Roberts shines with four winners
Little-known mare Rattlin Lilly produced an exceptional performance to win the 2130m Bridge Bar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night to cap an outstanding evening in the sulky for Deni Roberts and champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
Rattlin Lilly’s easy victory as the $2.80 second fancy over the $1.65 favourite Dark Eyes completed a quartet of winners for Roberts and the Bond stable, following earlier successes with Tualou, Lusaka and Jett Star.
This gave the 28-year-old Roberts her third quartet of winners at a Gloucester Park meeting and took her season’s tally to 76.
“But this was the first time I had won a race with a horse who had raced three wide for almost the entire journey,” she said.
Rattlin Lilly began from the No. 3 barrier and settled down in sixth position, one-out and two-back, while Dark Eyes, from barrier two, strolled to the front and led from the $34 chance Hengheng, who had dashed forward from barrier eight to race in the breeze.
Roberts vacated the one-two sit when she switched Rattlin Lilly three wide 400m after the start. But the five-year-old mare was unable to cross to the breeze and raced three wide until she took the lead 70m from the post and won by a length and a half, rating 1.56.6.
“I left the one-two position because she needs to be up there,” explained Roberts. “I reckoned if I hadn’t gone when I did, I would have been four wide, minimum, in the last lap. However, in hindsight, I’d say Rattlin Lilly still would’ve won if I’d stayed in the one-wide line.”
Rattlin Lilly is owned by her breeder Rob Gartrell. She is by Always B Miki and is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Baileys Gold, who earned $74,019 from 12 wins and 11 placings from 67 starts. Baileys Gold was retired after winning a race at Gloucester Park on February 28, 2017.
Rattlin Lilly has raced 24 times for five wins, eight seconds and two thirds for $42,748 in stakes. She is extremely tough and looks set for a bright career.
“I knew that we would have to do it tough but not that tough,” said Roberts. “At the end she just found another gear, and she has a pretty exciting future.”
Acharne Girl snatches victory
Stuart McDonald maintained his splendid form in the sulky when he gave a faultless exhibition to guide smart five-year-old mare Acharne Girl to a thrilling last-stride victory in the group 3 $50,000 Kerry Clarke Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Acharne Girl, the $4.40 second fancy from the inside of the back line, trailed the pacemaker and $2.05 favourite Soho Seraphine before McDonald manoeuvred her off the pegs at the bell and then followed the breeze runner Three Rumours ($5) before finishing powerfully to get up in the final stride to beat Three Rumours by a half-head, with Beyond The Sea ($34) running home fast to finish a length farther back in third place.
Soho Seraphine, racing first-up after a 15-week absence, dead-heated for fourth with Sovrana ($21).
“The initial plan was to follow the frontrunning Soho Seraphine, but we had other plans up our sleeve,” said McDonald. “I thought that there was a chance of getting off (the pegs) at the bell, and that happened when I was able to ease Queeninthecorner three wide.
“The breeze horse (Three Rumours) kicked very well, and I was able to follow her all the way around to the home corner. I thought Acharne Girl should have won easier, but the margin was probably a testament toto how good Three Rumours was.”
Acharne Girl, who is trained by Gary Hall snr, has thrived under his care and has now earned $200,382 from eleven wins and nine placings from 33 starts.
She is by former star pacer Alta Christiano and is the fourth foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Slick Bird, who had 34 starts for ten wins, nine placings and $89,999. Acharne Girl is following in the footsteps of her half-brother Slick Artist (173 starts for 32 wins, 57 placings and $404,531) and her full-brothers While They Pray (46 starts for 16 wins, 13 placings and $180,037) and Faster Than Dad (47 starts for 13 wins, nine placings and $126,775).
The 29-year-old McDonald is enjoying one of his most successful seasons, and he is in fifth position on the WA drivers’ premiership table with 68 winners.
Star reinsman Gary Hall snr was disappointed that the Nathan Turvey-trained Three Rumours failed to win the big race, saying she deserved to after a tough run.
Three Rumours started from the No. 2 barrier on the back line and settled down in the one-out, two-back position before Hall sent her forward, three wide, after 700m to challenge the pacemaker Soho Seraphine. Three Rumours led by a neck at the 1250m and was a clear leader 250m from home.
