Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
A dashing trial by Nevermindthechaos at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week was a strong indication that the six-year-old mare was capable of a winning performance at her first appearance for seven months when she begins from the No. 1 barrier in the Westral Roller Shutters Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She felt really good in the trial, somewhere near her best,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. “She should lead and prove hard to beat.”
In the trial filed of six over 2185m Nevermindthechaos, prepared by Mardella trainer Michael Young, took the lead after 350m and won easily by two lengths from Hes A Cool Mach, rating 1.56.5, with quarters of 31.3sec., 28.3sec., 29.8sec. and 28.1sec.
Hall said that he is hoping for considerable improvement from Hes Never Been Beta when the New Zealand-bred four-year-old lines up at barrier seven in the 2130m www.gloucesterpark.com.au Pace.
Hes Never Been Beta, trained by Gary Hall Snr, reappeared after an absence of eight months last Friday night when he was the $1.55 favourite from barrier No. 6 in a race over 2130m. Hall did not attempt to use the gelding’s gate speed, and he disappointed in finishing a well-beaten sixth behind the pacemaker Lady prima Donna.
Hes Never Been Beta raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, and was switched three wide about 250m from home, but failed to flatter.
“Hes Never Been Beta didn’t travel that well,” said Hall. “But I should have gone forward off the arm, and that’s what I plan to do this week, and put him into the race.”
Hall also is quietly confident that Finvarra will improve significantly on his first-up sixth behind Minstrel last Friday night when he starts from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the $23,000 KTC Bloodstock Yearling Parade Pace.
Finvarra raced in seventh position and was hampered for room until late in last week’s race.
“This is a good race for him this week and he is sure to be improved by last week’s run,” said Hall. “He is quite versatile, and we have options. And I reckon he will be pretty hard to hold out.”
Finvarra’s main opposition looks likely to be the Colin Brown-trained Arma Einstein, to be driven by Maddison Brown from barrier six. Arma Einstein has been placed at his past five starts, with seconds to Magnificent Storm, Minstrel and Lavra Joe, and thirds behind Magnificent Storm and Lavra Joe.