Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
One week after Ira Poole was a fading last behind Galaxy Warrior, the New Zealand-bred five-year-old bounced back with an easy all-the-way win in the $30,000 Im Themightyquinn Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“You can’t imagine how he went last week compared with how he performed tonight,” said Gary Hall Jnr after driving Ira Poole, the $1.30 favourite, to victory over Our Shelley Beach ($9) and Jackpot Joe ($41), rating 1.56.2 over the 2130m.
“He is a quirky horse. In front he is very good; anywhere else he is in trouble because he pulls and hangs. He’s two different horses. Last week Galaxy Warrior pushed him out of the way on the (home) bend and went straight past him.
“It’s wonderful to win a race named after Im Themightyquinn, who looks amazing at the age of 20. He got on his toes and loved it when he led the field on to the track at the Pinjarra Cup a couple of weeks ago.”
Im Themightyquinn was prepared by champion trainer Gary Hall Snr and was driven in most of his 58 wins (for stakes of $4,567,456) by Hall Jnr.
“Ira Poole should win more races and he could be an ideal candidate for a career in the United States,” said Hall Jnr.
Ira Poole is by Falcon Seelster and is the second foal out of the Mach Three mare Turiya Bromac. He did not race in New Zealand and has had 31 starts in Victoria for six wins and ten placings, with his seven WA starts for Hall Snr producing three wins and one placing, improving his career record to 38 starts for nine wins, 11 placings and $73,393.