Cool Suvaljko creates history
Emily Suvaljko revealed an ice-cool temperament and immense patience when she created history by becoming the first female to drive the winner of a Fremantle Cup when she guided $31.20 outsider Mighty Ronaldo to a thrilling victory in the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The brilliant 22-year-old Suvaljko had to abandon well-thought-out tactics when the polemarker and $2.65 favourite Lavra Joe galloped for a few strides at the start --- and she was concerned when Mighty Ronaldo was left in the breeze for the first 550m after Maddison Brown had dashed Diego ($7.50) to the front.
But when Ryan Warwick set $13 chance Minstrel alight and charged forward to move alongside Diego half way down the back straight in the first lap Mighty Ronaldo then enjoyed a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position.
“We were planning that Lavra Joe was going to lead and that I was going to try to get four (back) on the fence,” said Suvaljko. “But when Lavra Joe galloped, it all changed. Plan A was to be on the fence, but I had no real opportunity to get there.
“I was a bit concerned that I was doing a bit too much work earlier than I wanted to. I was wondering where Magnificent Storm ($5) was, but when Ryan (Warwick) came around with Minstrel I knew I was in a good spot.
“Mighty Ronaldo has a really short, sharp sprint, and it is usually better if a horse comes on his outside. But because he didn’t have anything coming on his outside I just waited as long as I could. I knew that nothing was going to cover me and that I was always going to be able to come out (three wide) whenever I wanted to.”
So, Suvaljko waited until just before the home turn to switch Mighty Ronaldo three wide. Minstrel got his nose in front of Diego without about 50m to travel before he was overtaken by the fast-finishing Mighty Ronaldo in the final couple of strides.
The final 400m sections were run in 27.5sec. and 28.1sec. and Mighty Ronaldo rated 1.56.9 over the 2536m. Diego was a half-length away in third place, with Himself ($17) running on from sixth at the bell to be fourth. Lavra Joe, who trailed the pacemaking Diego throughout, finished fifth. Magnificent Storm met with a check in the first lap and raced at the rear before finishing eighth.
Mighty Ronaldo’s victory was a triumph for his 34-year-old trainer Justin Prentice, who has prepared the five-year-old gelding throughout his 35-start career of ten wins, 13 placings and stakes of $564,396.
This was Prentice’s 27TH group 1 victory, complementing his record of 19 group 2 wins and another 19 group 3 victories. For Suvaljko, it was her second group 1 success, following her win with Savvy Bromac in the 2021 Mare Classic.
“It’s always a lot better when you’re not expecting to win,” said Prentice. “Going into the race the plan was to be on the fence, and if we got luck Mighty Ronaldo could finish in the first five or six, and that would guarantee a start in the Pacing Cup.
“It was a perfect drive from Emily, so patient. A lot of people (drivers) would have panicked down the back, thinking they would get covered. But she didn’t and she timed things to perfection.”
Mighty Ronaldo, raced by a big syndicate headed by Glen Mortimer, was purchased for $22,000 at the 2019 APG Perth yearling sale and he has earned $564,396 from ten wins and 13 placings from 35 starts.
He is by former outstanding pacer and 2013 WA Derby winner Alta Christiano and is the fourth foal out of New Zealand-bred mare Millwoods Delight, a winner at six of her 47 starts, with 44 of those starts in WA for five wins and nine placings.
Mighty Ronaldo’s wins have included the Golden Slipper and the Sales Classic as a two-year-old, the WA Derby as a three-year-old and the Bunbury Cup as a four-year-old.
“He has taken us on a great ride,” said Prentice. And there should be many more highlights along the journey.
Pinny Tiger burns up the track
Exciting speedster Pinny Tiger went close to equalling former superstar Chicago Bull’s track record for 1730m when he thrilled the crowd at Gloucester Park on Friday night with a dazzling exhibition of sheer speed to score a runaway victory in the Joe and Margaret Petricevich Memorial Nights Of Thunder heat one.
Produced in great shape by Coolup trainer Michael Brennan and driven with supreme confidence by Michael Grantham, the powerful five-year-old burst straight to the front from the No. 6 barrier and left his seven rivals struggling to keep in touch.
He was the $1.60 favourite and romped home to win by 11m from the fast-finishing Talks Up A Storm ($34), rating 1.51.8 which was just shy of Chicago Bull’s track record of 1.51.6 set when he beat Soho Tribeca by a head in the Mount Eden Sprint on October 20, 2017.
“Pinny Tiger did what I expected him to do,” said Brennan. “Michael (Grantham) said that if something had come at him he still had gears left.
“He needed the run. I’ve been a little bit kind to him. He had a good trial at Pinjarra when they ran good time. But he was still a little bit underdone, and that race will tighten him up nicely for the final next Friday night.
