Gloucester Park Review Friday 18 October 2024

Christopher Dance leads stable’s Derby hopes

New Zealand-bred colt Christopher Dance demonstrated his wonderful ability and excellent staying powers with an outstanding victory in the $50,000 Western Gateway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night --- an effort which ensured he will be a warm favourite for the $200,000 WA Derby next Friday week.

Part-owned by Team Bond and prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, Christopher Dance is at the forefront of a powerful Derby assault by Bond-trained three-year-olds.

The Bonds dominated the Western Gateway, with Christopher Dance, the $1.70 favourite, beating stablemate Vegas Strip ($15) by a head, while other stablemates figured prominently, with Golden Lode ($7) finishing fourth and Tualou ($9.50) in fifth place after being badly blocked for a clear run in the closing stages.

Star driver Deni Roberts left nothing to chance as she demonstrated her confidence in Christopher Dance by getting him away speedily from the No. 6 barrier and forging forward, three wide for 300m before challenging $9 chance Menemsha for the lead, an unsuccessful move which resulted in the favourite working hard in the breeze.

The opening quarters of the final mile were run in 29.5sec. and 29.4sec. before the final 400m sections were covered in 28sec. and 28.8sec.

Christopher Dance took a narrow lead 350m from home and went to the line strongly to defy the opposition, rating 1.56.5 over the Derby journey of 2536m.

The impressive victory followed the colt’s successful Australian debut ten nights earlier when he scored an easy win in moderate company.

“He was sharper tonight,” said Roberts. “We put the hood on and changed a few little things, and he felt like the horse that we thought we had got. This was pretty promising leading into the Derby, and he will get better from that run, and he should be cherry ripe for the Derby.”

Greg Bond was delighted with the runs of the stable’s three-year-olds, saying: “Christopher Dance did all the bullocking. He toughed it out and ran good time. Vegas Strip put in a great effort and showed that he is up to Derby class, too.

“Vegas Strip (the winner of the Golden Slipper last September) lost a bit of form about a month and a half ago, and we decided we had been too kind with him, and then stepped him up. Since then, he has showed the form we know he can produce.”

While the Bond runners stole the limelight on Friday night, Menemsha ran a good Derby trial, setting a solid pace and fighting on determinedly to be third, a half-length behind the winner.

“Menemsha is starting to get his confidence back after suffering from an atrial fibrillation (when a distant last behind Water Lou four starts earlier, on August 16),” said de Campo.

 

Steno boosts her claims

Brilliant mare Steno enhanced her prospects in the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic (November 8) and the $150,000 Mares Classic (November 22) when she revealed sparkling speed to romp to an effortless victory in the $50,000 Schrader Free-For-All for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Driven confidently by her trainer Jocelyn Young, Steno, the $1.60 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier, set a brisk pace and sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.4sec. to beat $41 chance Stormyskyes by two and a half lengths, rating a splendid 1.53.5.

“She will have one more run before the Norms Daughter,” said Young, who released the ear plugs in the home straight just to keep Steno’s mind on the job.

Five-year-old Steno, who was making her second appearance after a 24-week absence, following her sound first-up fourth behind Aardiebytheseaside a fortnight earlier, is sure to be a major player in the upcoming rich feature events for mares.

She certainly has bright prospects of making amends for her unplaced efforts in the big races last November when she was a $61 outsider from the outside of the back line and finished fourth behind Beyond The Sea in the Norms Daughter Classic before she finished a disappointing ninth, ten lengths behind the winner Simply Shaz in the Mares Classic.

Steno is an outstanding frontrunner who has set the pace in nine of her ten wins in Western Australia after continuing her career in the West after nine wins from 17 starts in New South Wales, one win from two Victorian starts and two placings from two appearances in Queensland.

 Her record now stands at an imposing 20 wins, eleven placings and $408,048 in prizemoney from 43 starts.

“She has gate speed and being in front is a great benefit, and we look to use her early speed when applicable,” said Young. “Tonight, she got a bit too keen early when Dylan Egerton-Green was going forward and trying to find a spot for Zephyra.”

Aardiebytheseaside, the $3 second fancy from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, was attempting to improve her WA record to eight stars for eight wins. But she ruined her chances by pacing roughly in the mobile score-up and losing about five or six lengths before dashing forward to race three wide for about 600m to get to the breeze. She wilted over the final 400m to finish well back in ninth place.

Starlight Dream ($15), a stylish winner at her first two runs after a spell, began from the outside of the back line and was ninth at the bell before starting a three-wide move 550m from home and fighting on to finish fifth.

