Prentice is enjoying the ride
Outstanding horseman Justin Prentice is thoroughly enjoying a return to race driving after concentrating fully on his training over the past couple of years, and he is delighted at Never Ending’s form leading into the $2.1 million TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.
Never Ending, the favourite for the Eureka, was not extended in coasting to victory in the $31,000 BOTRA Thanking Our President Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The brilliant four-year-old was seen in an unfamiliar role in the breeze before he surged to the front 115m from the post and won by 2m from Talks Up A Storm, rating 1.54.6 over 1730m, with a final 800m of 56.1sec.
“This was a good learning experience for him, and I’m still learning driving him as well,” said Prentice. “I’m looking forward to Junior (Gary Hall jnr) back to drive him (after the star reinsman completes a driving suspension).
“I’m trying to enjoy the experience of driving Never Ending at his past two runs. I don’t feel too much pressure because I’ve driven him so much at home that I feel comfortable driving him.
“Obviously, I’ve been trying to win, but you’ve also got to keep in mind he has a bigger goal at the end, and I guess I’m trying to drive him as a trainer.
“This was Never Ending’s first run in a sprint, and it had him confused, I think. He was really settled like we wanted him to be. I just let him come out (at the start) and he settled well, and when I pulled him three deep early, he wanted to go pretty quick then after coming off a helmet.
“But he came back to me and settled in the breeze, a position he has not often been in. He breezed in the Bunbury Cup and hung badly (when a fading sixth behind Jumpingjackmac in March this year), and he breezed in a heat of the two-year-old Pearl when he got charging and took the lead with a lap to go (before winning easily).
“You don’t get horses like him often, or ever, and I had to talk to myself to make sure I enjoy the rise. It might not ever happen again.”
Prentice said that provided that never Ending pulled up well after Friday night’s run, he would contest a 2130m event next Friday night when under the conditions of the race he would draw a wide barrier.
The plans then would be for never Ending to leave by air on the first section of his trip to Sydney. His win on Friday night took his record to 20 starts for 16 wins, two placings and stakes of $624,075.
Carana’s remarkable record
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Carana has proved to be virtually unbeatable in standing-start events, and not even the back mark of 30 metres could prevent him from winning the $30,000 Garrard’s BOTRA Cup over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
At his first start for five weeks he was a $12.20 chance, with Stuart McDonald driving the Bettors Delight gelding for the first time. Carana’s four-year-old stablemate Lusaka, shared the back mark with Carana and was the $3.10 favourite.
Carana began like a flash and settled down in eighth position, with the $3.80 second fancy Rock Artist freewheeling out in front, and Lucapelo ($14) and Otis ($8) at the rear after Lucapelo had swung sideways at the start and Otis had broken into a gallop soon after the start.
McDonald bided his time, with Carana travelling comfortably in the one-out, two-back position and being tracked by Lusaka. Carana began a three-wide move 650m from home and was followed by Lusaka.
Rock Artist sprinted over the third quarter of the final mile in 28.60sec. but was unable to hold out Carana, who took a narrow lead on the home turn and went on to win comfortably from Rock Artist, rating 1.58.5.
Carana’s victory gave leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond their third win in the BOTRA Cup, following the successes of Fizzing in 2019 and Minstrel in 2021.
Carana has raced only 31 times for 13 wins and nine placings for earnings of $135,275.
He has contested 28 standing-start events for 13 wins (two in New Zealand and 11 in WA), seven seconds and one third placing.
“We had a good getaway and a couple of our rivals didn’t get away well,” said McDonald. “We took advantage of our good start, and I was pretty confident soon after the start that we could win.”
Sebastian James set for rich classics
Rich feature events, with $465,000 in prizemoney, are on the agenda for Sebastian James after he had scored a smart all-the-way victory in the $30,000 BOTRA The Future Is Harness Western Crown at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a nice big colt and an effortless pacer who showed tonight that he can handle pressure,” said trainer Katja Warwick. “His immediate mission will be the Pearl.”
The $100,000 Pearl Classic will be run on August 16, followed by the $215,000 Westbred Classic on September 6 and the $150,000 Golden Nugget on September 27.