“The barrier draw in the final doesn’t really matter. If he doesn’t lead it will not be a problem. He’s also got lethal speed when he’s sat up. He is the complete racehorse.”
Brennan purchased Pinny Tiger for $53,000 at the 2019 Melbourne yearling sale, and the Mach Three gelding now has raced for Brennan and several stable clients 34 times for 13 wins, ten seconds and stakes of $178,138.
Orlando Blue overcomes wide draw
The skill of champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr was a telling factor in $14.60 chance Orlando Blue’s decisive victory in the Retravision.com.au Nights Of Thunder heat two at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Orlando Blue, trained by Michael Young, started out wide at the No. 7 barrier and was overlooked by most punters, who considered the event to be a match race between Sugar Street (barrier two) and Ragazzo Mach (barrier four).
Sugar Street, the $2.05 favourite, was beaten for early speed by $9.50 chance Socrates, who started from barrier six and led by a length but was unable to cross to the front when Chris Lewis urged Sugar Street forward to assume control in front.
It was then in the early stages that Hall was able to angle Orlando Blue across to the pegs to trail the pacemaking Sugar Street, who after an opening quarter of 28.8sec. coasted through the second 400m section in a leisurely 30.6sec. Ragazzo Mach, who had begun speedily and was in the breeze early, went to the pegs in the first lap.
After a third quarter of 28.4sec. Sugar Street began to wilt and Socrates took a narrow lead approaching the home turn. Hall bided his time, and he switched Orlando Blue into the clear 225m from home. He five-year-old sprinted strongly to hit the front at the 90m before winning by just over a half-length from Ragazzo Mach, who ran home strongly after getting off the inside with 550m to travel.
Orlando Blue rated 1.55.1 over the 1730m and was the only runner from this heat to qualify for next Friday night’s final. He has had 39 starts for eleven wins, ten placings and $121,217.
“From the wide barrier draw, the win was definitely unexpected,” said Young. “Obviously, drawing No. 1 in the final would be perfect, and we would have a good chance of finishing second to Pinny Tiger.”
Voak keeps rival in a pocket
Star reinsman Chris Voak was quite happy to left in the breeze with Sangue Reale in the field of six runners in the 2130m Retravision Click And Collect Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was confident Sangue Reale, a $5.90 chance, had the measure of the pacemaker Pradason, and he considered veteran Handsandwheels was the only danger.
Handsandwheels, the $2 favourite, was enjoying an ideal passage behind Pradason, and Voak quickly formulated his plan --- and that was to keep Handsandwheels under lock and key on the pegs.
After opening quarters of 30.7sec. and 29.1sec. Pradason increased the tempo with a third 400m section of 28.6sec.
“Sangue Reale was travelling well, and I was confident he could beat Pradason,” said Voak. “It was then a matter of stacking the field, but it was hard work holding Sangue Reale back. He wanted to run faster, and I checked a lot of momentum by holding him back.
Voak’s tactics worked out perfectly. Sangue Reale got on terms with Pradason 220m from home. But Voak restrained the seven-year-old around the home bend, with Aiden de Campo still hemmed in on the pegs. Finally, Sangue Reale dashed clear 75m from the post and won by just over a length from Handsandwheels, who was unable to get out until the bird had flown.
“Sangue Reale will run in a Free-For-All next Friday, and hopefully he will perform well and make a claim for a start in the WA Pacing Cup the following week,” said Voak. “He will continue to improve; he’s just starting to hit his straps now.”
Sangue Reale has earned $250,603 from 12 wins and 22 placings from 64 starts. His win gave Voak a flying start to the weekend, with the reinsman landing a double with the Barry Howlett-trained Bettor Class and Sugarloaf at Albany on Saturday night.
Hengheng is a $8500 bargain
Six-year-old Rich And Spoilt gelding Hengheng is proving a splendid bargain for trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper, who outlaid just $8500 to buy him at the 2018 APG Perth yearling sale.
Hengheng, raced by Harper and seven stable clients, boosted his earnings to $82,007 from nine wins and nine placings from 48 starts when he led throughout the 2130m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a warm $1.80 favourite, who certainly appreciated a return to mobile racing after finishing at the rear at odds of $31 and $126 in standing-start events at his two previous starts in his current campaign.
Hengheng started from the prized No. 1 barrier but was beaten out by the $3.90 second fancy Unconditional from the No. 2 barrier. Unconditional led by a half-length for the first 220m but was unable to cross to the front and then faced the task of racing without cover in the breeze.
After a third quarter of 28.3sec. Hengheng began to tire and he shifted out in the home straight and just held on to beat $41 outsider Rebel With A Grin, who enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, before finishing strongly to lose by a head in a three-way photo finish, with Carerra Mach ($7) running home powerfully from eighth at the bell to be a nose away in third place.
