Wildwest does the impossible
Rank outsider Wildwest achieved the impossible when he came from a seemingly hopeless position, locked away in tenth place at the bell, five back on the pegs, to snatch a dramatic last-stride victory in the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Aided by a miracle succession of inside runs in the final circuit, Wildwest, the $99.50 outsider, surged through along the inside to get up and win the group 1 2936m Cup by a half-head from Miracle Moose ($8.50), with indestructible nine-year-old champion Chicago Bull, the $3.90 favourite, a further half-head away in third place.
This gave 47-year-old reinsman Callan Suvaljko his first Pacing Cup success and his third group 1 victory in a fine career of 1219 wins --- and it continued the absolutely remarkable performance of 72-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr, who chalked up a record twelfth victory in the WA Pacing Cup and his 44TH group 1 success in a glittering career of 2956 victories.
Wildwest, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old, has proved to be a most difficult pacer in his three years in Western Australia, having trouble in negotiating his way around the 804m Gloucester Park circuit. But there has never been any doubt about his raw ability, and his great potential.
He has been extremely lightly raced, and now boasts an imposing record of 28 starts for 13 wins, four placings and stakes of $466,290.
His future will be in Sydney where it is hoped that, under the care of trainer Belinda McCarthy, he will be far better suited at racing on the spacious 1400m Menangle track, with his immediate mission the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 3.
Wildwest and seven-year-old stablemate Caviar Star, winner of the Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park in January 2020, are booked to leave Perth by float to Sydney on Monday February 14.
Hall purchased Wildwest for $150,000 on behalf of several stable clients after he was most impressed when he watched the three-year-old, on debut, score a runaway 12-length victory in a 2400m stand at Winton in May 2019. He dashed over the final 800m in 57sec. and the last 400m in 26.3sec.
That was Wildwest’s only appearance in New Zealand. He is by the New Zealand stallion Raging Bull and is the first foal out of the unraced Jeremes Jet mare Bay Jet.
“This was a bittersweet result,” said Hall after a big festive crowd had cheered itself hoarse as they watched one of the most spectacular finishes in the 110-year history of the Cup, with only one and a half lengths separating the first eight runners.
“I am happy for Callan and the connections of Wildwest, who has been a real problem to train. He doesn’t like this track; he hangs down and has trouble in getting around the track.
“He needs the rails, and he got the rails tonight, and all the horses ahead of him came off the inside in the last lap. I thought Chicago Bull had it, all the way up the straight. He is an amazing little horse, and I’m still in admiration about his performance tonight. He was phenomenal.”
Mighty Conqueror, a $9 chance, led from the No. 2 barrier, with Balcatherine ($26) in the breeze early and the polemarker Miracle Moose behind the pacemaker, and Chicago Bull settling in the one-out, one-back position after starting from barrier two on the back line.
The early pace was dawdling, and Gary Hall jnr made a decisive move after a lap to switch Chicago Bull three wide and dash forward into the breeze.
After opening quarters of the final mile in 30sec. and 29.5sec. Fremantle Cup winner Minstrel ($6) started a three-wide move 1000m from home to be fourth at the bell, with stablemate Patronus Star ($5.50) following him.
The tempo was then lifted dramatically, and the third 400m section whizzed by in 27.5sec., with Hall sending Chicago Bull to the front 550m from home, as Magnificent Storm ($5.50) looming out wide as a danger.
Chicago Bull rounded the home turn in front and was holding his challengers at bay. Miracle Moose, who was blocked for a clear run until the turn, surged home, three wide, and took a very narrow lead in the final two strides before Wildwest flew home on the inside to gain the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
Chicago Bull was extremely gallant in defeat. He now has contested four WA Pacing Cups for a win in January 2017, a second to Soho Tribeca in January 2018 and a second to Vultan Tin in December 2020 before his third on Friday night. He has performed in magnificent fashion in all four Cups in which he raced in the breeze in all of them.
Callan Suvaljko’s victory deprived his niece Emily (21) of the distinction of winning the big race with her first drive in the Cup --- and the honour of being the first female driver to win the prestigious event, which was won by her father Shannon when he drove Vanlo Yorker to victory in 2008.
