Youre So Fine set for stardom
Inexperienced four-year-old Youre So Fine is firmly on track to shine in rich feature events at the coming summer carnival.
That’s the obvious conclusion after the brilliant New Zealand-bred pacer romped to an effortless victory in the $30,000 Retravision Marathon Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night --- his fifth win from five starts since resuming after a 19-month absence while recovering from tendon damage.
“He is showing the signs that he is going to measure up to all the big races,” said Gary Hall jnr after driving him to a most impressive win over Steel The Show in the 3309m Marathon when contesting his first race over a distance longer than 2200m.
Youre So Fine, trained by Gary Hall snr, was the $2 favourite who began safely from the front line and coasted to the front after 600m and set a solid pace before sprinting over the final quarters in 27.6sec. and 28.7sec.
Steel The Show, the $5.50 second favourite, began from the 30m mark and was ninth in the middle stages before sustaining a spirited three-wide burst to challenge Youre So Fine in the final circuit.
“Youre So Fine went quick down the back and did it quite easily,” said Hall jnr. “Every time Steel the Show came at him, he found a bit more. He is a good frontrunner but has shown that he is more than capable of racing with a sit.
“He will be set for big races like the WA Pacing Cup (November 10), the Golden Nugget (December 15) and the Fremantle Cup in April.”
Youre So Fine, purchased by trainer Brett Gray for $14,000 at the 2020 yearling sale in Christchurch, won once from three starts in New Zealand as a two-year-old before being bought by a syndicate of owners linked to the Hall stable for a considerably higher price.
He demanded a high price after finishing powerfully from fifth at the 500m to score an easy win over Franco Indie in the group 2 Diamond Creek Classic at Invercargill in May 2021 when he rated 1.56.7 to set a New Zealand record for a two-year-old colt or gelding.
Youre So Fine made an excellent Australian debut when he finished third behind Tricky Miki in the Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park in July 2021. He had three more runs at Gloucester Park as a two-year-old for two wins and a nose second to Floewriter before suffering tenson damage which kept him out of action for 19 months.
He is by Always B Miki and is the seventh foal out of the unraced Falcon Seelster mare Syriana, whose first foal Meticulous raced39 times for ten wins, seven placings and $109,067.
Ambitious plan for Hoppys Way
Prominent owner Jim Giumelli was delighted with Hoppys Way’s win in the $23,000 Steelos Open Every Race Meeting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he announced ambitious long-range plans for the New Zealand-bred pacer.
“I would like to race him in the Nullarbor next April,” he said after Shannon Suvaljko had driven the Kevin Keys-trained Hoppys Way to a fast-finishing head victory over the $1.95 favourite Street Hawk.
Hoppys Way, driven conservatively for a change, was a $8.80 chance who raced three back on the pegs in fifth position in the field of six before he finished strongly, out wide, to get up and win in a three-way photo finish, rating 1.58.8 over the 2536m, with final quarters of 28.9sec. and 28.1sec.
He has shown a liking for 2536m (the distance of the $1,250,000 Nullarbor to be run on April 19) having won three times over this distance as well as setting the pace and finishing second to Tricky Miki in the WA Derby last November.
“Hoppys Way has good starting speed and good finishing speed and has a very low heart rate,” said Giumelli. “He was lot No. 3 when I picked him out at the 2020 yearling sale in New Zealand, and I bought him for $NZ65,000.”
Hoppys Way, who is by Art Major, has won twice from his three appearances in his current campaign and looks set for a bright future. He now has raced 33 times for ten wins and six placings for earnings of $136,590.
He had led in six of his previous nine wins, but Keys decided on a change of tactics from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night. “He is versatile and when held up he can duck home really good,” said Keys. Raven Banner, a $7 chance from barrier four, began speedily and set a solid pace, with his stablemate Street Hawk working in the breeze before getting to a narrow lead in the final stages but failing to hold out the fast-finishing Hoppys Way.
Tenzing Bromac triumphs in tactical battle
As expected, the 2536m The Trots WA Pace developed into an intense tactical battle at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with outstanding reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green emerging triumphant, guiding the $3.30 second fancy Tenzing Bromac to a stirring victory.