Kyle Symington, the driver of Rebel With A Grin, lodged a protest against the winner, alleging interference in the home straight. The stewards dismissed the protest.
Hengheng has inherited much of his ability from his dam Cool Adda, who raced 80 times for 15 wins, 12 placings and $160,839.
Warwick seizes the initiative
Star reinsman Ryan Warwick approached the Retravision Buy Now Pay Later Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night with plenty of optimism as well as a healthy respect for last-start winner Strauny.
Warwick was driving the $3.20 second fancy Aussie Scooter, who lined up alongside Strauny, the $2.70 favourite, on the 10m line, and when he saw Strauny breaking into a gallop at the start he seized the initiative by dashing Aussie Scooter forward.
Aussie Scooter sustained a three-wide burst --- which was followed by Chris Voak in the sulky behind Strauny --- before taking the lead 1450m from home, and leaving Strauny to work hard in the breeze.
Warwick made life extremely difficult for Strauny when Aussie Scooter revealed sparkling speed to sprint over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.7sec. Aussie Scooter careered away to win by more than four lengths from Strauny, with the early pacemaker Call To Arms ($9) finishing two lengths farther back in third place.
Aussie Scooter, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is proving to be a standing-start specialist, with his past ten appearances being in stands for three wins, four seconds, two thirds and one fifth placing. He now has raced 46 times for 12 wins, 14 placings and $121,773.
“He appreciates the stands, for some reason,” said Warwick. “That was definitely one of his easier ones, and probably one of his better wins, too. The way he did it was pretty good.
“I made up a fair bit of ground early, which was hard to do, and I wasn’t real keen on. But I needed to stay in front of Strauny. I wasn’t sure whether Call To Arms would hand up. But he did. Aussie Scooter hadn’t been in front for a long time, and when he got there tonight he really appreciated it.
“I expect Aussie Scooter and Strauny to have battles in the next month or two in similar scenarios. And it’s going to be who gets a better run and is the better horse on the night.”
A winning combination
Talented driver Jocelyn Young and veteran pacer Pierre Whitby have formed a highly successful partnership over the past four years, and Young notched her 16TH win with the Mach Three gelding when he surged home from ninth at the bell to win the RAC Members Save 5% Every Day At Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And owner Mark Lewis certainly has no regrets about his decision to buy Pierre Whitby for $7500 in April 2019 after he had been unplaced at his first six starts.
Pierre Whitby, trained by Lewis’s mother Debra, has amassed $188,122 in stakes from 18 wins and 38 placings from 131 starts for Debra Lewis and her son.
Pierre Whitby has inherited much of the staying ability of his dam Party Date, a winner of 25 races and $256,003 in prizemoney in an illustrious career in which a highlight was her victory in the 2005 Easter Cup over 2907m at Gloucester Park. Eleven of Pierre Whitby’s 18 wins have been over distances between 2536m and 2692m.
Party Date is the dam of nine winners, including Bettor Party (225 starts for 40 wins, 55 placings and $351,417), Rocknroll Whitby (199 starts for 21 wins, 29 placings and $256,441) and current three-year-old Flametree (ten starts for five wins, three placings and $93,400).
“The distance of tonight’s race (2536m) and the way the race was run suited him down to the ground,” said Young.
The fast pace certainly made Pierre Whitby’s task much easier. The first three quarters of the final mile were run in 29.8sec., 28.9sec. and 28.5sec. before the final 400m took 30.7sec. James Butt, the $1.85 favourite at his first appearance for three months, set the pace, with Manning ($4.60) working hard in the breeze.
Pierre Whitby sustained a spirited three-wide burst and went four wide on the home turn before hitting the front 65m from home and winning by a half-neck from The Kraken ($21), with Walsh ($10) coming from last in the middle stages to be third, just ahead of James Butt.
Pierre Whitby’s win came three days after Mark Lewis won a race at Gloucester Park with ten-year-old New South Wales-bred gelding Athabascan, a pacer purchased by Lewis for $5000 a few years ago. Athabascan, trained by Debra Lewis, has had 70 starts for the Lewis family for eight wins, 15 placings and $99,920 in stakes.
Nevermindthechaos set for feature event
Brilliant five-year-old Nevermindthechaos returned to peak form with a dashing victory in the $26,000 Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and part-owner and trainer Michael Young said that he was setting the daughter of Sportswriter for the $50,000 Laurie Kennedy Pace, a 1730m event for mares on February 10.
Nevermindthechaos, placed at her two previous starts from wide barriers, appreciated a more suitable draw at barrier No. 5 and was the $2.70 second fancy, with Cherishthememories the $1.75 favourite from barrier four.
