Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
It was a case of mixed fortune for champion horseman Gary Hall Jnr in the $23,000 Retravision, Buy Now, Pay Later Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he trained two of the runners (Solesseo Matuca and Regal Cheval) and drove the $2.70 favourite Ira Poole for his father, champion trainer Gary Hall Snr.
Ira Poole set the pace from barrier two after Regal Cheval ($41) had led in the early stages, with Stuart McDonald settling Solesseo Matuca ($8.80) in sixth position in the field of eight.
Franco Ecuador raced in the breeze and got his nose in front on the home turn before $3 second fancy Rolling Fire came from the one-out, one-back position to take the lead in the straight. Solesseo Matuca then finished fast to snatch victory by a half-head from Rolling Fire.
“It was a funny run race with the ones up the front not going at their best which helped us, as well as Rolling Fire was having his first start for seven weeks,” said McDonald.
“Solesseo Matuca travelled well all the way and showed the benefit of racing every week.” Solesseo Matuca’s 12 starts in WA have produced three wins and five placings, taking his record to 57 starts for 13 wins, 23 placings and stakes of $286,541.
After the race it was discovered that Ira Poole (who had wilted to finish sixth) was suffering from lameness in an off-side leg.