The polemarker Patronus Star was the $1.70 favourite who was driven hard by Deni Roberts to take the early lead when the lead time was a fast 66.8sec.
Patronus Star defied an early challenge for ascendancy from noted speedy beginner and $19 chance The Mustang. Patronus Star led for the first 450m before Roberts wisely conceded the lead to The Mustang, who went forward again in a bid for the lead.
Once in front, The Mustang slackened the pace, and Roberts quickly regained the lead with Patronus Star. This left Tenzing Bromac racing without cover in fifth place in the field of six, and Egerton-Green dashed the five-year-old forward to wrest the lead from Patronus Star.
After a slow opening quarter of the final mile in 32.7sec., followed by a 30.2sec. section, Tenzing Bromac dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 27.4sec. to win comfortably by a length from Mighty Ronaldo, with The Mustang finishing gamely to be third, and Patronus Star fighting on doggedly into fourth place.
Tenzing Bromac is a talented gelding by champion sire Bettors Delight who won once from two New Zealand starts before winning at his first eight appearances in Western Australia for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
He gave further proof of his excellent potential by finishing third behind Himself and Jumpingjackmac in the Golden Nugget in December 2022 and then running second to Pinny Tiger in the 1730m Nights Of Thunder the following month. He looks certain to improve considerably on his record of 27 starts for 15 wins and eight placings for stakes of $180,297.
“This was a pretty tricky race early,” said Greg Bond. “We weren’t sure how it was going to play out. Obviously, Mighty Ronaldo, the reigning Fremantle Cup winner, is a high-quality horse, so it was always going to be interesting.
“There was a bit happening early, and Dylan was able to take advantage of the early burn and get to the front. We thought that Patronus Star could hold The Mustang, which he did early, but when The Mustang challenged again it would have been suicide to keep that horse out. Deni did the right thing to let him go (to the front) and then regain the lead.
“Patronus Star had done a lot when Tenzing Bromac came, and Patronus Star went on to find the line generously.
“Tenzing Bromac’s record says that he is a nice horse, and we feel that he is not going to be out of his depth in a Pacing Cup type race. So, that’s where we’re heading with him.”
Brief break for Cyclone Charlotte
Up-and-coming mare Cyclone Charlotte completed a winning hat-trick when she outclassed her rivals in the $30,000 WASBA Four And Five-Year-Old Mares Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and she will now enjoy a let-up before trainer Ray Williams prepares her for the rich events for mares later this year.
“I think that we have something to look forward to,” said Williams after Aiden de Campo drove Cyclone Charlotte, the $1.10 favourite, to a runaway victory over Special Lady ($11) and Shehadi ($51).
“She will now have a small break, and it is good that she is going out on a high. She is not telling us that she needs a break. She was very bright tonight, and I had difficulty in catching her when I went to get her to come to Gloucester Park. She was bucking and kicking, and this ended up being a good sign.”
Cyclone Charlotte, who had won by more than five lengths at Gloucester Park at her previous appearance, a fortnight earlier, scored by six lengths on Friday night. She began from barrier five and de Campo sent her to the front after 200m.
After a modest lead time of 38.6sec. and comfortable quarters of 30.8sec. and 30.3sec. she dashed over the final 400m sections in 29.1sec. and 27.6sec.
Cyclone Charlotte, who has raced 18 times for eight wins and nine placings for stakes of $98,559, will be set for the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on November 10 and the $150,000 Mares Classic on November 24.
October Reign pours on the pressure
Mardella trainer Michael Young produced five-year-old October Reign in fine fettle for his first-up assignment in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the Victorian-bred gelding overcame the disadvantage of the wide barrier at No. 8 to unwind a powerful late burst and snatch victory.
October Reign’s victory at a handsome tote price of $13.90 over Lucky Galleon ($7) and You Fly With Me ($4.20) gave champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr his fourth winner on the ten-event program, following successes with August Moon, Your So Fine and Whats Up Sunshine.
October Reign, having his first start for 18 weeks, was restrained after being three wide early, and he raced in ninth position, five back on the pegs, in the field of ten before Hall eased him into the clear approaching the home turn. He moved up to fifth at the 100m mark and then charged home to get to the front in the final couple of strides.
