Derby aim for Cyclone Jordy
It was a one-act affair when Cyclone Jordy annihilated his rivals in the $150,000 Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and now the gelding will go for a spell, with master trainer Gary Hall snr declaring that the rich WA Derby towards the end of next year would be foremost on his agenda.
“He is a real professional and a top-class horse, and the main aim will be the Derby,” said Hall, who is planning for Cyclone Jordy to follow in the footsteps of Beaudiene Boaz, who won the 2014 Golden Slipper before winning the Derby the following year.
Hall prepared Beaudiene Boaz for those group 1 victories, and he said: “Cyclone Jordy is faster than Beaudiene Boaz, but I don’t know yet whether he will stay as well.”
Cyclone Jordy gave Hall his third win in the Golden Slipper, with his first success coming when he drove Love Of Glory to victory in 1989. For Hall jnr Friday night’s win was his third in the Slipper, coming after Beaudiene Boaz and Never Ending in 2022.
“Never Ending was so brilliant, but he tended to overrace,” he said. “Cyclone Jordy is a much more professional two-year-old. He is the best mannered and probably the best driving horse in our stable, let alone two-year-olds.
“I think that’s a reason why he is as good as he is, and he has got such a good turn of foot. He went 28.1sec. and 27.8sec. (over the final 400m sections) and I didn’t move on him.”
Cyclone Jordy, the $1.04 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, burst straight to the front and was able to amble through the lead time in 38sec. and the opening quarters in 31.2sec. and 30.2sec. before dashing over the final 800m in 55.9sec. without being extended. He rated 1.57.4 over the 2130m.
Como El Viento ($34) and Belly Up ($41) broke soon after the start, and Xpress Party ($31) was checked and broke, while Deni Roberts quickly dashed the $20 third fancy Captainshavtime forward and into the breeze, with the $16 second favourite Last Hard Copy trailing the leader.
Reinette ($51) was given a perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position by Trent Wheeler, and she finished solidly to be second, 10m behind Cyclone Jordy, with Captainshavtime finishing a meritorious third.
Cyclone Jordy was a $70,000 yearling in New Zealand where he had five starts for three wins, a second placing and $81,738, and was sold for $400,000 to Greg Richardson, John Fairweather, Steve Waters and Rob Patriarca. He has earned an additional $98,188 for his new owners from his two wins from two starts in WA.
For Victorian Fairweather, he has no regrets about his decision just over two years ago to resume as an owner after an absence of more than 20 years.
“John rang me from Melbourne and out of the blue a couple of years ago and said he had discovered that I was trying to buy the four-year-old mare Bettor Talk Art from New Zealand,” said Hall snr.
“I didn’t know him from a bar of soap, and I told him that I had already bought the mare. He then said he would like to buy a pacer from New Zealand, or a share in one.”
Bettor Talk Art came to Hall’s stable in March 2022 with a record of 19 starts for six wins, nine placings and $143,381. But she broke down and was retired to the breeding barn after not racing in WA.
Fairweather is now a proud part-owner of Cyclone Jordy, who is the fourth pacer he has been associated with the Hall stable. He is also a part-owner of talented pacers Skylou, Mister Smartee and Hes Never Been Beta.
Cyclone Jordy is by renowned sire Art Major and is the third foal out of Mach Three mare Cyclone Kate, who earned $341,723 from 21 wins and 18 placings from 60 starts. Cyclone Kate’s first foal is Cyclone Charlotte, who has raced successfully in WA and has earned $178,744 from ten wins and 16 placings from 32 starts.
Miss Hepburn under a cloud
Smart filly Miss Hepburn ran a splendid trial for the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday night when she set the pace and scored an effortless victory in the 2130m The Voice Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But she is under a cloud after showing signs of lameness in her off hind leg following her two-and-a-half length win over Bonne Amour. Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo will be hoping that she proves her fitness during the week to enable her to contest the Oaks over 2536m.
“She is tough and has won the Country Oaks over 2569m at Bunbury last month, while some of the other Oaks runners have not yet run over 2500m,” said De Campo.