 

Lion Queen overcomes difficulties

Lion Queen, the $1.50 favourite, overcame serious difficulties to score a dramatic nose victory in the $21,000 You’ve Got The Touch With TABtouch Pace for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, Lion Queen worked hard to get to the lead after 500m before dictating terms in front and then being overhauled by $15 chance Soho Honey Rider 300m from home.

Soho Honey Rider got to a good half-length lead (out three wide) over Lion Queen at the 300m and appeared a certain winner. However, Suvaljko, who was having trouble in controlling Lion Queen, was able to get the filly to pace more tractably in the home straight, and she fought back on the inside to regain the lead in the final few strides to beat Soho Honey Rider by a nose, rating a smart 1.54.9 over 1730m.

“Once Deni (Roberts) handed up with Irresistible (500m after the start), I was able to control it in front, but Lion Queen was running up a little bit,” explained Suvaljko. “When they came quick at her down the back all Lion Queen wanted to do was to veer up the track, and I was on one rein.

“All the way around the (home) corner all she wanted was to run up the track, and I couldn’t drive her while Mitchell (Miller) had more momentum out wide with Soho Honey Rider.

“Lion Queen usually runs down, but tonight she was running up, and I had to wait until she got on to her right leg --- and I was able to drive her over the final 20 to 30 metres.”

Lion Queen, trained by Mike Reed, is by American sire Control The Moment and is the eighth foal out of American mare Lilianna Beauty, who raced 134 times for ten wins, 41 placings and $135,274 in stakes.

Lilianna Beauty’s fourth foal Tenniele Erin earned $88,180 from five wins and seven placings from 14 starts before being retired. Her two wins from seven WA starts included the group 1 Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in April 2017 before she continued her career in Victoria where her seven starts produced three wins and three placings.

Lion Queen, who was purchased for $47,500 at the 2022 Perth APG yearling sale, has earned $58,135 from her five wins from nine starts.

 

Fleur Du Marquis celebrates her century

Tough six-year-old mare Fleur Du Marquis celebrated her 100TH race start in style by scoring a narrow victory in the $21,000 www.gloucesterpark.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Fleur Du Marquis, an $18.70 chance trained in Collie by Bianca Ashcroft, was driven by Kyle Harper, who restrained her from out wide at barrier seven back to last before urging her forward to follow the three-wide run of the $2.05 favourite Soho Bollinger 500m after the start.

Soho Bollinger got past the early leader Illawong Mustang ($16) to take the lead after a lap had been covered. This left Fleur Du Marquis in the breeze.

Ista Gator, the $4 second fancy from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line, settled at the rear before Jocelyn Young sent him forward, three wide, approaching the bell. Insta Gator took a narrow lead, out three wide, with 250m to travel.

But Fleur Du Marquis was not to be denied, and she fought grimly to get to a narrow lead 120m from the post before winning by a head from Insta Gator, with Soho Bollinger in third place.

“She is as tough as old boots,” said Harper. “She just runs and runs and runs. This was a drop in grade. It was harder than last week (when seventh behind Starlight Dream) when we tried to sit her up, and she doesn’t go quite the same, sat up. She just likes to keep running.”

Fleur Du Marquis is by American stallion Betterthancheddar and is the third foal out of Shattering Roxey, who raced 97 times for nine wins, 12 placings and $46,143. Fleur Du Marquis has earned $138,427 from 16 wins and 33 placings from 100 starts, and is a full-sister to Triple Brie, who retired with earnings of $107,192 from 11 wins and 49 placings from 178 starts.

Bianca Ashcroft kept up the good work when Harper drove My Grand Angus to victory at Collie on Sunday afternoon. Three-year-old My Grand Angus, part-owned and trained by Ashcroft, is a half-brother to Fleur Du Marquis.

 

Ideal Muscle holds on

Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo completed a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the $1.60 favourite Ideal Muscle set the pace and held on grimly to beat fast-finishing $61 outsider Maximum Rock by a head in the 2536m Western Gateway Consolation.

De Campo took full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier with the small American Ideal three-year-old who was untroubled to lead, with $20 chance Xceptional Arma applying no pressure in the breeze. Ideal Muscle increased the tempo with final 400m sections of 28.7sec. and 28.6sec. while Maximum Rock finished powerfully from eighth at the bell.

“He wanted to run the gate, and he was probably a bit too keen (early) which took a bit out of him late, said de Campo. “I hope this win will slip him up the rankings and get a start in the WA Derby (next Friday week).