“I thought his trial run was good (when he led and finished a half-head second to Lucca at Pinjarra on Wednesday of the previous week, with final quarters of 28.9sec. and 28sec.),” said Hall. “And tonight, he was good and worked his way through nicely.”
Young said that he expected more wins from the Victorian-bred gelding. “He works like a decent horse at home, but he hasn’t been bringing that form to the races,” he explained. “But he did tonight.”
You Fly With Me set the pace before Lucky Galleon got to a narrow lead in the home straight. But both pacers were swamped by the fast-finishing October Reign, who now has had 44 starts for seven wins, 12 placings and stakes of $68,434.
He is by American stallion Sportswriter and is the second foal out of Show Me Amber, who earned $64,151 from 11 wins and 16 placings from 62 starts. October Reign’s half-brother I Am Marquez has had 100 starts for 13 wins, 23 placings and $93,810 in prizemoney.
Watts Up Sunshine breaks through
New South Wales-bred five-year-old Watts Up Sunshine, who had managed just one placing from his previous eight starts, bounced back to form with a soft win in the 1730m Follow @ Gloucester Park On Twitter Pace at pacing headquarters on Friday night.
Starting a hot $1.10 favourite, Watts Up Sunshine was not seriously challenged as he dawdled in front before sprinting over the final 400m in 27.2sec. to win by two lengths from his stablemate Beat City, the second fancy at $8.50 who raced without cover and battled on gamely.
“That was just trackwork for him,” said trainer Michael Young, who completed a double when October Reign was successful in the following event.
“Watts Up Sunshine is a frustrating horse. He could win a Free-For-All by leading. But if he doesn’t lead a CO (maiden) pacer could beat him. He is an absolute giant killer in front. He doesn’t try when he doesn’t lead. At his previous start he was travelling outside the leader Withoutthetuh and had the race shot to pieces. But he finished sixth.
“When he pokes his head in front, he drops the bit. But in front, he really tries.”
Watts Up Sunshine, a winner of 16 races in New South Wales and Queensland, has won at three of his eleven starts in WA, and he now has earned $201,085 from 19 wins and 18 placings from 70 starts.
A flat tyre helps Arma Xfactor
The off-side tyre of the $2.80 favourite Robbie Easton’s sulky was punctured moments after the start of the 1730m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night --- and this played a major role in the victory of the $3.40 second fancy Arma Xfactor.
Despite the serious handicap of a flat tyre, Chris Lewis made a bold effort to set the pace and win the race.
But in the end this mishap proved to be too big a handicap, and Robbie Easton wilted in the final stages to finish a close third behind Arma Xfactor and $126 outsider Blue Blazer, who trailed the pacemaking Robbie Easton throughout.
Maddison Brown was content to keep Arma Xfactor in the breeze where the horse kept Blue Blazer under lock and key and in a watertight pocket.
“I was happy to be in the breeze,” said Brown. “I heard someone getting a flat tyre just after the start, and when I got up alongside Robbie Easton, I saw it was him.”
Brown remained patient until she sent Arma Xfactor forward to take the lead 220m from home. The final quarters were covered in 28.1sec. and 28.9sec.
Lewis, who took a long despairing look at his punctured sulky tyre just after the start, lodged a protest against Blue Blazer, alleging that Blue Blazer’s near foreleg had struck Robbie Easton’s sulky and punctured the tyre. After a lengthy hearing, the stewards dismissed the protest.
Brown said that Arma Xfactor, trained by her father Colin, was tough and also was capable of running a fast quarter. “He was really switched on tonight and he likes being up on the pace,” she said.
Arma Xfactor is by American sire American Ideal and is the third foal out of Arma Xpress, who was an outstanding juvenile performer who raced 18 times for 12 wins, one placings and stakes of $279,890.
Whatabro ends losing run of 18
Victorian-bred six-year-old Whatabro has raced with youthful enthusiasm throughout his 144-start career, and he boosted his earnings to $261,282 from 28 wins and 44 placings when he sprinted home fast to win the 2130m Westside Auto Wholesale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is an absolute ripper horse who loves racing and has a great constitution,” said his trainer Michael Brennan. “For a horse like him to win more than a quarter of a million is testament to the breed.”
