Bull, Magnificent Storm and Minstrel.
The Hall stable also produced another brilliant first-up winner on Friday night when Gary Hall Jnr drove New Zealand-bred four-year-old Scooter B to a runaway victory in the 2130m King Of Swing Pace.
Scooter B, making his first appearance for 15 months, was a hot $1.10 favourite from barrier six. He sped to an early lead and was untroubled to bowl along in front and coast to a three-length win over $101 outsider Jamie Kim, rating 1.58.2.
“I didn’t want to blast him early when I felt he could have got out quicker,” said Hall Jnr. “He has been plagued with injuries and we’re hoping to get a full preparation into him”.
Scooter B, a Bettors Delight gelding, has raced ten times for four wins, four placings and stakes of $47,815.