“Ideal Muscle is a good frontrunner who can also sprint home strongly when he races back in the field.”

Ideal Muscle has raced 26 times for eight wins, ten placings and $99,211. He is out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Delightful Page, a daughter of quality mare Centrefold Angel, who had 47 starts for 14 wins, 15 placings and $237,348.

At her fourth start in a race Centrefold Angel, a $85.80 outsider driven by Ryan Bell, ran on from sixth at the bell to win the Diamond Classic by two lengths from the $1.80 favourite Batavia Touchngo in the Diamond Classic in June 2009.

Then, at her second-last appearance, she won the group 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes by a neck from Alkira Jetstar in May 2013.

 

Fast pace suits Lil Happy Fella

WA-bred six-year-old Lil Happy Fella appreciated a drop in class, and more importantly, the fast pace in the 2130m Trotsynd Syndication Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Astute reinsman Lindsay Harper’s decision not to bustle Lil Happy Fella from the No. 2 barrier paid handsome dividends. Lil Happy Fella, a $9.10 chance, settled down one-out and one-back before being shuffled back to the one-out, two-back position where he enjoyed a comfortable run while the pace of the race was quite hot.

“It all worked out really well for him,” said Harper after driving Lil Happy Fella to a half-neck victory over the fast-finishing $101 outsider Rock Me Over. “They put it on for him; they never put the foot off the gas. And this really suited him.”

Flying Rumour, the $2.35 favourite was first out from barrier three before taking the lead after 200m. Solesseo Matuca ($3.50) dashed forward to move to the breeze after about 600m, and with Flying Rumour overracing, the pace was a cracker, with the first three quarters of the final mile being covered in 28.5sec., 28.6sec. and 28.5sec.

Solesseo Matuca finally got to the front 450m from home, and Lil Happy Fella was fifth 300m out before going three wide on the home turn and surging to the front at the 70m mark and winning from Rock Me Over, who finished boldly from ninth at the bell.

Lil Happy Fella, owned by Debbie and John Padberg and trained by Debbie, was having his fourth start after a spell. He had been unplaced in his three starts before Friday night’s race when racing in Free-For-All company against pacers of the calibre of Mister Smartee, Steel The Show, Sangue Reale, To Fast To Serious, Tricky Miki and Alcopony.

“First-up he came from last to finish fourth behind Mister Smartee, and tonight he was racing in weaker company,” said Harper.

Lil Happy Fella has earned $128,378 from 13 wins and 15 placings from 63 starts.

 

Chaco Eagle survives

Chaco Eagle, at his second start after a spell, survived considerable pressure --- early and in the middle stages --- before fighting on grandly to win the 2130m North Coast Fibreglass Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The four-year-old horse, bred, owned and trained by Tonia Stampalia, was driven by her brother Vance, and was the $3.60 second favourite from the No. 1 barrier.

But there was little peace for Chaco Eagle, who was challenged hard for the early lead by Sista Sammy ($5) and the $2.45 favourite Chivalry.

Chaco Eagle managed to hold the challengers at bay during a swift lead time of 35.7sec., and then was able to cover the opening 400m section of the final mile in a modest 31.9sec. before he needed to lift his rating when there was further pressure racing into the bell with a 30sec. second quarter, followed by a 28.8sec. section in the back straight.

Chivalry sustained a spirited burst to get to the front (by a neck out three wide) with 400m to travel. However, Chaco Eagle dug deep and regained the lead before winning by a half-length from $26 chance Rodasi, with Chivalry finishing third. The final quarter was run in 29.7sec. and Chaco Eagle rated 1.57.9.

Chaco Eagle is by Fly Like An Eagle and is out of Renascentari, who ended her career with earnings of $20,517 from one win and ten placings from 70 starts.

Tonia Stampalia trained and drove Renascentari when the mare notched her only win, at her 69TH start, when she was a $7 chance from the No. 1 barrier and gave a strong frontrunning performance to win by two lengths from A Force In Action in a race at Northam on November 10, 2015.

Renascentari’s elder half-brother Renascentur raced for ten seasons for the Stampalia family before being retired with a record of 139 starts for 20 wins, 43 placings and $169,502 in prizemoney.

 

Soho Moonraker is bred to shine

Four-year-old gelding Soho Moonraker is bred to be a prolific winner. He is by champion American sire Sweet Lou and his dam Aussie Made Lombo and his granddam Tailamade Lombo enjoyed outstanding careers on the racetrack before being retired to the breeding barn.