Dad does the job
Talented trainer-driver Jocelyn Young was enjoying the final few days of a two-week trip to America when her pacer Rocknroll Elliot surged home from the rear at the bell to score an impressive win in the $19,000 TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She left Rocknroll Elliott in the capable hands of her father Kim Young, who produced the WA-bred six-year-old gelding in fine fettle for his assignment from the No. 6 barrier --- and champion reinsman Chris Lewis was more than happy to drive the gelding for the second time in his 68-start career --- after handling him when he finished third behind Strauny 29 starts earlier, on September 16, 2022.
Jocelyn Young has been in New York visiting her younger sister Madeliene, who has had two drives in America for two wins. Jocelyn and Madeliene have each won four races with Rocknroll Elliot.
“Rocknroll Elliot’s trackwork has been sensational, and I thought he could win,” said Kim Young. “But coming from almost last wasn’t where I was expecting him to be.”
Rocknroll Elliot, a $19 chance, began from barrier five, and settled down in ninth position, with Infinite Sign ($11) setting the pace. The $1.55 favourite Youre So Fine was tenth and last in the early stages before Gary Hall jnr sent him forward, three wide, 1450m from home.
Youre So Fine quickly moved to the breeze, while Lewis started a three-wide move from ninth at the bell. Youre So Fine got to the front at the 400m before Rocknroll Elliot dashed past him with 250m to travel and raced away to win by more than two lengths from $4 second fancy Cloud Nine, who finished solidly after trailing the pacemaker all the way. Youre So Fine was a half-head back in third place.
Rocknroll Elliot, who rated 1.56 over the 2130m, cost $14,000 as a yearling, and he has now earned $121,669 from 15 wins and 18 placings from 68 starts. He is by A Rocknroll Dance and is the second foal out of Elsu mare Pure Empathy, who raced 72 times for 12 wins, 20 placings and $88,025.
Lusaka bound for the top
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Lusaka is destined to graduate to Free-For-All company and be a prolific winner, according to Deni Roberts who drove the Sweet Lou pacer to a superb victory in the $23,000 Cowden The Insurance Brokers Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Lusaka was the $4.30 second fancy from barrier No. 6, with the polemarker Machs Bettor the hot $1.55 favourite. But Lusaka carrier far too many guns for Machs Bettor and beat his frontrunning rival by a length after coming from eighth in the nine-horse field at the bell to hit the front 250m from home, with a final 400m in 27.9sec.
“He is going to make his way to Free-For-Alls when he probably will have to be driven as a sit-sprinter,” said Roberts. “When you go up in grade and you don’t draw (favourably) you need to drive like that.
“This was one of his best runs in this campaign. He ran a nice half and really put them away. After I pulled him out (about 850m from home) I thought this was the wrong move because the tempo lifted, and I had to hang out there.
“I couldn’t make ground for a bit but once we got to the back straight the breeze horse (Franco Ecuador) and the one-one horse (Dominus Factum) started to drop off, so we were then able to get into the race. It was a super run.”
Lusaka, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, boasts a 50 per cent success rate --- 14 wins as well as nine placings from 28 starts for stakes of $176,958. He raced only once in New Zealand for a win over Rakero Raider in a 1980 event at Addington in July 2022. Two months later he finished third behind the brilliant Never Ending in the Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park.
My Ultimate Baxter surprises Lewis
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis wasn’t full of confidence when he went on to the track with My Ultimate Baxter to contest the 1730m Retravision Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night from the unfavourable barrier, out wide at No. 8.
And he was pleasantly surprised when My Ultimate Baxter, the $5.50 second fancy, overcame this disadvantage by working in the breeze and winning by a head from the $1.60 favourite Lamandier, who set the pace from barrier one and dashed over the final 800m in 56.6sec.
“I didn’t have heaps of confidence, drawn so wide in a sprint,” explained Lewis. “Initially, I hoped to come out and slot midfield. If we were farther back than that it was going to be hard.
“I was caught three deep early, so I had to pull back or progress forward. So, I decided to let him roll forward, and it all worked out. My confidence grew when he was relaxed and travelling nicely in the breeze. And he then finished nicely.”
My Ultimate Baxter took the lead about 60m from the post and won narrowly but convincingly.
The New Zealand-bred My Ultimate Baxter, prepared by Debra Lewis, has done all his racing in Australia. Six starts in Queensland produced five wins and a second placing, he had three starts in Victoria for one second, and he raced 11 times in New South Wales for four wins and two placings before coming to Western Australia where his 18 starts have resulted in four wins and two placings.
