Mister Smartee’s learning curve
Exciting four-year-old Mister Smartee moved a step closer to endorsing his standing as a champion by winning the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 8 when he hardly raised a sweat in crushing his rivals in the $100,000 The Running Camel James Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred pacer, trained by Gary Hall snr and driven by Gary Hall jnr, was the $1.30 favourite when he notched his seventh successive victory at Gloucester Park, setting the pace and beating $15 chance Sangue Reale by one and a half lengths.
He coasted through the opening 400m sections of the final mile in 30.5sec. and 29.5sec. before zipping over the final quarters in 27.8sec. and 27.4sec. and rating 1.57.2 over 2536m.
Hall jnr was full of praise for Mister Smartee, saying that the gelding was still on the path of a steep learning curve.
“I’m trying to teach him how to race,” he explained. “In big races you’ve got to ask him to come out, and that is my focus --- getting him out of the gate.
“Tonight, I asked him to come out, and he did it easily. His speed is one of his biggest assets, and he is a super-fast horse. I think he is capable of holding out (brilliant beginner) Pinny Tiger.”
Queried why he pulled the ear plugs on the home turn, Hall replied: “It’s because I’m teaching him to run through the line. He could have won with plugs in. It’s not always the case of him having it all his own way, turning for home two lengths clear.
“Tonight, he was comfortable, doing what he did. And he has good bottom to him, as well.”
Mister Smartee was, by far, the most inexperienced runner in Friday night’s event, and he now has contested just 14 events for 12 wins and $230,826 in prizemoney. His two New Zealand starts as a two-year-old resulted in a head second to Da Vinci over 1980m at Addington in October 2022 and a win by a nose over Sinbad over the same journey at Addington the following month.
Mister Smartee is by American sire Always B Miki and is the second foal out of the unraced New Zealand mare Luna Danza, whose first foal Divaca was retired after two unplaced runs as a four-year-old.
Luna Danza’s third and fourth foals, Onedarknight and Sonofamistery, have yet to race. Luna Danza’s half-brother Our Toto had 38 starts for 12 wins, ten placings and $107,952. Our Toto’s final 33 starts were for the Hall stable in WA for 11 wins between 2008 and 2011.
Golden Lode stakes his claim
Speedy pacer Golden Lode enhanced his prospects of gaining a start in the $200,000 WA Derby on November 1 when he gave a remarkable performance to win the Amy And Dack 12.24 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Golden Lode, a well-supported $3.80 third favourite, endured a horror run before surging home from last at the bell to charge to the front 50m from the post and win by a neck from Alta Tribute ($3.50), rating 1.56 over 2130m in the event in which the final 400m sections were run (off the front) in 28sec. and 28.3sec.
“If that run doesn’t get him into the Derby, I don’t know what will,” said driver Deni Roberts. “He has come back in this campaign (five runs for three wins and two seconds) showing a bit more toughness, and that’s why you have just seen him reel off a good half, not just a quarter.
“At this stage he will run in the $50,000 Western Gateway next Friday night (when the winner will automatically qualify for a start in the Derby).”
Roberts said that Golden Lode’s trainers Greg and Skye Bond would have a strong representation in the Derby. “The stable probably will have four or five runners in the Derby --- Christopher Dance, Golden Lode, Vegas Strip, Thenu Came Along and Tualou,” she said.
“At this stage I’ll be driving Christopher Dance, with the others all racing in top form.” Christopher Dance made an auspicious Australian debut when Roberts drove the Sweet Lou colt to an impressive victory at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Cristopher Dance won twice as a two-year-old at Alexandra Park late last year, and he now has a record of eight starts for three wins, three placings and $62,032. Golden Lode has raced 21 times for eight wins, seven seconds, one third and $64,949 in prizemoney.
Golden Lode began from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night and settled down in sixth position while the polemarker and $2.35 favourite Kabochon led early. Alta Tribute ($3.50) was restrained from barrier eight and settled down in last position in the field of ten.
Gary Hall jnr then sent Alta Tribute forward, three wide after 500m to burst past Kabochon and into the lead 300m later. Soon after that $17 chance Blaze Away dashed forward, with Roberts following that pacer with Golden Lode.