Callan Suvaljko said he gave Wildwest little chance of winning from the wide barrier at No. 7. “I thought I could be the first to the fence and lob behind Miracle Moose,” he said. “Things didn’t work out like I had hoped and Wildwest finished five back on the pegs.
“But in the last lap horses in front of me started coming off the fence, and I just kept taking the runs (along the inside). I got up behind Chicago Bull on the turn and was actually travelling pretty good, and Bully kept going up the track, so we ducked to the inside and were checked a couple of times in the straight. When the gap fully came Wildwest motored through.”
The pacemaker Mighty Conqueror, after being passed by Chicago Bull at the 550m, was still second when he met with a check and broke into a gallop about 50m from the post.
The inexperienced but highly talented Magnificent Storm put up a splendid performance in finishing strongly, out very wide, to finish fourth, while Minstrel was only narrowly beaten in finishing fifth.
Callan Suvaljko’s only previous group 1 successes came in the space of 65 minutes at Gloucester Park on April 24, 2015, when he won the $100,000 Sales Classics for two-year-olds with filly Bettor Bling and gelding Rocknroll Whitby.
Four of the part-owners of Wildwest also are part-owners of King Of Swing, who gave a strong frontrunning display to win the $500,000 A. G. Hunter Cup at Melton on Saturday night.
Ragazzo Mach is Reed’s best
High-priced New Zealand import Ragazzo Mach won the 2536m Bowden Pace by just a half-length at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but Mike Reed, one of the State’s most astute trainers over the past 33 years, declared that the four-year-old ranked as the best pacer he has prepared.
“I think he is the best horse I have ever had,” declared the 67-year-old Reed. “I rate him ahead of Manageable, Rich And Spoilt, Justpackapunch and Another Party. I really don’t like saying which one is the best, but Ragazzo Mach is up there with them, for sure.”
This is certainly high praise from Reed, who also has prepared other star pacers in Tricky Vic, Bonavista Bay, Sheer Royalty, Libertybelle Midfrew and Maczaffair.
Ragazzo Mach, the $1.90 favourite in Friday night’s event, started from barrier five and was left in the breeze after Gary Hall jnr had sent $4.20 chance Orlando Blue to the front.
While Orlando Blue ambled through the opening quarters of the final mile in 32.5sec. and 29.7sec. Shannon Suvaljko was content to leave Ragazzo Mach in the breeze, in fourth position about three to four lengths behind the frontrunner.
Ragazzo Mach moved on terms with Orlando Blue in the back straight in the final circuit when the third 400m section of the final mile was covered in a fast 26.8sec. Ragazzo Mach sprinted the final quarter in 28.2sec. when he took the lead 50m from home and won by a half-length from $3.10 chance Star Of Willoughby, who finished with great dash after being badly blocked for a clear passage until the final 150m.
“Tonight, when Ragazzo Mach was caught outside the leader, it was the last place I wanted him to be,” said Reed. “On the corner I thought he was gone, but when I watched the replay, I saw Shannon (Suvaljko) grab hold of Ragazzo Mach in a bid to keep Star Of Willoughby locked in.”
Reed said that he had freshened Ragazzo Mach after he had endured a hard run in very hot conditions, and the four-year-old was having his first run for three weeks on Friday night. “He has had the hopples on only twice since he last raced,” said Reed.
“He will have a few more starts before going for a spell, and then his main mission will be the Golden Nugget in December. We will also be looking at running in the WA Pacing Cup.”
Ragazzo Mach has raced 19 times for ten wins and five seconds for earnings of $107,697. He is by Mach Three and is the fourth foal out of the Falcon Seelster mare Ragazzo Bromac, who has produced RR Sand Dollar (36 starts for seven wins, ten placings and $77,169) and I Cast No Shadow (69 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and $187,684).
Bletchley Park bounces back
Gear changes implemented by Bunbury trainer Stephen Reed have transformed smart pacer Bletchley Park, who charged home to score a thrilling victory in a four-way photo finish in the 2230m Parliamentarians Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The six-year-old gelding’s victory was in direct contrast to his performance seven night earlier when he overraced badly in front and led by 50 metres at the bell before fading to finish fifth behind Miracle Moose in a field of six.
“I took the nearside Murphy Blind off Bletchley Park,” said Reed. “I thought that racing with a Murphy Blind could have been contributing to his mode of racing when he was inclined to get a bit keen when leading.
