OUR MERCURIO UPSTAGES STAR PACERS IN BIO-JOHN CUP

Ace reinsman Colin Brown celebrated his final drive before departing on a holiday cruise with his wife Lyn by landing 20/1 outsider Our Mercurio a shock winner over star pacers Has The Answers and Im Themightyquinn in the $20,500 Bio-John Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

One week after celebrating his 52nd birthday, Brown drove like a dervish in the first 100m to make sure that polemarker Our Mercurio would be able to settle in the box seat behind the brilliant frontrunner, Has The Answers.

Chris Lewis fired out Has The Answers (10/9) from barrier seven and the eight-year-old surged to the lead after 100m. Im Themightyquinn, the 10/9 on favourite, got away smartly from barrier eight, but was forced four wide and then three wide before getting to the breeze after 520m.

After Has The Answers sped over the first 400m of the final mile in 28.1sec., Lewis restrained the gelding who then cruised over the next 400m section in a leisurely 32.5sec. It then appeared that Has The Answers would simply carry too many guns for his rivals.

Im Themightyquinn, resuming after a nine-week absence, was battling to keep in touch with Has The Answers at the 400m mark. Has The Answers booted a length and a half clear passing the 250m mark and Brown got Our Mercurio into the clear approaching the home turn.

Our Mercurio sprinted strongly and got to the lead a couple of strides from the post to score by a head, with Im Themightyquinn clinging on to third place, almost three lengths farther back. Outsider Luminous Lombo was a head away, fourth.

The final 800m was covered in 56.1sec. and Our Mercurio rated 1.57.4 over the 2130m trip to take his career record to 14 wins and 13 places from 41 starts for earnings of $145,666. A son of Christian Cullen, he won five times in New Zealand and now has had 24 WA starts for eight wins and eight placings.

Generally recognised as a standing-start specialist, Our Mercurio’s previous six wins were in stands. He had raced in mobiles at only three of his first 23 starts in WA.

Part-owner and trainer Greg Bond was surprised at Our Mercurio’s performance, saying that he had been hoping the gelding would run a place behind Has The Answers and Im Themightyquinn.

“I made a couple of gear changes and he has done exceptionally well,” he said.     

 TOUGH PUHINUI RAINBOW GIVES WILLIAMS A DOUBLE

Karnup horseman Grant Williams maintained his dazzling form in the sulky when he drove with great skill to land a double with Smart Cullen and Puhinui Rainbow at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Puhinui Rainbow, trained by his father, Ray, gave a tough staying performance to triumph over the pacemaker Jordangarry in the 2503m E-Pro Equine Professional Pace.

Earlier, Smart Cullen stormed home to beat 7/4 on favourite Grinjaro in the 2130m Nutro Natural Choice Pace.

Puhinui Rainbow, a winner of seven races in New Zealand, now has had 32 starts in WA for three wins, with Friday night’s success taking his earnings from 81 starts to $105,467.

Puhinui Rainbow, equal favourite at 7/4, began smartly from 10m, but was forced to do all the work in the breeze after Chris Lewis fired out equal favourite Jordangarry from the 10m line.

Puhinui Rainbow exerted great pressure on Jordangarry in the final circuit before forging to the front 120m from home and scoring by 2m at a 2.1.4 rate. Pancho Maguire, the lone backmarker off 20m, battled on gamely from seventh at the bell to finish third.

Smart Cullen also took his earnings past the $100,000 mark when he caused an upset in finishing fast to beat Grinjaro and rank outsider Dark As Suede. The New Zealand-bred Christian Cullen seven-year-old now has earned $100,585 from his five wins and 13 placings from 60 New Zealand starts and six wins and eight placings from 27 starts in WA.

Sparks flew in the early stages when Eastwood Fire (11/4) began speedily from barrier eight and charged forward to get to the front after 420m. Then, when Sanderella ducked in to take the trail behind the pacemaker, Grinjaro was left in the breeze and Williams slotted Smart Cullen into the prime one-out and one-back position.

The lead time set by Eastwood Fire was a sizzling 34.5sec. The fastest recorded is 34.3sec.

Grinjaro, driven by Shannon Suvaljko, eventually got past Eastwood Fire 500m from home and the four-year-old led by a length and a half on the home turn. But he was a sitting shot and Smart Cullen charged home to burst to the front in the final 40m.

Smart Cullen rated a slick 1.57.4 over the 2130m, while Eastwood Fire wilted to finish well back in tenth position.

Michael George, who drove Eastwood Fire, was suspended for 19 days for causing interference turning out of the back straight, shortly after the start. He pleaded guilty for allowing Eastwood Fire to shift inwards and tighten Grinjaro on to Barachias (Adam Mellsop), Sanderella (Chris Voak) and Cracklin Rose (Chris Lewis).