“Then we got shuffled out when a horse came off the fence and pushed us (Blaze Away and Golden Lode) three wide,” said Roberts. “It was a mishap when Alta Tribute went to the front. It wasn’t a great circumstance. Stuey (McDonald) restrained, so I had to go back with him, being behind him.
“I had to go all the way back to last, and the plan certainly wasn’t to be restraining to last coming into the bell. That wasn’t great, but I hadn’t done any work at all, whereas the two leaders had.
“Golden Lode can run a nice half at a high speed, so I thought I could round them up. I went four deep down the back, but it didn’t bother me too much.”
Golden Lode is by Always B Miki, and is the sixth foal out of Yankee Dream, who earned $262,989 from 15 wins and 18 placings from 56 starts. She won 11 times in New Zealand and four times in Victoria, and also had three starts for Victorian trainer Dean Braun at Gloucester Park in November and December 2012 for unplaced efforts in a 2503m stand, the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic.
Golden Lode had eight starts for four placings as a two-year-old before blossoming this year for eight wins and three seconds from 13 starts.
Starlight Dream shines in a new role
Starlight Dream, a noted brilliant sit-sprinter, revealed a different side of her racing characteristics when she was seen in the unusual role of pacemaker in the $30,000 Shockwave At Stud Restricted Spring Feature Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was the $2.70 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier and her trainer Donald Harper took full advantage of this by setting her the task of leading all the way over the 2130m journey.
However, Harper had a few concerns when Aiden De Campo got $15 chance Sovrana away smartly from the No. 3 barrier. Sovrana led by a length but was unable to cross Starlight Dream, who responded to Harper’s hard driving to take up the running.
After a brisk lead time of 36.1sec. Starlight Dream covered the opening quarters in 30.1sec. and 29.5sec. before giving her rivals little chance by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28.3sec.
Jocelyn Young sent $8.50 chance Peaceful forward from the rear 300m after the start and the four-year-old mare worked hard in the breeze before fighting on to finish third, a half-head behind $17 chance Little Darling, who finished strongly after enjoying a perfect trip behind the pacemaker all the way.
Seven-year-old Starlight Dream has resumed after a four-month absence in splendid style with a fast-finishing victory and Friday night’s all-the-way win at a smart 1.55 rate.
“She was a bit hesitant when I used her off the gate tonight, and this cost us a length early,” said Harper. “And it was good to absorb some pressure and run a good time. She won easily with the plugs still in.
“Now I’m hoping she will gain a start in the Norms Daughter Classic (November 8) and the Mares Classic (November 22).”
Starlight Dream, a mare by Alta Christiano and out of former brilliant sit-sprinter Dreams Daughter, has raced only 17 times for ten wins, two placings and $78,334.
Bellezza Nera gets up
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green’s plans of an all-the-way win with Bellezza Nera in the 1730m Royal Show Ribbons Weewah Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night were thrown out the window when the gelding was beaten for early speed.
But Plan B kicked in, and Egerton-Green enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before getting Bellezza Nera, the $3.50 second favourite, home in a thrilling finish, beating the $7 pacemaker Tantabiddi by a head, with $18 chance High Price flying home from eighth at the bell and finishing a half-head away in third place.
Soho Bollinger, the $2.50 favourite, began speedily from barrier five but was unable to cross Tantabiddi, who was smartest into stride from the No. 3 barrier.
Soho Bollinger then raced in the breeze, and after the final quarters were run in 27.8sec. and 28.8sec. the six-year-old wilted to finish seventh.
Bellezza Nera was eased out, three wide, 250m from home and finished determinedly to get up in the final couple of strides, rating 1.54.9.
“I probably carved him up early when I thought I would lead,” said Egerton-Green. “But he didn’t get out as good as he usually does, and so then it was Plan B and I was able to get the ideal passage, one-out and one-back.”
Bellezza Nera, who ended a losing sequence of seven, is by Rock N Roll Heaven and is the second foal out of the New Zealand-bred mare Elena S, who was retired with a record of 59 starts for nine wins, 20 placings and $97,549. Her final seven wins were in WA for trainer-reinsman Grant Williams.
