Hampton Banner is a brave warrior
Hardy veteran pacer Hampton Banner has survived three operations and a fractured pedal bone and is still a force to be reckoned with in open company at Gloucester Park.
The New Zealand-bred eight-year-old, trained by Debra Lewis, is certainly a wonderful warrior, as he showed on Friday night when he set the pace and scored a fighting victory over the $2 favourite and quality six-year-old Swingband in the $31,000 Gloucesterpark.com.au Pace.
Hampton Banner, a $16.50 chance, was driven assertively by Jocelyn Young, and he boosted his record to 94 starts for 17 wins, 20 placings and $344,488 when he burst straight to the front from the No. 5 barrier and then held Swingband at bay in the breeze. He sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.5sec. and 28.2sec. and rated 1.55.5 over the 2130m journey.
“He relishes being out in front,” said Young. “We got there easily enough, and I was able to back it off in the last part of the lead time. I wasn’t seriously concerned with Swingband on our outside because he had done a bit of work and was having his first start for five weeks, whereas Hampton Banner has had plenty of racing recently. And he is now hitting the line more genuinely.”
Part-owner Mark Lewis said he was more than happy that Hampton Banner had been able to come back after his injuries and compete strongly.
“He has done a good job, and it looked a suitable race for him tonight when he had a good chance of getting to the front,” he said.
“Before resuming racing early last year Hampton Banner broke a rear pedal bone (after finishing second to Shockwave in May 2023).” This kept the Bettors Delight gelding on the sidelines for ten months --- and he is now completely sound after racing 30 times in 2024.
“He has had three surgeries on his hind leg, following a couple of fractures in his cannon bone,” said Lewis. “A screw was inserted and then had to be removed after it was causing a bit of pain. He also survived an infection after surgery.”
Hampton Banner had ten starts in New Zealand for three wins as a three-year-old in 2020 before being sold to Lewis and five stable clients. His first two WA starts produced a second placing before the injury to his nearside hind leg kept him out of action for eleven months. He resumed with a first-up fourth, followed by six wins in a row at Gloucester Park.
There was plenty of drama in Friday night’s race when the $2.65 second fancy Lavra Joe was finishing strongly, out six wide, approaching the home turn when he was checked and locked wheels with Machnificent ($8).
This incident forced Ryan Warwick to shift outwards with $31 chance Alcopony, and the sudden movement resulted in Alcopony’s bit to snap, leaving Warwick without steering and then locking wheels with Machnificent.
Rock Me Over is a marvel
A $6000 investment six years ago has turned into a $338,187 bonanza for Serpentine trainer Matt Scott and stable clients Tony Maguire and his son Ian.
That was the amount Scott and the Maguires paid for the WA-bred Rock Me Over, who is a seemingly indestructible pacing marvel who was a $16 chance when Aiden De Campo drove him to an easy victory in the $23,000 Vale Reg Luck Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rock Me Over had won at eleven of his first 46 starts before he was sold -— and he now has raced 194 times for his new owners for 18 wins, 34 seconds, 26 thirds and $338,187 in prizemoney. His overall record now stands at 240 starts for 29 wins and 73 placings for stakes of $465,852.
Small of stature, the ten-year-old Rock Me Over has not looked back since he resumed racing last April after a 12-month absence while he recovered from a damaged hind leg suspensory ligament received in a race in April 2023.
It is fitting that De Campo has driven Rock Me Over at his past three wins. Rock Me Over is the sixth foal out of Benjor Maddy Lombo, whose fifth foal Handsandwheels was an outstanding pacer who was retired with earnings of $707,393 from 29 wins and 33 placings from 102 starts. De Campo drove Handsandwheels in 24 of his victories.
Rock Me Over continues to reveal his strong competitive instincts which were on show as a two-year-old in 2017 when he finished a half-head second to Play The Boys in the group 1 Sales Classic for colts and geldings, and second to the brilliant Jack Mac in the group 1 Pearl Classic.
“Rock Me Over is a horse who always gives his all,” said De Campo. “Matt was pretty confident tonight when he said that he expected plenty of speed in the race and predicted that Rock Me Over would be right in it at the finish.
“They went hard early and Rock Me Over was able to go forward in the slow (second) quarter (31sec.).” Rock Me Over moved to fifth (three wide) at the bell before De Campo managed to get him into the one-out and one-back position in the back straight. The old gelding sprinted to the front 60m from the post, and he beat the $1.95 favourite Waverider by one and a half lengths.
Waverider raced three wide for the first circuit before getting to the breeze and finally taking the lead with 260m to travel. Sugar Apple ($21) led from barrier three and set a solid pace before fighting on gamely to finish third.