Sebastian James, a Captain Crunch colt, was the $3.30 favourite from the prized No.1 barrier, and Shannon Suvaljko made every post a winner by getting the youngster away to a flying start before travelling easily over the opening quarters in 29.5sec. and 30sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.8sec. and 28.3sec. on his way to winning by a half-length from the fast-finishing $13 chance Im Massimo, with Captain Stirling ($7) a close-up third.
Sebastain James rated 1.55.8 and improved his record to three starts for two wins and a third placing for stakes of $30,136.
Also set for the upcoming rich feature events is Warwick’s Sweet Lou colt Hold The Ammo, who was a $4 chance in Friday night’s event in which he finished sixth.
Hold The Ammo began from the No. 2 barrier on the back line and raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back. He began a three-wide move 600m from home but was pushed out wide for the rest of the journey.
Dylan Egerton-Green’s colt Captain Stirling enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before following the run of Hold The Ammo in the final circuit. A punctured near side sulky tyre did not help his cause.
Brown overcomes early fumble
Talented driver Maddison Brown admitted that she almost lost her grip on the right rein in the early stages of the Trotsynd Register Now Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But she retained her composure and was able to drive the $4.60 chance Ideal Tomado forward to wrest the early lead from the fast-starting Make It Happen ($7.50) and go on and score a comfortable win from the $3.70 favourite Benji.
“I fumbled for a bit and had to stop driving before I recovered, and then had to do a bit extra to get to the front,” said Brown.
“Youngy (trainer Michael Young) had given me the confidence to be positive --- and it paid off. The pace was super quick going into the first corner, and I knew we had to get a breather after how hard we had gone (with a lead time of 36.2sec.). Then, a slow opening quarter of 32.9sec. helped.”
Ideal Tomado sprinted strongly to cover the final 400m sections in 28.8sec. and 28.6sec.
“Ideal Tomado always goes good in front, and he usually wins when he leads,” said Young. “However, his two previous runs from behind were very good, and last week he sprinted like a gazelle (when third behind Mandown.”
Ideal Tomado, a New Zealand-bred seven-year-old by American stallion American Ideal, has earned $97,222 from eleven wins and 15 placings from 60 starts. He has certainly blossomed in Australia after having won only once from 29 starts in New Zealand.
Easy for My Ultimate Baxter
Widely-travelled five-year-old My Ultimate Baxter maintained his excellent form when he notched his third win from his past four starts at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A hot $1.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m BOTRA, Supporting The Industry Pace, My Ultimate Baxter was able to stroll through the lead time in 38.4sec. and the opening quarter of the final mile in 32sec. before Chris Lewis gave him more rein as he sprinted over the final three quarters in 29.6sec., 28.8sec. and 27.7sec. to win easily by two lengths from $8 chance Rubins Plight, who trailed him throughout.
Solesseo Matuca ($6) settled in ninth position before Trent Wheeler dashed him forward with a three-wide burst after a lap to race without cover and fight on to finish third.
The New Zealand-bred My Ultimate Baxter is by boom sire Sweet Lou and he now has raced 41 times for 15 wins, six placings and $145,382.
He did not race in New Zealand, but before arriving in Western Australia to be trained by Debra Lewis, he won at five of his six Queensland starts, was placed once from three Victorian appearances, and had 11 starts in New South Wales for four wins and two placings. His 22 WA starts have produced six wins and two placings.
Coney Island Lou sprints fast
Recent New Zealand import Coney Island Lou set the pace to win at his first two starts in Western Australia, but it appears that his best asset is his sparkling sit-sprint ability.
Coney Island Lou, trained by Gary Hall snr, began from the outside barrier in the field of eight in the 2130m BOTRA, Thanking Industry Participants Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when in-form reinsman Stuart McDonald restrained him back to a conspicuous last while the polemarker and $15 chance Lady Prima Donna was setting the pace after resisting a spirited challenge from the $3.30 equal second fancy Sorridere.
Crowd Control ($3.30) trailed the pacemaker until Mitch Miller eased him off the pegs at the bell to dash forward and eventually get to the front with about 225m to travel --- after Sorridere had hit the front 250m earlier.