“Before the race I was confident I had the best horse but I didn’t have the best draw,” said Young. “It’s been the same every week really, and it’s only been the draws that have led to her being beaten in recent starts.
“Tonight’s race (with the fast pace) was put on for Nevermindthechaos, and when that happens, she is good enough to take advantage of it.”
Gary Hall jnr did not bustle Nevermindthechaos early, and the mare settled down in seventh position in the field of nine while Cherishthememories expended plenty of energy, racing three wide early before getting to the front after a lap. Hall sent Nevermindthechaos forward, three wide, approaching the bell and the mare took the lead 300m from home and coasted to victory from $9.50 chance Star Of Diamonds and Cherishthememories, rating 1.55.4 over the 2130m.
Nevermindthechaos is the third foal out of the Victorian-bred Courage Under Fire mare Dontgetmeruffled, who raced 97 times for 13 wins, 24 placings and $71,685. Young drove Dontgetmeruffled twelve times for two wins (at Kalgoorlie and Albany) and six placings.
Mea Culpa is a surprise packet
Mea Culpa, a seasoned Victorian performer, arrived in Western Australia two months ago without any great expectations. But the six-year-old has performed in fine style for Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey, with his first six starts in the State producing three wins and a second placing for stakes of $24,275.
“He is a surprise packet, and is going better than expected,” said Turvey after Kyle Symington had driven him to an impressive victory in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mea Culpa was bred in New South Wales and had his first 77 starts in Victoria for eight wins and 25 placings. “Victorian trainers Debbie and Gary Quinlan recommended Mea Culpa, and they said that the horse could be up for sale,” said Turvey, who now races Mea Culpa in partnership with a Victorian friend Justin Bugg.
Mea Culpa has strong ties with Western Australia. He is the second foal out of the WA-bred mare Annas Innocent, who won at two of her seven starts in Victoria (scoring at Yarra Valley and Geelong).
Annas Innocent is out of former brilliant mare Innocent Eyes, who was retired to the breeding barn with a record of 62 starts for 18 wins, 17 placings and $421,875 in prizemoney.
Innocent Eyes, bred and owned by Bryan Cousins, won the Victorian Oaks and Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley in 2005 and the Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park the following year.
Mea Culpa started from barrier two on the back line in Friday night’s race and was the $4.30 second fancy behind the $2.65 favourite Rocknroll Elliot, who began from the No. 6 barrier and raced three wide for the first 400m before getting to the breeze outside the $7.50 chance Tinseltown.
Mea Culpa settled down in eighth position and Symington sent him forward, three wide, approaching the bell. Rocknroll Elliot got to the front 400m from home before Mea Culpa took the lead, out three wide, with 230m to travel. Mea Culpa went on to beat the gallant Rocknroll Elliot by just under a length, rating 1.57.2.
Mighty Conqueror stakes his claim
New Zealand-bred eight-year-old Mighty Conqueror, winner of the WA Pacing Cup in January 2020 and finishing third behind Vultan Tin and Chicago Bull in the big event in December 2020, turned back the clock with a fighting victory in the $23,750 Retravision Half Yearly Clearance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The seasoned veteran, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was a $11.50 chance who was driven aggressively by Deni Roberts, who made her intentions perfectly clear from the outset when she dashed the gelding forward, three wide, from his wide draw at barrier No. 8.
Mighty Conqueror relished the task of racing in the breeze, and his victory over the $2.25 favourite Perfect Major ended a seventeen and a half-month drought and broke a losing sequence of 15.
The win enhanced the prospects of Mighty Conqueror gaining a start in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup next Friday week. He was having his seventh run in his current campaign (which included thirds behind Patronus Star and Hampton Banner).
“He is knocking on the door for a Cup start,” said Mrs Bond. “He has been running good races, and tonight he showed plenty of toughness. We thought we could get into the race quite easily, and going forward was the plan.
“It can be a long road getting horses back from having a sustained time off. There is nothing like race fitness, which he now has, with recent runs under his belt. He has always had feet problems, so after the big races last year I decided to give him a long break and let all his hooves grow right out to give him the best chance to hold out in this campaign. We’ve done a lot of remedial work, and the farrier has been brilliant.”
Mighty Conqueror, who finished a nose second to Ana Malak in the Golden Nugget in December 2018, and then revealing his great qualities as a stayer when he won the 2 902m Easter Cup, has earned $658,953 from 21 wins and 15 placings from 58 starts.
Roberts, who was handling Mighty Conqueror for the first time in a race, had the gelding pressing forward, three wide for the first 600m before moving to the breeze. Mighty Conqueror finished strongly to hit the front in the final 65m and win by a half-length from Perfect Major, who raced three back on the pegs before getting into the clear in the final stages.