A winning combination
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr has formed an excellent association with Storyteller, and he improved his record behind the New Zealand-bred gelding to four drives for four wins when he guided him to an all-the-way win in the $21,000 Retravision.com.au Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Storyteller, trained by Gary Hall snr, was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and Hall jnr had no problems in getting the five-year-old away to a flying start, with Dardy Boy ($23) quickly moving to the breeze.
Blaze On ($16) began out wide at barrier seven and he raced three wide for much of the first lap before getting to the breeze. He fought on determinedly and will pay to follow.
“Storyteller has had issues with his feet and with his gait,” said Hall jnr. “But the ability is there, and he has a good motor. He did it comfortably and should have a few more wins left in him.”
Storyteller raced twice in New Zealand for a win and a second placing, and he now has a record of 15 starts for seven wins, three placings and $53,410.
He is by American sire Sportswriter and is the sixth foal out of Holmes Hanover mare Holmezy, who has produced smart performers Our Alfie Romeo and Sista Sammy.
Our Lady Jen gets up in time
Smart mare Our Lady Jen gave trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green a few anxious moments in the final lap before charging home to snatch a last-stride victory in the $30,000 Perth Now Restricted Summer Feature for fillies and mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Our Lady Jen was a $11.10 chance from the inside of the back line, and she raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs while noted frontrunner Blaze Coops ($4) was setting the pace.
“I probably missed the opportunity to get off the fence with about 700m to go,” said a relieved Egerton-Green after Our Lady Jen had stormed home from fourth on the home turn to get up and beat the $2.05 favourite Freyja by a head.
“She had a tendency to hang down which prevented me from getting her into the clear approaching the turn into the back straight,” said Egerton-Green. However, Egerton-Green was able to move off the inside with about 500m to travel and the five-year-old finished strongly.
“She made things a bit harder than they needed to be,” said Egerton-Green. “To her credit she was able to outmuscle the others at the end. Hanging down is a bit of a problem, and she will probably have a let-up pretty soon.”
The Victorian-bred Our Lady Jen gives promise of better things to come. She has had 53 starts for eleven wins, 16 placings and $119,253. She is by Captaintreacherous and is the fourth foal out of Betters Delight mare Our Lady Luxury, who was retired after being unplaced at four starts in WA in 2014 as a two and three-year-old.
Freyja was gallant in defeat on Friday night. She raced three wide for the first 400m and then in the breeze before getting to the front with 300m to travel.
Regal Cheval is enjoying racing
Veteran pacer Regal Cheval is thoroughly enjoying the twilight of his career, according to his trainer and driver Gary Hall jnr.
Ten-year-old Regal Cheval was all the rage as the $1.40 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of nine in the $21,000 Westside Auto Service Vehicle Detailing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gave Hall an armchair drive.
As expected, Regal Cheval began speedily and was in front after 50m before dawdling through the lead time in 39.4sec. and then ambling through the opening quarters in 33.1sec. and 31.6sec.
He dashed over the final quarters in 29sec. and 28.1sec. and won by a length and a half from the $3.80 second fancy Franklin Delano, who fought on gamely after racing without cover for much of the way.
“He was dropping a long way in grade, and it looked like his race,” said Hall. “Even with the slow sectionals I thought he would still wait for me to ask him to go. And he did it easily. He is happy and enjoying racing.”
Regal Cheval ended a losing sequence of 16 and took his record to 155 starts for 17 wins, 44 placings and $222,651 in stakes. He won ten times in Victoria and now has won seven races in WA.
Change suits Eldaytona
A change in environment has paid immediate dividends with Eldaytona winning at his first start for Byford trainer-reinsman Donald Harper when he finished strongly to win the $31,000 Running Camel Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The WA-bred seven-year-old entered Harper’s stables a fortnight earlier when he was transferred from Harper’s father Lindsay’s Martin property.
He had been unplaced at his ten previous starts, and Lindsay Harper decided that the gelding could benefit from a change.
“Dad thought that this could suit him, and I just put Eldaytona into my system,” said Donald Harper. “I work a bit different to Dad and we just jog him on the Byford track. He has had just one hoppled run in the two weeks I’ve had him.
“Tonight, I would have preferred to lead (from the No. 1 barrier) but we were crossed easily (by Hoppys Way ($9) and the $6.50 chance Rascal). But we got a nice cosy run (behind the pacemaker Hoppys Way), and it all worked out really well. He went to the line strongly which was what we were looking for.”
Eldaytona, a $10.20 chance, was under lock and key behind Hoppys Way until the breeze horse Hillview Bondi, the $3.50 favourite, began to fade just before the home turn, allowing Harper to get Eldaytona into the clear. Eldaytona burst to the front 40m from the post and won by 2m from Hoppys Way, rating 1.56.1.
This was only the second time that Harper had driven Eldaytona in a race. His only previous drive behind the gelding was when he finished fourth behind The Swiss Maestro at Pinjarra on August 10, 2020.