Whataretheodds, the $3 favourite, was seventh at the bell and he was running home strongly approaching the home turn before wilting to finish third. Coney Island Lou, a $7 chance, followed the run of Whataretheodds and was switched three wide approaching the home turn before sprint powerfully to get up in the final stride to beat Crowd Control by a half-head, rating 1.56.7, with a final quarter of 28.1sec.
“Coney Island Lou is getting better with racing,” said McDonald. “He has had a couple of tractability issues, and they’ve been sorted out, and he is learning how to race in our style.
“He spent a lot of time in New Zealand being launched off the gate, so he has had to learn to go back and then come home.”
Coney Island Lou, a four-year-old by Sweet Lou, has won at three of his first five starts in Western Australia and he looks set to win many more races.
Harper’s birthday present
Star reinsman Kyle Harper gave himself an early birthday present at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he drove the heavily-supported $1.80 favourite Blaze Coops to a decisive victory in the $19,000 BOTRA Thanking Our Committee Pace.
Harper, who celebrated his 34TH birthday on Sunday, used all his skill have Blaze Coops, a mare who has been badly affected by a tendency to overrace, on her best behaviour.
Blaze Coops, a Victorian-bred six-year-old mare, responded kindly to Harper’s gentle approach and she relished her frontrunning role to end a 13-month drought and losing sequence of 18 as she coasted home just under three lengths clear of the $2.90 second fancy Let It Linga, who was beaten for early speed from the No. 1 barrier and then trailed the pacemaking Blaze Coops.
Harper was extremely anxious not to fire up Blaze Coops, who was restrained about 25 metres behind her eight rivals in the mobile score-up.
Blaze Coops got away on terms with her opposition and Harper was able to dash her to the front after about 50m.
“She had one of the slowest lead times (37.7sec.) that she had ever run, and then after an opening quarter of 30.6sec. I was quite happy, and with a lap to go I was full of confidence,” said Harper.
“I expected her to be challenged up the home straight. But that didn’t happen, and she just ran away (from the rest of the field). She quickens quite well, and I wasn’t worried when she was 20 metres off the others in the score-up.
“You don’t want to have her too hard on the gate, and I just wanted to err on the side of caution. She is electric off the arm as long as you don’t hit it (get there) too early.”
Blaze Coops is trained by 58-year-old Shane Tognolini, who races the mare in partnership with Reg Musgrave. She has earned $92,509 from 11 wins and 13 placings from 68 starts. After winning twice in Victoria, three times in New South Wales and twice in Queensland Blaze Coops has had 31 starts in WA for four wins and six placings.
Her elder half-brother Change Of Mind is still racing and his 275 starts in New South Wales and Queensland between 2014 and 2024 have produced 37 wins, 39 placings and stakes of $287,021.
Penny Black is still learning
Mardella trainer Michael Young issued a strong warning to the connections of the State’s best mares when he declared after Penny Black’s effortless win in the $30,000 BOTRA Driving The Industry Forward Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night that the inexperienced four-year-old would be considerably better later this year.
“She is lightly raced and is still learning her craft,” he said. “She does just what she has to, and I don’t think she has been fully extended in winning at her first six starts here. She just looks after herself.
“I’m now setting her for another feature race in a fortnight and then after that she will have a spell before coming back for the big races like the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic later in the year.
The New Zealand-bred Penny Black was the $1.30 favourite from the No. 2 barrier on the back line on Friday night when she settled down in last place in the field of twelve before Shannon Suvaljko dashed her forward with a three-wide burst after about 250m.
She then burst to the front 300m later and was not extended in setting the pace and winning by two lengths from $31 chance Rattlin Lilly, who fought on grimly after racing without cover for the final circuit. The final 800m was covered in 57.4sec. and Penny Black rated 1.57.1 over the 2130m.
“It all worked out okay early when she got a good run through,” said Suvaljko. “She then showed her class to get around the field and dominate the race. She is laid back and keeps on finding.”
Penny Black is a star in the making and her twelve starts have produced seven wins, two placings and $67,874 in prizemoney.
Rocknroll Spirit overcomes a setback
Rocknroll Spirit overcame the disadvantage of racing without front shoes when he revealed an excellent fighting spirit to set the pace and win the Become A BOTRA Member Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA-bred four-year-old, trained and driven by Chris Voak, was an easing $5.20 chance from the No. 2 barrier when he was beaten out by the $3.90 chance Tubbs Farquhar and Il Bandito ($11).