Elena S’s first foal Major Pocket raced 173 times for 29 wins, 69 placings and $388,236. He won at his first two starts, at Pinjarra and Bunbury as a two-year-old in 2016 before finishing second to The Real Ideal in the group 1 Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings and second to Mitch Maguire in the Pearl Classic. He travelled to America in December 2019 and won another 16 races before being retired.
Early move pays dividends
Flying Rumour was a $14.50 chance when he began from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the 2130m Intersport Slater Gartrell Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and Shannon Suvaljko’s decision to set the gelding alight with a three-wide burst from the rear after 250m paid handsome dividends.
Regal Cheval, the $1.30 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, dawdled through the lead time in 37.9sec. which prompted Suvaljko to seize the initiative to send Flying Rumour forward and into the breeze.
And when $7 chance Rocknroll Elliot dashed forward in the first circuit to move to the breeze it gave Flying Rumour a perfect sit in the one-out, one-back position. However, Flying Rumour was soon shuffled back to sixth in the one-wide line when Chris Voak sent $21 chance Sugar Street to the breeze.
Sugar Street took a narrow lead in the home straight before Flying Rumour surged home to get up and beat him by a neck, rating 1.57.6, with final quarters of 28.7sec. and 28.1sec. Regal Cheval was a nose away in third place.
Flying Rumour, bred and owned by Kim Marsh, and trained by Mike Reed has been a handy moneyspinner who has earned $128,357 from 11 wins and 14 placings from 44 starts.
The five-year-old is by Fly Like An Eagle and is the last foal out of Stage Whisper, whose earlier foals Extreme Dreams (84 starts for 14 wins, 18 placings and $138,340) and All The Whispers (60 starts for seven wins, ten placings and $47,751) were handy performers.
Faster Than Dad back in form
WA-bred six-year-old Faster Than Dad bounced back to form at his fourth appearance after a spell when Stuart McDonald drove him to an impressive win in the 2130m Camel Time Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Faster Than Dad, a $22.50 chance from out wide at barrier eight, was handled patiently by McDonald, who was content to have the gelding relaxing in tenth position before Chris Voak sent $14 chance Caliente forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell.
Faster Than Dad then followed Caliente before switching four wide in the back straight and then going five wide at the 250m and bursting to the front 30m from the post before winning by a length from the $3.10 favourite Magnus Victor, who had taken a narrow lead at the 100m.
Benji ($4.80), who led by a length from the No. 2 barrier, but was unable to wrest the early lead from the polemarker and $3.10 chance Blackrock, was shuffled back to sixth at the bell before running home strongly, out five wide, to finish third. Blackrock was a head away in fourth place.
Prue George, wife of Faster Than Dad’s trainer Michael George, said that Friday night’s event was a drop in grade for the gelding, who ended a losing sequence of ten.
“The wide draw (barrier eight) was not ideal, but Stewie (McDonald) got him into a good spot before pulling him out at the right time,” she said.
“During his previous preparation Faster Than Dad was not himself when he had a couple of runs but was not firing. So, we put him out (for a spell) and brought him back fresh, and he has come back super.”
Faster Than Dad was driven by McDonald when the pacer made a successful debut as a two-year-old at Pinjarra in November 2020. Faster Than Dad is by Alta Christiano and is the third foal out of the New Zealand-bred Slick Bird, who raced 34 times for ten wins, nine placings and $89,999.
Slick Bird, who finished third behind Artemis Belle in the WA Oaks in May 2011, has been successful in the breeding barn, producing talented pacers Slick Artist, While They Pray and Archarne Girl.
Slick Artist won the group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic in February 2018, and after racing 18 times in WA for six wins and six placings as a two and three-year-old, she travelled to the United States in July 2018 where she won another 26 races and was retired after 173 starts produced 32 wins, 57 placings and $404,531.
While They Pray has raced 53 times for 16 wins, 14 placings and $185,868, and Acharne Girl has had 33 starts for 11 wins, nine placings and $200,382.
Slick Artist’s fifth foal is Her Presence, who was driven by McDonald when she won on debut as a three-year-old, scoring an easy victory over 2130m at Gloucester Park on August 13 this year.
