Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr described Nevermindthechaos as “super tough” after driving the WA-bred five-year-old to an effortless victory in the $26,000 Bizlink Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Nevermindthechaos, the $1.50 favourite, raced without cover for the first 1480m before surging away from her rivals 650m from home and scoring by two lengths from $8 chance Three Rumours, rating 1.55.7 over the 2130m.
Chris Voak, driving the $15 chance Just For Love, was determined to take full advantage of the No. 1 barrier, and the mare held Nevermindthechaos at bay until Hall dashed her to the front in the last lap and won easily after final quarters of 27.5sec. and 29.4sec.
Just For Love wilted to fourth, with Chris Lewis bringing the Barry Howlett-trained five-year-old Three Rumours home with a powerful three-wide burst from sixth at the bell. Star Of Diamonds ($12), a stablemate of Three Rumours, impressed in running home strongly from last at the bell to be third.
“Nevermindthechaos was terrific,” said Hall. “I was happy to drive her in the breeze, sit-kick. But she got a little bit keen on me and put her head down and wanted to go. So, I went with it and got rolling a bit earlier than I wanted to.”
Nevermindthechaos, trained by Michael Young, has emerged as a leading candidate for the $50,000 Laurie Kennedy Pace, a 1730m feature event for mares next Friday week.
“She’s the fastest mare over a mile in the State,” said Young as he pointed out that she had rated 1.53.4 in the 1730m APG Gold Bullion heat last April.
“If she had been sound all the way, she would be up there with her stablemate Eighteen Carat,” said Hall. “There’s not much between them. When I had to go with Nevermindthechaos tonight I thought she would be a bit vulnerable. But she is super tough and has a great attitude. She has a big future, providing she stays sound.”
Injuries have restricted Nevermindthechaos to just 24 starts for nine wins, seven placings and stakes of $100,982. She fractured a hip and then damaged a tendon as a two-year-old.