But Voak was able to resist these challenges and Rocknroll Spirit was a clear leader after 250m before setting the pace and winning by a length from $7.50 chance Baltic Ace, who trailed the pacemaker all the way. Tubbs Farquhar, who was eased back to last in the field of twelve after his unsuccessful bid for the early lead, zoomed home from tenth at the bell to finish third.
Rocknroll Spirit cast his off fore shoe during the preliminary, and then had his other front shoe removed for the gelding to race bare in front.
“He certainly felt his feet,” said Voak. “He knew he had no shoes on, and his was a gutsy effort. Nearing the 300m I knew through the bridle that he was a bit short in front, and I also was in trouble when I couldn’t get the pull-downs down.
“But he did something he hadn’t done before. He ran away from them and won comfy in the end.”
Voak has trained Rocknroll Spirit for his past seven starts for two wins, one second and two fourths, and the gelding now has raced 33 times for six wins, eight placings and $42,873 in stakes.
Rocknroll Spirit is the third foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Miss Worthy Whitby, who had 14 starts for three wins, three placings and $40,154. She won at Bathurst and Albion Park as a two-year-old in 2010, and then won, first-up in WA in a heat of the Diamond Classic.
Rocknroll Spirit’s elder full-brother Its Rock And Roll has been highly successful, earning $543,842 from 30 wins and 46 placings from 117 starts. His 31 starts in WA for trainer-reinsman Colin Brown resulted in seven wins and 15 seconds.
As a two-year-old Its Rock And Roll won the group 1 Sales Classic and the group 2 Champagne Classic as well as finishing third behind Franco Edward in the Golden Slipper. As a three-year-old he finished second in the group 2 Pearl Classic, and at his final appearance in Australia he won the group 3 Im Themightyquinn final in January 2020 before travelling to the United States a month later where he won another 23 races.
Chandler’s first city win
New Zealand-born horseman Dean Chandler celebrated his first winner at Gloucester Park as a trainer when Aiden De Campo brought $125.80 outsider Good Times Ahead home with a late burst to snatch victory in the $19,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace over 2130m on Friday night.
The eleven-year-old Good Times Ahead, who has recovered from three suspensory ligament injuries, was having his 201ST start in a race, and his surprise victory ended a 51-month drought and broke a losing sequence of 93.
The win came as no surprise to the 57-year-old Pinjarra trainer Chandler, who said the gelding’s recent efforts had been most encouraging.
“He has been going good,” he said. “He ran sixth, after starting off 50 metres in a race at Pinjarra two Mondays ago, and at his previous start he finished a close second to Peligroso over 1177m at Pinjarra.
“I think those sprint races at Pinjarra have helped him, and he has regained the attitude to race again.
“I bought Good Times Ahead for $1200 in February 2022 for my daughter, who is now eleven, to ride. And I also decided to race the pacer, who has done a good job.”
Good Times Ahead, who races in the name of Chandler’s wife Buakaew, has had 77 starts for Friday night’s win, five placings and 16 fourths and fifths for $32,573 in prizemoney.
The New Zealand-bred Good Times Ahead is by Mach Three and is the second foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Maheer Princess, who had 27 starts for four wins, six placings and $39,984. Good Times head has now earned $160,426 from 16 wins and 30 placings from 201 startrs.
Interestingly, De Campo drove Good Times Ahead at his first start in a race, as a two-year-old at Pinjarra on February 16, 2015, when he finished last behind his stablemate Sprinter in a field of six runners, and De Campo, one of 34 drivers to have handled Good Times Ahead in a race, was driving the pacer for only the fourth time in Friday’s event.
Chandler worked for Mick Lombardo as a pre-trainer at the leviathan breeder’s property in Shepparton, and he also trained and drove a few winners on Victorian country tracks, including Innovate, Bridie Hanover and Mista Lombo. In the past 12 months Chandler has been successful with Axle Rocks (two wins at Busselton), Ally Rocks (Bunbury) and Beefour Bacardi (Pinjarra).
“I have cut back my team recently after getting a part-time job doing the tractor work between races and trials at the Pinjarra greyhound track,” said Chandler, who is looking for further successes with Good Times Ahead.