Eldaytona is by Somebeachsomewhere and is the seventh foal out of Hearty Franco, who produced Lady Luca, who won the group 1 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in June 2016, and was retired with earnings of $134,568 from nine wins and eight placings from 65 starts.
Eldaytona has raced 86 times for 18 wins, 25 placings and $253,345.
A rare stand for Carrera Mach
Ten-year-old pacer Carrera Mach was seen in a most unusual role at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he lined up in a standing-start event in the 2503m Hoist Torque Handicap --- after contesting mobile events at his 109 previous appearances.
He was generously handicapped off the 20m mark, and a flying start paved the way for his easy victory when Chris Voak dashed him forward along the inside to take up the prime position behind the pacemaker Gee Smith.
Carrera Mach was a $10.40 chance, and his prospects were enhanced when Mister Montblanc, the $3.50 favourite, and the heavily supported Machlani ($6) galloped and lost considerable ground at the start.
Carrera Mach, trained by Jemma Hayman, travelled comfortably behind Gee Smith until Voak eased him into the clear 300m from home. He quickly dashed to the front and raced away to beat $5 chance My Ultimate Chevron by three and a half lengths, with Mr Fantastic ($16) running home strongly from last at the bell to be third, just ahead of Gee Smith.
Carrera Mach’s previous start in a stand was at Gloucester Park on November 8, 2019, when he was successful, beating Oneonthewood.
He is by Mach Three and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare Maheer Mystic, a winner of two races from ten starts in New Zealand. He now has raced 159 times for 19 wins, 44 placings and $237,794.
Maheer Mystic’s dam Fern Glen raced 58 times for ten wins, 19 placings and $125,235 before going to the breeding barn where she produced Maheer Lord, who was trained and driven by Grant Williams when he won the $250,000 WA Pacing Cup in January 2006, beating Ohoka Ace by a nose, with No Blue Manna in third place.
Maheer Lord won eleven races in New Zealand and three in WA before being sent to America where he won another 20 races and finished with a record of 197 starts for 34 wins, 46 placings and $515,470.
“Carrera Mach got into the race really cheaply under the new national handicapping system,” said Voak. “He is a good little stayer who relishes the 2500m. Everything worked out perfectly tonight and he found another gear when we straightened. He pulled away in the final 50m and won comfortably.
“When you implement anything new like the national ratings system you are going to have teething problems, and I would say that this race tonight was one of those teething problems. I think, moving forward, that the problems will be rectified.
“You can’t knock something without trying it, and I hope the necessary changes are made to make the system work.”
Voak said he was mystified that Carrera Mach, a winner of 18 races and $225,736 in stakes, was handicapped off the 20m mark, while Caliente, a gelding he trains, was handicapped off the back mark of 40m after going into the race with a record of eight wins and $73,823.
“Under the previous system I reckon that Caliente would have been handicapped off 10m, with Carrera Mach off 30m,” he said.
Memories of Lazarus are revived
Seven-year-old Victorian-bred gelding Lamandier revived memories of superstar pacer Lazarus when Emily Suvaljko drove him to victory in the $21,000 Allwood Stud Devoted To Breeding Excellence Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Lamandier, trained by Michael Young, is related to the mighty Lazarus, who was retired with earnings of $4,125,988 from 37 wins and 12 placings from 51 starts, with one of the many highlights of his glittering career being his win over Chicago Bull in the Interdominion Championship final at Gloucester Park in December 2017.
Lamandier is the second foal out of Art Major mare Champagne Dreams, who was a moderate performer who retired with a record of ten wins and 13 placings from 45 starts. Champagne Dreams is a half-brother to Lazarus.
While Lamandier will never go anywhere near reaching the heights of Lazarus, he is proving a profitable venture for his owners, having earned $166,773 from 16 wins and 28 placings from 97 starts.
Lamandier was a $8.70 chance on Friday night in an event in which Young also prepared Illawong Mustang ($2.70) and Ideal Tomado ($14).
He began from barrier six and Suvaljko was content to race him in seventh place, one-out and two-back. Secret Reaction ($14) led early before Illawong Mustang dashed to the front after 600m, leaving the $1.90 favourite Insta Gator in the breeze.
Insta Gator got to the front 270m from home before Lamandier surged home, out four wide, to take the lead in the final few strides to win by a half-length from $23 chance Galaxy Warrior, who had enjoyed a perfect sit in the one-out, one-back position.
Insta Gator finished third, with Illawong Mustang in fourth place and Ideal Tomado finishing solidly, out wide, into sixth place.
“I thought that Illawong Mustang would win, because I expected him to get an easy lead from Secret Reaction,” said Young. “But that didn’t eventuate.
“Lamandier is an honest horse who gives his connections a bit of joy and has earned plenty of money since he got here. His win didn’t surprise me after the tempo of the race. He loves that style of racing, and he is a good sit-sprinter who also goes good when he leads.”