Miss Hepburn, the $1.60 favourite, dashed straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier on Friday night and was able to dawdle through the lead time in 38.8sec. and the opening 400m section in 31.5sec. She covered the final quarter in 28.2sec. and was untroubled to beat $41 chance Bonne Amour.
This took Miss Hepburn’s record to 20 starts for six wins, nine placings and $130,707. She is by former star pacer Ultimate Machete and is the sixth foal out of Grinfromeartoear mare Montanas Smile.
Mister Smartee is Cups bound
Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr continues to enthuse over the great potential of Mister Smartee, who is developing into a major contender for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 8.
Mister Smartee notched his eleventh win from 13 starts when he overcame a tough run in the breeze before cruising to an easy win over Eldaytona and To Fast To Serious in the $31,000 Past President’s Cup over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He’s the best horse here,” said Hall. “He had a hard run tonight, and last week he gave a sensational performance to win.”
From the No. 4 barrier Mister Smartee was the $1.20 favourite --- and was beaten for early speed by last-start winner and $19 third fancy Sangue Reale, who charged forward from the outside barrier in the field of eight to surge to the front after 120m.
Mister Smartee then was left working in the breeze while Sangue Reale reeled off quarters of 29.1sec., 28.6sec. and 27.9sec. before Gary Hall jnr dashed the favourite to the front 300m from home on the way to beating Eldaytona by 5m, rating 1.54.9.
“They tried to make it hard for him, and he did it pretty comfortably,” said Hall jnr. “He should keep improving.”
After contesting the 2536m Pacing Cup the New Zealand-bred Mister Smartee will be aimed at the $200,000 Golden Nugget over 2536m on December 13, as well as other feature events for four-year-olds. Mister Smartee now has earned $173,406 from his eleven victories.
Alta Tribute is on the rise
Trainer Gary Hall snr and his son, reinsman Gary Hall jnr, did not have a particularly high opinion of Alta Tribute during his first couple of preparations when he did not race as a two-year-old and finally made his debut late last month, more than half- way through the three-year-old season.
But their opinions have changed dramatically following Alta Tribute’s four wins from his first four starts, all at Gloucester Park, for impressive victories.
The WA-bred three-year-old was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 3 barrier in the 7News Pace on Friday night when he gave a powerful performance to win by almost a length from $4 chance Tualou, rating 1.57.2 over 2130m after flying final quarters of 27.7sec. and 28.4sec.
New Zealand import My Silver Spoon was a well-supported $4.40 chance after scoring easy wins at his first two WA appearances, and trainer-reinsman Chris Voak attempted an all-the-way win.
Alta Tribute was left in the breeze, and Hall jnr applied considerable pressure on the pacemaker before Alta Tribute eventually got the upper hand 600m from home. He increased his lead and won in fine style from Tualou, who fought on strongly from sixth at the bell. Dark Eyes ($23), who had every chance after enjoying a perfect sit, one-out and one-back, was a well-beaten third.
“When we first had him in work I didn’t think much of him,” said Hall jnr. “But he has been getting better all the time and now he is definitely a chance of running in the WA Derby on November 1.
“You never know what he has left. I thought he was done on the (home) bend, and thought he was going to be run down. But the more you ask him for something, the more he gives.”
Hall snr also was suitably impressed, saying: “He has exceeded all expectations. Early on, he was slow and big, but all of a sudden, the penny dropped, and he is now a realistic Derby hope.
“I was looking for Sweet Pins to run in the Derby, but he has broken down and probably will not race again.”
The New Zealand-bred Sweet Pins has raced only once --- over 1684m at Pinjarra on July 1 this year when he began from the back line and raced without cover before getting to the front and racing away to win by seven lengths in the field of twelve, rating 1.56.5 after final quarters of 28.2sec. and 27.5sec.
“He then fractured a knee,” said Hall. “He is the best horse, apart from Quinny (Im Themightyquinn), that I’ve ever had.”