Soho Moonraker, bred and owned by Rob Watson and trained by Kim Prentice, gave a sample of his class with an effortless victory in the 1730m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Soho Moonraker was having his third start in Western Australia and was the $2.10 favourite from the awkward draw at barrier No. 6. Mitch Miller got the gelding away to a flying start, and he was untroubled to lead all the way and beat the $3.40 second fancy Major Freeway by three and a half lengths, rating 1.56.2 after final quarters of 28.7sec. and 27.5sec.

“It’s good to know that we’re back on track with him,” said Miller. “There was a bit of chat about how good he was after his trial last month (leading and winning by a length from star mare Steno, rating 1.56.9 over 2185m at Pinjarra).

“He then disappointed a couple of times (sixth at Pinjarra and then a four-length second to Cloud Nine at Gloucester Park). Now, at least we know we’re back on track. He is a much better horse when he’s sat up; he has a lethal turn of foot.”

Soho Moonraker arrived in WA about six months ago after winning four races on Victorian country tracks and having three unplaced runs in New South Wales.

“We have been battling some problems with him, and he had a hoof abscess which took a long time to come good,” said Prentice. “He is still not a hundred per cent.

“He is a nice horse who has good gate speed and goes well in front. But in better grades I think he will be better with a sit.”

Soho Moonraker now has raced 20 times for five wins, four placings and $42,664. Aussie Made Lombo earned $578,456 from 22 wins, 19 seconds and seven thirds from 62 starts. She won the group 1 Gold Tiara for two-year-old fillies at Bathurst in March 2010 and the group 1 APG Classic at Albion Park two months later.

Aussie Made Lombo’s final twelve starts were at Gloucester Park where she won three times, including a victory in the group 2 Empress Stakes on March 1, 2013, at her final appearance.

Tailamade Lombo was an outstanding performer who raced 110 times for 49 wins, 25 placings and $1,354,978 in stakes.

Aussie Made Lombo’s third foal is Soho Interceptor (by Art Major) who has had 41 starts for five wins, 12 placings and $177,634. As a two-year-old Soho Interceptor won two group 1 features for two-year-old fillies in 2018 --- the Sales Classic and the Westbred Classic.

 

Sorridere resumes in style

Contesting the major feature events for four-year-olds in November and December with Sorridere has always been Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo’s plans for the big and powerful Sunshine Beach gelding.

De Campo produced Sorridere in fine fettle for his first appearance for eleven weeks when he finished brilliantly to score an easy win in the $23,000 Gary Hall Junior-Ultimate Driver Series Slot Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Sorridere, a $28.50 chance from the inside of the back line, raced three back on the pegs in fifth position before de Campo eased him into the clear 20m from home after Soho Firestone in the one-out, one-back position began to weaken and dropped back.

Sorridere then ran home powerfully to hit the front 70m from the post and win by just over a length from $5 chance Im The Black Flash, who fought on well after racing in the breeze on the outside of the $1.95 favourite Rolling Fire.

The final quarters were run in 28.4sec. and 28.2sec. and Sorridere rated 1.55.5 over 2130m. Rolling Fire wilted to finish third.

This was Sorridere’s first outing since he set the pace and won the Higgins Memorial from Whataretheodds on August 2.

“I’ve always had a lot of time for Sorridere,” said de Campo. “He is such a big horse, and he has developed every time I bring him back after a spell. He’s come back to target the races for four-year-olds.

“I have had a faultless preparation with him so far. He has got the job done, first-up, and he will improve. He has led and has won a lot of races because of his good gate speed. But I think he will be better, sat up.”

Sorridere will now be set for a feature for four-year-olds at Pinjarra before returning to Gloucester Park to run in the $50,000 Four-Year-Old Championship (November 15), the $125,000 Four-Year-Old Championship (November 229) and the $200,000 Golden Nugget (December 13).

Sorridere has been a most consistent performer, with his 33 starts producing 12 wins, 12 placings and $133,475 in stakes.

 

Harper’s wise choice

Veteran trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper has always had a keen eye for a horse, and he has no regrets about his decision to purchase four-year-old pacer OK Boomer about five months ago.

OK Boomer was a $4.10 chance when Harper drove him to an impressive all-the-way victory in the $19,000 Sky Racing Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.

He sprinted fast with a final 400m section of 27.2sec. to keep the $2 favourite Gee Heza Sport at bay and beat the recent New Zealand import at his Australian debut by a half-length at a 1.56.7 rate.

“OK Boomer is a nice type of horse, and I bought him in Queensland,” said Harper. “Michael Boots owned OK Boomer, and I train four-year-olds Chivalry and Unlucky for him.