“I also made a few little tweaks with his training and tonight the plan was not to rush him out at the start. Going forward, it will be interesting to see whether he settles when he leads.”
Bletchley Park was an $18.10 chance from barrier five, and Lindsay Harper settled the gelding down in the one-out, two-back position in sixth place while the polemarker and $2.65 favourite Manning set a solid pace.
Bletchley Park was seventh when Harper sent him forward, three wide, 450m from home. He stormed home, four wide, and got up in the final stride to beat Vultan Tin ($4) by a nose, with a nose back in third place to Bletchley Park’s stablemate Golden State ($31) and a further head back to Will I Rocknroll ($31).
“It was a great finish,” said Reed. “I thought Golden State’s was a huge run. He gave Bletchley Park a few lengths at the 400m and was beaten by only a lip. I removed the conventional spreaders from Golden State and replaced them with a one-legged spreader.
“The conventional spreaders seemed to irritate him, and he seemed to get around pretty well, and around the bend alright. He is a horse who has had a history of leg problems, and we’re doing our best to have him fit without going too hard and risking his legs.
“It’s a balancing act, and you saw the benefit from last week to this week, just the fitness derived from last week. He is a really good horse, and it is a shame that he has problems that we have to manage. So far, so good, but leg injuries are a day-to-day proposition.”
Al Guerrero in a different role
West Australian-bred five-year-old Al Guerrero went into Friday night’s RAC Members Save 5% Every Day At Retravision Pace with a record of 14 wins --- all when leading --- and he revealed a different side of his regular pattern of racing when he sat back in the field before finishing determinedly to score a narrow last-stride victory.
Trained at Pinjarra by his part-owner Kyle Anderson, Al Guerrero was favourite at $1.30 from barrier five, and he was not asked to use his normal gate speed because Anderson and reinsman Kyle Harper had doubts about his ability to dash straight to the front.
Instead, Harper was content to allow Al Guerrero to settle down in seventh position, racing one-out and one-back, trailing $126 outsider Crocodile Kid, while smart frontrunner Vivere Damore ($7.50) was setting the pace.
When the pace slackened after 700m Harper wisely sent Al Guerrero forward to race in the breeze. Vivere Damore sped over the final 800m in 57sec. and she just failed to hold out Al Guerrero, who got up in the final stride.
“We weren’t confident that we could find the front,” said Anderson. “A lot of things had to unfold for us to get there, so we thought that in this race we might have to drive him a bit tougher and see whether or not his class would get him over the line. And that’s how it panned out.
“Kyle went back at the start and looked after him, slotting him into the one-one. They went hard early, and Kyle took off and went to the breeze when they backed off. The last 1200m was pretty sharp. It was a ten out of ten drive.”
Al Guerrero now has raced 59 times for 15 wins, 14 placings and $167,250 in prizemoney.
Heez Our Perseus slays his rivals
Perseus was one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology and he was a noted slayer of monsters.
Six-year-old New Zealand-bred pacer Heez Our Perseus reared his head and slayed the talented four-year-old Mighty Ronaldo in the 2130m Imperial Finance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mighty Ronaldo was the $1.60 favourite and was hailed the winner when he dashed past the pacemaker Dominus Factum 460m from home and set sail for home. However, he just failed to hold out Heez Our Perseus, the third favourite at $8.10 who had enjoyed an ideal trip in the one-out, one-back position before finishing determinedly to snatch victory by a head.
“I’m pretty lucky, really,” said Maddison Brown after her perfect drive behind Heez Our Perseus, who is prepared by champion trainer Gary Hall snr. “I don’t get a lot of drives, but the drives I do get are mostly horses with a chance.”
Heez Our Perseus was great value following his recent good form when racing against top-flight pacers of the calibre of Miracle Moose, Magnificent Storm, Ideal Agent and Machnificent.
“He has always had ability, but didn’t try too hard,” said Brown. “We now seem to have him trying, and he is showing what he can do.”
Brown owns Heez Our Perseus in partnership with Karen Hall and Glen Moore, and the Alta Christiano gelding is proving a good buy for his owners who purchased him for $15,000 12 months ago. His 20 starts for his new owners have resulted in six wins, four seconds and two thirds for stakes of $66,541.