My Ultimate Baxter now has earned $121,850 from 13 wins and six placings from 38 starts, with the highlight of his career being his win in the group 2 $50,000 Simpson Memorial at Menangle in January 2022.
It’s easy for Jett Star
Jett Star is renowned for his toughness, and there is no doubt he relished a rare soft run on his way to scoring a smart victory in the 2130m Catalanotrucks.com.au Combined Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Jett Star, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $2.70 favourite from the No. 6 barrier, and star driver Deni Roberts had the luxury of guiding him around in the favourable one-out, one-back position.
Magnus Victor ($6.50) led from barrier five, with $5 chance Hillview Bondi, beaten for early speed, in the breeze. Roberts bided her time before sending Jett Star forward, three wide, just passing the 400m.
Jett Star dashed clear on the home turn and won by a half-length from the $3.10 second fancy Rolling Fire, who had trailed Jett Star throughout the race.
“With Rolling Fire on my back, I didn’t want to go that early,” said Roberts. “But Jett Star was starting to grab up a bit, and he is better rolling. I then waited three wide until the home turn.
“It was nice for Jett Star not to have to go it so tough for a change. Lobbing one-out and one-back worked out perfectly, particularly with Hillview in the breeze a good horse to sit on and knowing that the pace would be genuine.”
The New Zealand-bred Jett Star has done all his racing in WA where his 50 starts have produced 22 wins and eleven placings for $275,104 in prizemoney.
Tualou is on the way up
“He’s a big boy who is a bit green and a bit nervous, and next time in he should be better,” said Deni Roberts after driving the inexperienced three-year-old Tualou to victory in the Sky Racing Watch Live Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park Friday night.
“This was a good learning curve for him. The ability is definitely there.”
Tualou, an all-the-way Gloucester Park winner three nights earlier, was the $2.40 favourite from barrier two on the back line.
“We were following out the right horse (Soho Skyfall at barrier two) and I expected we would settle quite handy,” said Roberts. “I was left in the breeze early and was quite happy to sit there but when Bettor Arcade came three wide Tualou got truckin’ and he pushed his way to the front (after a lap).”
Tualou bowled along in the lead and went on to win by just under a length from $26 outsider Petes Honour, who ran home strongly from eighth at the bell. Soho Sky fall fought on into third place.
Tualou had three starts as a two-year-old in New Zealand for a win over 1700m at Alexandra Park in August last year. He has had four starts in WA for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond for three wins and a second placing.
He is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the second foal out of the Mach Three mare Ask Again who raced 19 times for three wins, three placings and $34,034. Ask Again is a half-sister to Changeover mare Talkerup, who earned $198,196 from 15 wins and 34 placings from 196 starts. Eleven of her wins were in Western Australia, four of them in metropolitan-class company.
Montana D J shows his class
Montana D J, a recent arrival from New Zealand and unplaced in stands at his first two appearances in Western Australia, gave an outstanding exhibition of his undoubted class when he romped to a superb victory in the 1730m 7Plus Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Michael Young and driven by Gary Hall jnr, Montana D J was great value at $5.90 when he lined up on the inside of the back line.
After a hectic early speed battle between several runners when the opening quarters whizzed by in 27.9sec. and 28.8sec. Montana D J was seventh on the pegs until Hall eased him off the inside at the bell.
He then sustained a spirited sprint out wide to race away and win by two lengths from the fast-finishing $26 chance Bellezza Nera, rating 1.54.9 after final quarters of 29.1sec. and 28.8sec. Sorridere finished a good third, with the $3 favourite Blaze On in fourth place after setting the pace and having little peace in front.
“Montana D J has been a stressful horse,” said Young. “And that’s because he shows me a lot at home, but he galloped in stands and was unplaced at his first two starts for me.
“Owners start doubting what’s going on, so it was good tonight to finally show everyone what he shows me at home. I raced him in stands because he had had five starts in stands in New Zealand and stepped (away safely) in every one.
“Montana D J is still on a low grade, so he has got a lot of races to win before we think about races like the WA Pacing Cup. Horses look good going through the early grades, but he will need to go better to get up to the Free-For-All horses.”
Montana D J raced 30 times in New Zealand for six wins, nine placings and $148,232, with the highlight being his victory in a group 1 event for two-year-olds over 1700m at Alexandra Park in March 2021.
As a two-year-old he also finished third behind the brilliant Akuta in the group 1 Sires Stakes at Addington and fourth behind Akuta in the Emerald Classic at Cambridge.