Apologize gives Harper a double
Byford trainer-reinsman Donald Harper is enjoying a rich vein of form, and he landed a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night with seven-year-old pacers Starlight Dream and Apologize.
The widely travelled New South Wales-bred Apologize completed the double when he was a $26.10 outsider and scored an easy victory in the 2130m Jett And The Pirates Flag Pace.
Apologize, who was making his second appearance after an eight-month absence, began from barrier five and he raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, while $13 chance Sugar Apple was setting the pace after a fast lead time of 35.6sec.
Last-start winner Chillin was the $1.20 favourite who began well from the No. 4 barrier and led for the first 250m before Lindsay Harper sent Sugar Apple forward to take up the running --- after that pacer had broken in the score-up and then revealed excellent pace to dash to the front.
Gary Hall jnr took Chillin off the pegs to move to the breeze 700m after the start, and the four-year-old got to the front with 500m to travel. But Chillin wilted after his hard run, and Apologize, who got off the pegs 400m from home, then surged to the front 150m later on his way to winning by 5m from $20 chance Pierre Whitby, who was eighth at the bell before flying home, out five wide on the track.
“Apologize did a bit of damage to a front leg early in the year, so we turned him out,” said Harper. “He was a bit silly in the paddock and gave the leg a whack. It was nothing major. And now the stallion has put on a bit more weight and is looking well.”
Apologize is by Renaissance Man and is the 8TH foal out of Bovalai, who earned $18,663 from four wins and eight placings from 38 starts.
Apologize has raced 77 times for 11 wins, 24 placings and $66,555 in prizemoney. He was placed at his three runs in Victoria, and then had 13 starts in South Australia for three wins and five placings before arriving in Western Australia where his 61 starts have produced eight wins and 16 placings.
Harper continued his winning run at Kellerberrin on Sunday when he drove another double, scoring with $13.10 chance Flying To Win, owned and trained by Tony Allington, and the Hayden Reeves-trained mare Recover Lover ($4.20).
Sacked pacer triumphs
Star trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo was disappointed with Dominus Factum’s well beaten second placing behind Rockmyster last Friday week, and he decided to put the six-year-old up for sale.
But when Dominus Factum drew the favourable No. 2 barrier in the $21,000 Wazzalina Wilson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night De Campo had second thoughts.
“I had sacked him and was planning to sell him,” said De Campo. “And I was about to advertise him for sale on behalf of the owners. He has been at my place for a long time, and I thought he was getting a bit stale.
“I changed a bit of gear early in the week, and when he drew alright at barrier two, I decided to go ahead and race him on Friday night before selling him the following week.
“However, he went good, winning the race, and now I’m not sure what we will do now. I still think he needs a bit of a change up.”
Dominus Factum, the $8.50 third favourite, began speedily but was beaten for the lead by last-start winner and $11 chance Paul Edward. This gave Dominus Factum a perfect sit behind that pacer, who was overhauled on the home turn by the breeze horse and $4.20 chance Chivalry. Domnus Factum sprinted strongly to get up and win by 2m from Chivalry, with Paul Edward a close-up third.
Dominus Factum rated a smart 1.56 over the 2130m trip, with final quarters of 27.5sec. and 28.3sec. The $12,058 first prize took his career record to 66 starts for 19 wins, 14 placings and $186,413.
Dominus Factum, who possesses excellent gate speed, is by American sire American Ideal and is the second foal out of the Victorian mare Nikkis Delight, who earned $55,563 from nine wins and 18 placings from 77 starts.
To Fast To Serious ends 20-month drought
Veteran pacer To Fast To Serious retains plenty of life in his eight-year-old legs, and he bounced back to form at his third start after a spell when he unwound a strong finishing sprint to get up and snatch victory in the $31,000 The Lady Camel James Brennan Memorial Consolation over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $23 chance, and his win by a neck over the pacemaker and $3 favourite Alcopony ended a 20-month drought.
Driven by his trainer Dylan Egerton-Green, the WA-bred To Fast To Serious began from barrier two on the back line and the gelding enjoyed a cosy trip, three back on the pegs, but was badly blocked for a run, in sixth place in with 450m to travel.