“He put OK Boomer and other horses up for sale when he was having a cull. I quite fancied OK Boomer, who was running fast times around the 1.52 mark at Albion Park.

“OK Boomer was up for sale for $80,000, which was a bit more than I wanted to spend. Mick Andreadis was the agent who was selling the horses for Michael Boots, and I told Michael that I would give him $40,000 if he was willing to go half with me.

“But he said he owned 280 horses and was trying to cull his stocks. I then told Mick Andreadis what I had offered for a half share of OK Boomer, and he then said he would go halves with me.”

OK Boomer now has had three starts for Harper and Andreadis for two wins and $16,215 in prizemoney. He has also raced in New Zealand for two wins from 11 starts, three times for one win in Victoria and 15 times in Queensland for four wins and seven placings.

He is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the fourth foal out of Art Major mare Its Onlyforyou, who earned $365,459 from nine wins and 17 placings from 46 starts.

Its Onlyforyou shone as a two-year-old in New Zealand winning two group 1 classics before travelling to Australia where her two starts at Melton in August 2012 produced a win in a semi-final of the Breeders Crown and a second placing to Glenferrie Shuffle in the final.

“OK Boomer had very good trainers in New Zealand, Victoria and Queensland, and you know that you are not going to improve much on them, if any,” said Harper. “But you know that the horse has been taught and looked after very well.

“When he arrived here, he had a hernia which required a minor operation, and after that he has progressed and improved --- and I expect further improvement.

“It would be nice to get into the big races for four-year-olds. As an aside, I think that heats should be run for all big races, like the WA Pacing Cup, Golden Nugget, Derby and Oaks, with the first four in each heat qualifying for the final.”

 

Tricky Miki is back on song

Lightly-race star pacer Tricky Miki has been successful in group 1 feature events as a two, three and four-year-old, and his trainer Justin Prentice is now aiming to continue the sequence when the five-year-old runs in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 8.

Tricky Miki ended a losing sequence of six and bounced back to top form with an easy victory in the $31,000 Congratulations Gary Hall Junior 4000 Winners Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The win came as a relief for Prentice and star reinsman Gary Hall jnr after they were deeply concerned at Tricky Miki’s failure three weeks earlier when he broke into a gallop twice in running before finishing last in the Past President’s Cup, 210 metres behind the winner Mister Smartee.

That was when Tricki Miki was having his first start for five months and at the beginning of his campaign, with the WA Pacing Cup his main target.

“I don’t know what caused him to break at his first-up run,” said Prentice. “He has never been perfectly gaited, but he has never broken like that before. Maybe he panicked.

“I put a running head check on him tonight to give him that little bit more support. He is a good horse out in front, like he showed tonight. If he pulls up well, he will run in the $100,000 J. P. Stratton Cup next Friday night.

“I’ve got to give him a run between now and the Pacing Cup, so I would rather back him up next Friday night, rather than starting him a week before the Pacing Cup. Mighty Ronaldo will also contest the Stratton Cup as his lead-up for the Pacing Cup.”

Tricky Miki, the winner of the Golden Slipper in July 2021, the Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings in September 2022, the WA Derby in November 2022, and the Golden Nugget in December 2023, was the $2.10 second favourite in Friday night’s event.

Hall took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier by dashing Tricky Miki straight to the front and then setting the pace, with comfortable opening quarters of 30.5sec. and 29.4sec. followed by final 400m sections of 27.8sec. and 27.6sec. which saw him coast to victory by 8m over the $1.90 favourite Lavra Joe, who battled on gamely after racing in the breeze at his second appearance after a five-month absence. The winner rated 1.57.9.

Alcopony ($13) was a head away in third place after enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.  

Tricky Miki has raced only 33 times for 13 wins and ten placings for stakes of $540,933.

Prentice is now looking forward to his champion four-year-old Never Ending returning to WA where his immediate mission is the $200,000 Golden Nugget on December 13.

Never Ending was due to have left Melbourne on Friday night for a road to trip to Sydney, and he is due to return to Perth on Tuesday after a flight from Sydney.

Victorian trainer Shane Sanderson has been working Never Ending for the past fortnight, with Prentice saying: “I should have time to get him up for the Golden Nugget.”

Also on the flight from Sydney is outstanding five-year-old Captain Ravishing, who has earned $545,015 from 11 wins and five placings from 22 starts, including his third placing behind Encipher and Leap To Fame in the $1,970,000 Eureka at Menangle on September 2. Captain Ravishing will be one of the main fancies for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 8.

Ken Casellas.