Brown has formed a good association with Heez Our Perseus, having driven him seven times for two wins, two seconds and a third placing.
Heez Our Perseus is the second foal out of the Elsu mare Sweet Perrier, whose first foal Sweet N Fast is now racing in Canada where he has won five times and been placed another 18 times from 63 starts. Sweet N Fast raced 39 times in WA in 2018 and 2019 for 12 wins and seven placings.
Regal Scribe excels in the breeze
New South Wales-bred pacer Regal Scribe, described by his trainer Nathan Turvey as a funny horse who seems lethargic when driven anywhere else apart from in the breeze, showed his liking for racing without cover when he won the 2130m Retravision, 60 Day Price Promise Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He needs to be driven tough,” said Turvey when assessing the six-year-old’s prospects.
Regal Scribe, driven by Emily Suvaljko, was the $2.90 equal favourite from barrier four, and Suvaljko dashed him forward to sit in the breeze outside the other $2.90 chance The Notorious One.
Suvaljko was happy to remain in the breeze, and when Callan Suvaljko was unable to drive out The Notorious One when he was hanging in badly, Emily dashed Regal Scribe to the front 300m from home.
Regal Scribe then showed good fighting qualities to hold $6.50 chance Tiger Royal at bay when he issued a spirited challenge in the home straight after enjoying an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position. The winning margin was a neck, with Regal Scribe notching his first win in WA at his sixth start in the State.
Regal Scribe, a son of Sportswriter, came to WA after a successful career of 15 wins and nine placings from 38 starts in South Australia.
Suing You resumes in fine style
Promising mare Suing You has recovered from a virus, and she impressed at her first appearance for seven weeks when she was untroubled to set the pace and score an easy victory in the 2130m Changjiang Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by part-owner and trainer Shane Young, Suing You, the $4 second fancy, was able to coast through the lead time in 38.3sec. and the opening quarter in 31.7sec. before she left her rivals struggling as she covered the final three 400m sections in 30.2sec., 28.6sec. and 27.8sec.
She won by just under two lengths from the $3.70 favourite Purest Silk, who battled on gamely after trailing the leader all the way.
“I’m pretty happy with her; it was probably the best she has felt for a long while,” said Young. “Even though she got a soft run, she travelled hard on the bit all the way and she got ton the line strongly.
“The previous time she led, two starts earlier when she won, she didn’t feel all that good. And then at her following start, she was a well-beaten fifth after sitting one-one. A blood test then revealed that she had a virus. A blood test before this run showed that she was okay, and that was shown by the way she performed tonight.
“I have a good opinion of her and I don’t think we have seen the best of her.” Suing You has raced 42 times for 12 wins, seven placings and $110,667 in stakes.
Babyface Adda set for Bunbury Cup
Smart WA-bred six-year-old Babyface Adda will be set for the $50,000 Bunbury Cup at Donaldson Park on March 26.
That’s the long-range plan for the Rich And Spoilt gelding, who is raced on lease by 28-year-old Boyanup trainer-reinsman Cody Wallrodt.
Wallrodt, the recently appointed vice-president of the Bunbury Harness Club, would dearly love to win the Bunbury Cup on the track where the gelding has raced four times for four victories.
Wallrodt drove a well-judged race in front to win the 2536m Derucci Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Babyface Adda ($3.20) fought off a determined last-lap challenge from the $2.40 favourite Gambit to beat that pacer by a neck, rating 1.58.9.
Gambit raced three wide for the first 400m before working in the breeze, with Babyface Adda sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.8sec. and 26.7sec., following modest quarters of 31sec. and 30.2sec.
“Babyface Adda is back to his best,” said Wallrodt. “I thought I got away with a fair bit, so I was pretty confident in running. In hindsight, I went a bit slow down the b ack (in the final lap) and once Gambit got on terms in the straight I was a bit worried. But Babyface Adda put his head down and made sure that Gambit didn’t get past him.”
Babyface Adda was had 72 starts for 16 wins, 17 placings and $208,493 in prizemoney. He is out of the Art Major mare Sonatina, a winner at three of her eight New Zealand starts before being placed at one of her four starts in WA in 2013. Sonatina is a half-sister to One Dream, who amassed $846,467 from 18 wins and five placings from 23 starts.