He is by American stallion Captaintreacherous and is the ninth foal out of the brilliant race mare One Dream, who amassed $846,467 from 18 wins and five placings from 23 starts.
As a two-year-old in 2006 One Dream won the group 1 Sires Stakes Championship for fillies at Franklin, the group 1 Caduceus Club Classic over 2200m at Alexandra Park when her winning margin was eight lengths, and the group 1 Australasian Breeders Crown at Ballarat.
As a three-year-old One Dream won two group 1 events at Addington and two group 2 races at Alexandra Park. She went on to win two group 1 features at Alexandra Park as a four-year-old. Her seven Australian starts resulted in five wins and two placings, including a victory in the group 1 Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley in July 2007.
Iseeubaby shows promise
Experienced trainer John Graham has scaled down his involvement in harness racing in recent years and he now has only four pacers in his Bunbury stables.
But he seems assured of plenty of success in the coming seasons with his promising two-year-old filly Iseeubaby, who he produced in great shape for a most encouraging first-up victory in the $21,000 Join Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Iseeubaby, making her first appearance since finishing second to Reinette in Bunbury on March 2, was the $3 second fancy from the No. 1 barrier when Emily Suvaljko drove her to an all-the-way win over the strong-finishing Ruby Lovera ($4.60) and Winter Wonder ($8.50). The $2.10 favourite Bettagetonpip wilted to fourth after racing in the breeze.
Iseeubaby sprinted over the final 400m in 27.9sec. and her win gave the 62-year-old Graham his first city success since Suvaljko drove Miss Eerie to an all-the-way half-head victory over the fast-finishing Purest Silk in a $22,000 event for fillies and mares on January 14, 2022.
“I’m semi-retired and am working only four horses, just to keep myself occupied,” said Graham, who has prepared 639 winners.
Iseeubaby was bred and is owned by his partner Tracey Massimini, and the filly who is by former smart WA pacer Wesley, has had three starts for two wins and a second placing for stakes of $18,781. She has not been paid up for the $100,000 Diamond Classic on August 9 but is eligible for other Westbred feature events.
“There is a Westsired event for fillies next week, and if she pulls up okay, we will run her in that,” said Graham.
Wesley, raced and trained by Sarah Wall, earned $163,186 from 15 wins and 12 placings from 53 starts. Iseeubaby is the only foal out of the unraced Lincoln Royal mare Icanseeu, who was born with a club foot.
Veteran Wildwest is at his best
Eight-year-old veteran pacer Wildwest is in the best form of his illustrious career and is ready for another tilt at the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 8.
That’s the opinion of champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr after he had driven Wildwest to a notable victory over Steel The Show and Diego in the $31,000 Hoist Solutions Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The win boosted the New Zealand-bred Wildwest’s record to 57 starts for 17 wins and eleven placings for stakes of $603,442 --- a handsome return for his part-owners who outlaid $120,000 to buy the pacer in July 2019 after he had raced only once in New Zealand for a 12-length win as a three-year-old against older horses in a 2400m stand at Winton on May 11, 2019.
Wildwest won at his first seven starts in Western Australia before his form deteriorated. He burst back into the limelight when he gained a freak inside run to snatch victory over Miracle Moose, Chicago Bull and Magnificent Storm in the WA Pacing Cup in February 2022.
He is now racing with youthful enthusiasm, with his past four starts producing seconds to Finvarra and Diego and wins over Jumpingjackmac and Steel The Show.
“I think he is now better than he has ever been,” said Hall jnr. “He is more consistent than when he won the Pacing Cup. He has matured lately and is in career-best form.
“Wildwest was always a nice young horse but then he started all that hanging nonsense, and he wasn’t very tractable and lost weight easily. Now he’s holding his condition and is worthy of being set for the Pacing Cup.”
Wildwest was a $6.40 chance from barrier No. 5 in Friday night’s 2130m Free-For-All in which Jumpingjackmac was the $2.70 favourite and Steel The Show ($3.50) and Diego ($3.10) were strongly fancied.
Hampton Banner ($41) revealed his customary gate speed to set the pace, with Jumpingjackmac replacing Diego after 550m in the breeze and Wildwest settling down in fifth position, three back on the pegs.
Diego got to a narrow lead on the home turn but was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Wildwest and Steel The Show, with Wildwest gaining the verdict by a neck over Steel The Show. The final three 400m sections were all run in 28.7sec. and Wildwest rated 1.54.9 over 2130m.