However, when Deni Roberts eased Steel The Show ($3.60) off the pegs from behind the pacemaker at the 350m mark, Egerton-Green was able to guide To Fast To Serious through along the inside. To Fast To Serious was still hampered for room approaching the home turn, but Egerton-Green was able to angle his way between horses and get To Fast To Serious out three wide.
To Fast To Serious charged to victory, rating 1.56.7, with final quarters of 28.5sec. and 28.4sec. This took his record to 67 starts for 19 wins, 17 placings and $286,971.
“I expected To Fast To Serious to get an economical run tonight,” said Egerton-Green. “Three the fence was perfect for him, and he was able to bully his way to the front after we had done a bit of manoeuvring on the corner to get clear.
“He dropped back in grade tonight, and he was able to capitalise on that. He is not in the rankings for the WA Pacing Cup, but I’m hoping he will perform well in the $100,000 J. P. Stratton Cup in a fortnight to at least earn a start in the Cup consolation.”
To Fast To Serious won at his first four starts (as a two-year-old in 2018), including the group 1 Westbred Classic when he beat Shockwave by a half-head.
In late 2022 Egerton-Green took To Fast To Serious to Victoria to contest the Interdominion Championship --- where he was unplaced in qualifying heats at Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong before finishing fourth in a consolation at Melton.
After that there were no suitable flights available to get the gelding back to WA, so he travelled to New South Wales where he won a minor 1609m event in 1.52.4 at Newcastle before having five unplaced runs at Menangle. His next eleven runs were back in WA, resulting in four placings and Friday night’s victory.
Gift horse gets the goods
A little more than three hours after Mister Smartee, purchased earlier this year for $400,000, had won the group 2 Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a two-year-old colt Hot Rod, who cost absolutely nothing, won the $30,000 Soaks Hit Busso Westsired Pace for colts and geldings.
Hot Rod, having his second start after his sound fourth on debut at Collie the previous Sunday, was a $91 rank outsider on the fixed market when he began from the coveted No. 1 barrier for owners Annette Ashcroft and Scott Glover.
He was driven perfectly by Lauren Harper for Collie trainer Errol Ashcroft, trailing the pacemaker and $4.40 second fancy Into The Future before dashing to the front on the home turn and winning by just under a length from $8.50 chance Tricky Trev, who rattled home from fifth at the bell.
Ashcroft was delighted at the victory, and he revealed that Hot Rod was a gift from his breeder Brad Lynn.
“Brad was having trouble getting him going a few months ago, and my daughter Bianca told him that she thought I could get him going,” said Ashcroft.
“He said that the colt was cross-firing, and that if I wanted him, I should come get him (three and a half months ago) for no cost. So, I went and picked him up and told Brad that if he was able to win a race, I would give him a thousand dollars.”
Ashcroft then registered the colt in the name of his wife Annette and Scott Glover, a faithful stable client who resides in New South Wales.
“Scott has raced pacers with me, including Euphoric Moment, whom he bred, and when I got Hot Rod for nothing, I put Scott in for a share,” said Ashcroft. “The colt was not named, and we named him Hot Rod because his stable name at Lynn’s stable was Rodney, and he’s like a hot rod to drive. He just wants to go.”
Euphoric Moment has been a good moneyspinner, having earned $161,536 from 17 wins and 36 placings from 127 starts. His most recent win was at Gloucester Park on December 30, 2022, when he was a $65.20 outsider.
While Lynn was pleased to rejoice in Hot Rod’s win, he was also enjoying an excellent week in harness racing, training a double with Elegant Peak ($7.20) and Inneeda Drink ($3.50) at Pinjarra on Monday and scoring with Callmewhatuwant ($6) at Bunbury on Saturday night. The three pacers were driven in fine style by Lynn’s son Toby.
Hot Rod is by little-known sire Capricorn Comander (correct spelling) and is the fourth foal out of unraced Live Or Die mare Janet James.
Capricorn Comander (by Christian Cullen) had a brief racing career of 18 starts for five wins, two placings and $24,515 in prizemoney. His claim to fame was finishing fifth behind Mr Yankee in the Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park in December 2006.
Janet James also produced Rodger James, who has had 120 starts for four wins (two at Pinjarra and one each at Wagin and Gloucester Park) and 26 placings for stakes of $56,368.