In suspending George, the stewards took into account his excellent driving record. He had not been suspended in the past two years when he had more than 900 drives.

The stewards also reprimanded George for crossing Bubbles And Bling (Kim Prentice), Cracklin Rose and other horses on the first turn.

George explained that he had been instructed to settle Eastwood Fire in front of Grinjaro and that he was surprised that Voak and Lewis had kicked up on his inside.

 GO FIGURE COMES GOOD FOR HER NEW TRAINER

Eight-year-old mare Go Figure, who had been unplaced at her 15 starts at Gloucester Park, broke through for her initial city-class success and ended a losing sequence of 12 when she beat Courtybabe and Barriettas Joy in the 2130m Bio John Medisportz Tape Pace on Friday night.

Having her first start since entering the Byford stables of Shannon Suvaljko earlier in the month, Go Figure, a 17/4 chance on the tote, began speedily from barrier four and got a half-length clear of polemarker Colour Me Cam 100m after the start, but was unable to cross to the pegs.

Suvaljko then eased Go Figure to take the trail behind Colour Me Cam. Barriettas Joy (7/2) settled in eighth place before Chris Brew sent her forward, three wide, after a lap to race in the breeze.

Barriettas Joy got to the front 350m from home and 70m later Suvaljko eased Go Figure off the pegs. Go Figure dashed to the front at the 100m mark and raced away to score by 5m from Courtybabe, who had followed Go Figure throughout.

Go Figure, owned by Kalina Brown, is by American stallion Slug of Jin out of Midnight Moves, a mare who had only nine starts for wins in minor events at Kapunda and Globe Derby Park in 1997.

Go Figure now has had 85 starts for eight wins and 19 placings for earnings of $49,233. She is a half-sister to smart mare Sunsets West, who has earned $97,683 from her eight wins and 21 placings from 65 starts. Midnight Moves also produced Oscar Dela Fighter, who has had 128 starts for 11 wins, 31 placings and $57,277.

 REAL LIFE PROVING A GOOD BUY FOR SVILICICH

Real Life is proving a good buy for Byford trainer Tony Svilicich. The seven-year-old was claimed by Svilicich for $15,000 two months ago and he boosted his earnings for his new owner to $23,347 when he won the Advance Pet Nutrition Claiming Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The Life Sign gelding now has had nine starts for Svilicich for a win and five placings. His win by just over a length from Scram Jet completed a driving double in successive races for Shannon Suvaljko. Suvaljko had won the previous event with Go Figure.

Real Life, favourite at 2/1 on, started from barrier nine and was restrained to the rear by Suvaljko, who then urged the gelding forward, three wide and following Parasite, after about 300m.

Outsider Surfin Superstar set the pace and Gary Bromac moved into the breeze 550m after the start. Real Life was sixth, three wide with a trail, at the bell.

Gary Bromac swept past the tiring Surfin Superstar and took the lead with 600m to travel before Real Life surged forward to assume control 250m from home. Scram Jet ran home determinedly from ninth at the bell to be second, with Westwind Renegade coming home powerfully from last at the bell to fill third place.

Real Life won eight races in Victoria before arriving in WA where he has had 31 starts for seven wins.

 MELLSOP’S AGGRESSION PAYS DIVIDENDS

A confident, aggressive drive by Waroona trainer Bob Mellsop paid handsome dividends when Mr Clancy ended a frustrating sequence of six minor placings by winning the Proplan-Australian Made Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Mellsop urged the 6/4 favourite forward, out four wide, after starting from the No. 5 barrier. Noted frontrunner Denzel Washington led from No. 1 for the first 300m before Mellsop dashed Mr Clancy to the front.

Mr Clancy then bowled along in the lead, with Hirli Birli Lombo moving to the breeze after a lap and Denzel Washington enjoying the trail behind the pacemaker.

Stephen Reed eased Denzel Washington off the pegs 300m from home, but the gelding just plugged on to finish fifth. Hirli Birli Lombo was a fighting second, with Hillview Storm coming from fifth on the pegs at the bell to fill third place.

Mr Clancy, a six-year-old by Village Jasper, won once (at Forbury in May 2008) in New Zealand before winning ten races in Victoria. His owners sent him to Mellsop’s Waroona stables early this year and the gelding has now had 22 starts in this State for five wins, eight placings and $41,202 in stakes. His career earnings now stand at $99,556.

 LAST LEFT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF CONCESSION

South Australian-bred nine-year-old Last Left is the latest beneficiary of new regulations which give pacers on an M2 mark or better a handsome reassessment.

These rules allow horses assessed M2 or better a let-up after a losing sequence of ten. Last Left took advantage of dropping back from M2 company to an M1 mark by scoring an upset victory in the Thompson and Redwood Pace over 2096m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Last Left certainly rewarded astute harness racing fans who keenly follow horses who receive this concession. He started at the massive odds of 69/1, even despite the presence of top reinsman Chris Lewis in the sulky.
 