Swingband in tune for classics
Talented gelding Swingband is developing into a leading candidate for several rich classics for three-year-olds in the coming months.
He impressed at his third appearance after a spell when Michael Grantham drove him to an all-the-way victory in the 2130m Honsun Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell was delighted with his performance and said that Swingband would be set for the $50,000 Sales Classic for colts and geldings on February 25, the $40,000 Caduceus Club Classic (March 25), the $50,000 Pearl on May 13 as well as other feature events.
Swingband, a $70,000 purchase at the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale, now has raced eight times for four wins and two placings for stakes of $36,532 as well as receiving bonus payments.
By former star pacer Alta Christiano, Swingband is out of Bettors Gem, who had 40 starts for 11 wins, 13 placings and $103,276.
He was a solidly supported $1.90 favourite from the No. 2 barrier. Grantham sent him straight to the front, with $9 chance Maungatahi enjoying an ideal trip behind the leader. The final three quarters were run in 29.3sec., 28.1sec. and 27.7sec. and Maungatahi lost few admirers with his strong-finishing second. The winner rated a smart 1.56.9.
The Miki Taker ($4.20) started from the outside in the field of seven and settled down in last position in an Indian file affair before being eased off the pegs 1200m from home. He fought on gamely to finish a well-beaten third.
Swingband, a winner of three races as a two-year-old, has plenty of room for improvement, according to Bell.
“He is more mature now, but is not yet quite the full package,” said Bell. “However, he is not far off it, and I expect his staying ability is going to prove his main attribute.”
Bell maintained his winning run when he trained two winners at Bunbury on Saturday night. He drove Sound Wave ($3.30) to victory, and Kyle Symington was in the sulky when Peligroso ($1.26) won.
Golden Nugget target for Blitzembye
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Blitzembye is bred to be a star, and he is developing into a leading candidate for the $125,000 Four-Year-Old Classic and the $200,000 Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park in December this year.
He is already showing the class that should enable him to emulate the performances of his full-brothers Alobettor and He Can Fly, who between them have won 67 races and $677,356.
There is a long road ahead, but Blitzembye gives promise of racing and winning in top company.
Blitzembye had a stroll in the park when he led and scored an effortless victory in the 2130m Retravision, Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting a hot favourite at $1.30 from the No. 1 barrier, Blitzembye, driven by Shannon Suvaljko, simply ambled through the lead time in a slow 39.9sec. and the opening quarters in 32.1sec. and 30.5sec. before sprinting brilliantly over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 27.3sec. to win at a modest 1.59 rate.
He was not extended in beating Arma Einstein ($8.50) by one and a half lengths, with Know When To Run ($9) finishing two lengths farther back in third place.
Owned by Jim Giumelli’s Swandoo Harnerss Racing syndicate, Blitzembye won at two of his eight New Zealand starts and at seven of his eleven runs in Western Australia.
He has earned $61,716 and has the potential to better the deeds of Alobettor (who won three times in New Zealand, at eight of his 18 Australian starts, and 21 times in America for a career record of 141 starts for 32 wins, 39 placings and stakes of $393,877) and He Can Fly (who won once in New Zealand, at 11 of his 32 Australian outings and 23 times in America for career earnings of $283,479 from 35 wins and 40 placings from 155 starts).
Blitzembye is by Bettors Delight and is the seventh foal out of the unraced Falcon Seelster mare Falcon’s Flybye, whose dam Fleet’s Pocket produced 12 winners, including Mighty Flying Thomas (226 starts for 24 wins, 56 placings and $354,622), Mighty Flying Deal (147 starts for 20 wins, 29 placings and $229,722),Flying Pocketlands (90 starts for 21 wins, 29 placings and $442,423), Mighty Flying Mac (87 starts for 16 wins, 29 placings and $265,837)Mighty Flying Major (36 starts for ten wins, 12 placings and $140,155) and Mighty Flying Art (54 starts for ten wins, 17 placings and $118,480).
“I think Blitzembye will measure up for the big four-year-old features at the end of the year,” said trainer Mike Reed. “He’s got speed and is still learning the caper. Shannon really likes him and says he is a really smart horse.
“They didn’t go fast early in tonight’s race, but he sprinted home fast. Shannon said Blitzembye was bolting on the corner, and he didn’t pull the ear plugs.”
