Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Former Victorian square gaiter No Republic resumed racing after a 15-week absence in fine style with a commanding victory in the 2536m Catalano Truck And Equipment Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was an impressive performance which was a strong indication that the seven-year-old should develop into a leading candidate for the rich WA Trotters Cup at Christmas.
After nine wins in Victoria, No Republic has had four starts in Western Australia for three wins and a second placing. He is owned by Virginia Brosnan and her mother Julija, and now has earned $97,410.
Virginia Brosnan’s father Richard (73) is a former champion New Zealand horseman who trained and drove No Response to victory in the 1979 Interdominion Trotters Championship final at Addington and won the 1983 New Zealand Cup with Bonnie’s Chance. He is also a member of New Zealand’s harness racing’s Hall of Fame.
No Republic is prepared by Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey, who said that when he started training pacers several years ago, he purchased a few New Zealand pacers from Brosnan.
Brosnan left New Zealand less than two years ago and is now preparing a team of horses in country Victoria.
“I got a call from the Brosnans in May this year, asking whether I would be interested in training No Republic,” said Turvey. “I said I yes, and the horse arrived in WA at the end of the month. He came straight off the truck and was in such good nick that he won (at Pinjarra) ten days after arriving here. So, I took no credit for that.
“He won at Gloucester Park the following week, and a week after that he finished second at Gloucester Park. He was then engaged to have his next start at Gloucester Park, but I had to scratch him when he developed a bad abscess in a back foot.
“I thought that he would need the run tonight, even though he had been working well. I was not expecting him to win, but when he did, it was a bonus.” No Republic was favourite at $2.80, and from the No. 4 barrier, Emily Suvaljko did not bustle him in the early stages, and he settled down in ninth position before she sent him forward, three wide, with 1050m to travel, with the $3.90 second fancy Mr Sundon bowling along in front. No Republic quickly moved to the breeze, and he took the lead 250m from home and went on to win by more than a length from Tears Of Joy ($4.60), with My Medina ($6.50) three lengths farther back in third place. My Sundon wilted to finish sixth.