Last Left, trained at Wanneroo by Colin Cummins, started on the front line of the standing-start event and Lewis settled him three back on the pegs while Just Ludachris was setting a brisk pace.

Just Ludachris (15/1) was charging along in front at the bell, with Christopher Three on his outside and Conte Centovalli threatening danger as he moved to fourth, out three wide.

Last Left was in sixth place at the bell and he was eighth when Lewis eased him off the pegs with 370m to travel. The old gelding was still seventh at the 100m mark as Lewis switched him six wide. He flew home to get up in the final stride, winning by a head from Just Ludachris. A head away in third place was 5/4 favourite My Sound of Thunder, who finished boldly from 11th at the bell. A head away in fourth place was Conte Centovalli.

Last left, by Fake Left out of Glamour Booth, who managed one placing from her six starts (all at Mount Gambier in 1997), now has had 88 starts for 15 wins, 26 placings and stakes of $93,107.

 NORMAN-YOUNG COMBINATION STRIKES AGAIN

The combination of Serpentine breeder and trainer Alan Norman and Pinjarra reinsman Shane Young has enjoyed considerable success over the past decade.

And they were to the fore again at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Young drove Full Package to a two-length victory over The Cessanator in the Hygain Sprintlane Pace over 2130m.

Five-year-old Full Package, owned by Norman’s son Brad, is carrying on the good work of his dam On Golden Pond, his half-brother Our Golden Finale and half-sister Miss Placed.

Full Package is proving his worth with seven wins, 14 placings and stakes of $46,904 from 44 starts. His dam On Golden Pond (by Its Levity) was bred by Alan Norman and had 108 starts for eight wins, 23 placings and $34,500.
Norman then bred Our Golden Finale and Miss Placed from On Golden Pond, with Young driving Our Golden Finale to his final ten wins in a 131-start career of 17 wins and 22 placings for earnings of $114,847.

Young also has driven Miss Placed to her five wins for stakes of $96,704. As a two-year-old, Miss Placed won the Western Crown Classic and the $100,000 State Sires Series final for fillies in 2007.

Oscar Riley (3/1) set the pace, with The Cessanator applying plenty of pressure in the breeze and Full Package enjoying a perfect trip, one-out and one-back.

The Cessanator put his head in front 700m from home and booted clear with 470m to travel before Young sent Full Package to the front at the 250m mark. Oscar Riley faded to finish tenth.

 SAD SEQUEL TO JAYARE LAD’S EXCITING VICTORY

The thrilling fast-finishing victory by Jayares Lad in the Find Thirty Every Day Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night was tinged with great sadness.

A minute after his victory over Emjayem Grand, Jayares Lad, after completing about 600m in his warm-down lap, suddenly staggered and nosedived into the track.

He died where he fell, apparently the victim of a heart attack.

Jayares Lad, an 11/2 chance trained by Colin Joss and driven by Vance Stampalia, had just ended a losing sequence of 13 when he recorded his first success since scoring at Albany late last January.

Stampalia had Jayares Lad poised behind the pacemaker Dav Ed Ash before he angled him off the pegs and brought him home with a resolute burst to snatch victory from Emjayem Grand, who had worked hard without cover before finally getting to the front on the home turn.

Jayares Lad won six times in Victoria before coming to WA in July 2008. His WA record was 54 starts for six wins and 19 placings.

 CONSISTENT SCRUNCHER NOTCHES HIS 19TH VICTORY

Scruncher enhanced his reputation as one of the State’s most consistent pacers when he held on to win the Pegasus Sweetmax Pathway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The New Zealand-bred five-year-old, favourite at 2/1 on, was driven a patient race by his Ravenswood trainer Chris Brew before notching his 19th victory from 53 starts. The gelding has also been placed 15 times and has earned $122,942 in prizemoney.

Owned by Victorians Sam, Daniel and Patrick Mustica, Maurice Bloom and Graeme White, Scruncher had nine starts in Victoria for three wins and three placings before continuing his career in WA where his 44 starts have produced 16 wins and 12 placings.

Scruncher started out wide in barrier eight and he raced three wide early before Brew settled him down in the breeze, with noted frontrunner Loudspeaker setting a solid pace. Brew wisely conserved Scruncher’s energy and did not ask him for a serious effort until 400m from home.

Scruncher then took the lead with 220m to travel and he had to fight on determinedly to stave off a strong late challenge from Galveron, who had raced three back on the pegs for most of the way.

When Kyle Harper eased Spanish Assassin off the pegs from behind the pacemaker Loudspeaker, Mark Reed was able to move Galveron forward on the inside. But Galveron was held up for a clear passage until the final stages, and the big gelding impressed with his powerful finishing burst. He failed by a head to overhaul Scruncher.