Whatabro, driven perfectly by Chris Voak, was a $25.10 outsider who ended a losing sequence of 18. His previous win was when he started out wide at barrier eight and set the pace before beating Dont Bother Me None and Galactic Star as a $30.40 outsider ($41 on the fixed market) at Gloucester Park early in March this year.
“Darren and Julie Billinger looked after him very well (in South Australia) before he came to me,” said Brennan. “When he has drawn barrier one and leads, he has proved very hard to beat. But he has been awfully unlucky with bad draws. And he has also been running good races in Free-For-Alls.”
Mea Culpa, the $1.55 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, had to be driven hard to hold the lead when $11 chance Mr Fantastic began speedily from barrier six and got three-quarters of a length in front.
Voak settled Whatabro in fourth place, three back on the pegs, before he eased the gelding off the inside with 850m to travel to enjoy the one-out, one-back passage behind the breeze horse Mr Fantastic. Whatabro finished strongly with a 28.5sec. final 400m section to win by a half-length from Mea Culpa, with the $3.40 chance Kimble getting clear on the home turn (after trailing the pacemaker) to be a head away I third place.
August Moon set for rich classic
Brilliant filly August Moon remained unbeaten in her current campaign when she outclassed her ten rivals in the 2130m The Running Camel Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was the $1.60 favourite from barrier four when Gary Hall gave her an ideal trip in the one-out, one-back position before sending her forward, with a sharp three-wide burst at the bell which saw her burst to the front 250m from home and go on and beat the pacemaking Castella Dellacqua by four lengths, rating 1.57.1 after final quarters of 29.4sec., 28.9sec. and 29.6sec.
“I want to space her runs to have her cherry ripe for the big races,” said trainer Luke Edwards. “Gary has had a big opinion of her from the first time he sat behind her.
“I don’t work her too hard at home, but she is a little professional who loves to work hard in her races. I’d hate to be the horse in front because August Moon just levels up and says ‘Let’s Go Baby.’
“It was a bit of a test tonight, with Castella Dellacqua setting a fast pace. I was a bit worried that I might have been too easy on August Moon, who was having her first run for three weeks.
“August Moon probably will have her next start in a fortnight, and then she will run in the $100,000 Westbred Classic for fillies on September 8. We will attack that race before getting her ready for the WA Oaks on October 6.”
August Moon has won easily at her three appearances in her current preparation. She has earned $139,190 from seven wins and five placings from 14 starts.
Vegas Strip aimed at Golden Slipper
Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond won 13 races with Double Up in 2021 and 2022 before he departed to the United States to continue his career in America.
Now they have high hopes that Double Up’s full-brother Vegas Strip will prove to be an even better pacer.
“Vegas Strip is very exciting and I was very impressed with his performance,” said Mrs Bond after the American Ideal gelding had dashed to the front after 100m, and after a slow early tempo (lead time of 39sec. and opening quarters of 32.7sec. and 31.2sec.) sprinted over the final 400m sections in 29.4sec. and 27.5sec. to win the 2130m TAB Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Vegas Strip, the $1.10 favourite, gave Deni Roberts an armchair drive on his way to winning convincingly from stablemates Golden Lode ($7.50) and Prince Of Pain ($14).
Vegas Strip, unplaced at his only appearance in New Zealand, has won easily at his first two runs in WA. He led when he defeated Artful Major and Grevis over 1609m at Bunbury ten days before Friday night’s victory.
“The Golden Slipper (a $150,000 group 1 event on September 29) is his target,” said Mrs Bond. The Bonds race Vegas Strip in partnership with the gelding’s breeders Les and Barbara Pettifer and Victorians Liz and Graham Williams.
“Vegas Strip is tough and has high speed as well,” said Mrs Bond. He is the fourth foal out of Vegas Delight, who has also produced Double Up (59 starts for 16 wins, 17 placings and $199,289) and Im Themightylucy, a winner of seven races in WA for trainer Michael Young and has a record of eight wins, four placings and stakes of $68,000 from 27 starts.