Alta Tribute is by Hall’s ill-fated former champion pacer Alta Christiano, and is out of Grinfromeartoear mare Harriet Price, who manage two wins from nine starts in New Zealand and one placing from eight WA appearances.
Velocipede is limited
WA-bred four-year-old Velocipede enjoyed a leisurely passage out in front when he won easily in slow time in the 2130m 7Mate Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His win as the $1.30 favourite gave champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr his sixth winner on the twelve-event program on a wintry evening.
“Velocipede is limited,” bemoaned Hall. “I wish he had more toughness. He could be a nice horse; he has good gate speed and good point-to-point speed, but he lacks a bit of intestinal fortitude.”
Velocipede, bought for $42,000 at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale, has been a handy performer who has had 28 starts for seven wins, seven placings and $65,159 in prizemoney. He is a full-brother to outstanding mare Fly Like An Eagle, who has amassed $742,952 from 30 wins and 15 placings from 57 starts.
Velocipede won the start on Friday night from barrier two and was able to amble through the lead time in 39.8sec. and the opening quarters in 32.1sec. and 31.3sec. before finishing with 400m sections of 29sec. and 28.2sec.
Soho Firestone breaks through
In-form reinsman Mitch Miller blamed a series of wide barriers for the reason why Soho Firestone went into the 2130m 7Plus Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with a losing sequence of 14.
And his confidence was boosted when the Kim Prentice-trained four-year-old drew favourably at barrier two.
“He has been crying out for a draw and hadn’t won a race for about ten or twelve starts,” he said after guiding Soho Firestone, the $3.30 second favourite, to an all-the-way win at a 1.57 rate.
“He has never been going better, and he deserved the win. He won as easily as I thought he would. He has been a leader for his whole career.”
Soho Firestone set a solid pace, and he sprinted over the final quarters in 28.3sec. and 28.2sec. on his way to beating three-year-old Vegas Strip ($16) by 10m. Vegas Strip began out wide at barrier nine and raced at the rear before sustaining a powerful burst from 11TH at the bell.
Soho Firestone, bred and owned by Rob Watson, has earned $111,293 from ten wins and 15 placings from 45 starts.
Solesseo Matuca does it tough
Hardy five-year-old Solesseo Matuca revealed excellent fighting qualities to endure a tough run and emerge victorious in the $23,000 The Chase Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2 favourite, and trainer Gary Hall junior’s bid to dash to the front from barrier four and set the pace was foiled when the gelding was unable to cross $126 outsider Master Leighton (barrier one) and $23 chance State Of Heaven (barrier two), leaving him in the breeze.
State Of Heaven set a solid pace and he was checked and broke with about 600m to travel. Solesseo Matuca then went to the front and quickly opened up a break of two lengths on his closest rivals before going on to win by a neck from the $2.80 second fancy Carana, who finished powerfully from last in the field of eight at the bell.
“Nothing went his way at all,” said Hall. “He is a strange horse, but there is a bit of a motor in there somewhere. He has been most consistent, and I think in better company he will be a good sit and kick horse.”
Solesseo Matuca has raced 24 times in WA for five wins and seven placings, which have taken his career earnings to $324,441 from 15 wins and 27 placings from 69 starts.
Classic Choice ends a drought
Veteran pacer Classic Choice ended an eight-month drought when he was a $5 chance from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m My Kitchen Rules Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Gary Hall jnr rated the seven-year-old perfectly when he set a solid pace and won by a length from the $3.70 second fancy Lamandier, who trailed the pacemaker all the way and did not get into the clear until the final 70m.
Four-year-old OK Boomer, a recent arrival from Queensland, was the $3.10 favourite from out wide at barrier eight at his WA debut. He raced in sixth position in the one-wide line before starting a three-wide move 550m from home. But he lacked sparkle and finished seventh.
Classic Choice was having his 18TH start for Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg. He was unplaced at the first 16 runs for Mrs Padberg before enjoying a soft run behind the pacemaker and finishing third behind Fleur Du Marquis ten nights before Friday’s race.
“I had trouble sorting him out,” said Mrs Padberg. “He is a funny horse, very temperamental, and I was changing his work before I decided to go back to my normal routine, and that’s tracking him harder. And tonight’s barrier helped, and now he is in a good place.”
The New Zealand-bred Classic Choice has raced 93 times for 16 wins, 24 placings and stakes of $185,962.
Voak fills in for sick driver
Chris Voak was only too happy to help trainer Brad Lynn by driving his smart trotter Elegant Peak in the Better Homes And Gardens Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night after Lynn’s son Toby was struck down with a debilitating sinus infection.
“Toby has been sick all day and the doctor advised him not to drive,” said Brad Lynn.
Elegant Peak, a $7.80 chance, began safely off the front line in the 2503m standing-start event and the seven-year-old mare simply ran her eight rivals ragged as she coasted to victory, beating Nickys Son ($3.80) by 17 metres, with the $3.60 favourite Hold That Gold a well beaten fourth.
Angelo Russo purchased Elegant Peak as a cheap buy in New Zealand (where she raced 15 times for two wins), and the mare then raced 21 times in Victoria for a win at Shepparton in May 2022. After that she travelled to WA and has now had 16 starts for the Lynn stable for four wins and three placings.
Elegant Peak gave a sample of her class as a $71 outsider two starts before Friday night’s event when Toby Lynn drove her off a 50m handicap and she finished strongly to win from Sunnys Little Rose and set a track record (rating 2.1.2) for a 2631m stand for square gaiters.
She is the first foal out of the unraced New Zealand mare Arf’a Guinness, and she now has raced 52 times for seven wins, 13 placings and $70,170.
“She always begins safely in stands and we will be setting her for the Trotters Cup in the summer,” said the trainer.
A Money-Making Marvel
Nine-year-old warrior Rock Me Over continues to thrive on the racetrack and maintains his reputation as the State’s most enduring money-making bargain pacer.
The little WA-bred pacer is a credit to his Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, and he was a $19.40 chance when Aiden De Campo drove him to an exciting victory in the 2130m Home And Away Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Scott races Rock Me Over in partnership with long-term stable clients Tony Maguire and his son Ian. They outlaid $6000 to purchase Rock Me Over in February 2019, and since then the gelding has had 179 starts for them, earning $310,340 from 16 wins, 33 seconds and 25 third placings.
This has taken Rock Me Over’s career record to a remarkable 225 starts for 27 wins, 71 placings and stakes of $435,891.
Rock Me Over has never basked in the admiration of harness racing fans who adored his elder half-brother Handsandwheels, the 2017 WA Derby winner who retired with a wonderful record of 102 starts for 29 wins, 33 placings and $707,393.
It is also to the credit of Scott and Rock Me Over that the gelding has recovered fully from the damage to a hind suspensory ligament he sustained in April 2023 and threatened to end his career.
“Rock Me Over has been knocking on the door, and tonight’s race worked out perfectly for him,” said De Campo. “He is a funny horse who looks after himself a bit around the (home) corner. I thought he was a chance of getting up once we straightened up.”
Rock Me Over raced in seventh place before De Campo sent him forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell. Blaze Coops, the $1.65 favourite, set the pace but overraced and was passed by the breeze horse Stormyskyes ($23) who took the lead with 450m to travel. Rock Me Over ran home determinedly to get up and snatch victory by a head from Stormyskyes. The winner rated 1.56.
Rare visit produces a $78 result
Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop has concentrated on racing Heavenly Wage on South-West tracks with plenty of success, and he was rewarded for his decision to start the five-year-old gelding at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Of Heavenly Wage’s previous 45 starts in WA only three had been at Gloucester Park, resulting in unplaced efforts at tote odds of $9, $101 and $126.
And Heavenly Wage was a rank outsider again on Friday night, starting at the handsome quote of $78, despite his strong-finishing second to Blaze Coops over 2185m at Pinjarra eleven days earlier.
A skilful drive by Deni Roberts played a vital part in Heavenly Wage’s neck victory over the pacemaker Rockmyster ($9).
Chivalry, the popular $1.80 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier, was surprisingly F
