Wheeler lands first city treble
Star Collie reinsman Trent Wheeler completed his first treble at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he drove exciting filly Wishing Belle to a fighting victory in the $50,000 Champagne Classic.
Wishing Belle, trained by Aiden De Campo, continued the splendid record for the De Campo family in this prestigious event, following the wins of Perene Maverick (1988), Patmos (1990), Pawnee Gold (1995), Nowuseemenowudont (2000), Lord Titanium (2022) and Tricky Styx (2014).
Perene Maverick and Patmos were trained by the late Ray De Campo and were driven by his son Andrew, who trained and drove Pawnee Gold and Nowuseemenowudont. Andrew’s brother Steve then prepared Lord Titanium for his win, and Aiden drove the Jess Moore-trained Tricky Styx for her win.
Wishing Belle, the $1.40 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of five, proved the master of her male rivals by beating the pacemaker Chugach ($3.10) by one metre, rating 1.56.4 which bettered the race record rate of 1.56.9 set by Jaspervellabeach in 2019.
This followed the success of Reinette, driven by Wheeler, when she won the Champagne Classic 2024, beating the other six colts and geldings in the race.
The 40-year-old Wheeler, whose other winners on Friday night were Reinette (race one) and Menemsha (race three), abandoned his plans to lead when Chugach, driven by Deni Roberts, withstood Wishing Belle’s early challenge.
After a solid opening quarter of 29.7sec. Chugach slackened the pace and the second 400m section went by in a leisurely 31.2sec.
“We wanted to run the gate,” said Wheeler. “But when we were held out, we took the sit and got a good breather, and after a slow second quarter I decided to come off the pegs and sit on the outside of the leader. I was a little bit worried when she crab-walked around the corner. But when she straightened, she really let down.”
The final quarters were run swiftly in 28.6sec. and 27.8sec., and Wishing belle showed her class when she took the lead 50m from the post.
Aiden De Campo was delighted with Wishing belle’s performance, saying: “She’s a ripper and a perfect two-year-old. She’s lazy but as soon as you ask her (for an effort) she keeps giving. There’s no bottom to her. She will go to the paddock now and come back for the Diamond Classic in the winter.”
Wishing Belle is by Bettors Wish and is out of former star mare Libertybelle Midfrew. She has had four starts for three wins, one second and $77,219.
Chugach went into the race unbeaten after wins at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park, looks set to develop into a smart performer.
“I was really happy with the way Chugach went,” said Roberts. “He hasn’t done anything liken that before. He has gone four seconds quicker than he has ever gone. This was the first time he has run the gate. I had a good chance to beat Wishing Belle, a proven filly, but the better horse won on the day.
“I think Chugach will take a lot of benefit from that performance. He has a lot of growing to do.”
Wheeler did not rest on his laurels after his Gloucester Park treble. He travelled to Bridgetown on Sunday where he landed a double with Funky Music ($10.20) and By Royal Command ($3.70).
Emotions run high
An outpouring of emotions exploded after Menemsha and Magnus Victor thundered home down the outside of the track and crossed the finishing line locked together in the 2130m Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Aiden De Campo-trained pair have been raced in partnership by Darren Kinninmont, of Busselton, who died earlier in the month and will be sadly missed by the De Campo family and his many friends and acquaintances.
“It’s surreal and I’m still getting over it,” said De Campo. “Darren’s partner Michelle is here tonight and so are his daughter and grandkids. He has raced horses with me for seven or eight years, and he has been a brilliant owner who never questioned me.
“He took a share in the first horse I bought (Floewriter) and had good success with him, and since then he has taken ten or twenty percent of nearly every horse I have bought.”
Menemsha, who was having his first start for four months and his first run as a four-year-old, began from the inside of the back line and was a $9.60 chance with Trent Wheeler in the sulky. Joey Suvaljko was driving Magnus Victor ($5) from out wide at barrier No. 8.
Thelittle Master ($4.40) took the lead after 250m, with Magnus Victory settling down in tenth position, and Menemsha racing four back on the pegs in seventh place, and with the $2.25 favourite Waverider working in the breeze.
When Gary Hall jnr sent Dalvey Robyn ($4.80) forward approaching the bell, Suvaljko followed that pacer’s three-wide run before switching four wide nearing the home turn. Wheeler eased Menemsha off the inside in the back straight and gelding sprinted fast after going five wide on the home bend.
Magnus Victor got his nose in front in the final ten metres before Menemsha snatched victory by a nose, rating 1.55.8, with final quarters of 27.5sec. and 29.2sec.
“I have always wanted Menemsha to be driven like that (as a sit-sprinter),” said De Campo. “However, a lot of the times he has been a winning chance and has been the hunted a few times. And I’ve over driven him a few times as well.
“It was a super run tonight, while Magnus Victor was almost a better run and just got nabbed.”
Wheeler praised Menemsha for his brilliant first-up performance, saying: “We got a bit of luck down the back when we got off the pegs and was able to get on the stablemate’s back and follow him around the corner. Menemsha has a lightning turn of foot.”
Menemsha is sure to develop into a good candidate for the rich classics for four-year-olds later in the year, including the Golden Nugget. He has raced 26 times for six wins, eight seconds, five thirds and $284,632 in prizemoney.
Tenzing Bromac cuts it fine
Top-flight pacer Tenzing Bromac dominated betting as the $1.20 favourite in the $31,000 Vale Darren Kinninmont Free-For-All over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gave his supporters many anxious moments before getting up in the final stride to snatch victory by a half-head from the pacemaker Mighty Ronaldo ($7).
He began from barrier two and was unable to hold up against Mighty Ronaldo, who began speedily from the outside barrier in the field of eight and burst straight to the front.
Deni Roberts, not wanting to be held up in a pocket behind the frontrunning Mighty Ronaldo, eased Tenzing Bromac off the pegs and into the breeze after 580m.
Mighty Ronaldo then dashed over the final three 400m sections in 28.7sec., 27.7sec. and 28.6sec. and just failed to hold out the gritty Tenzing Bromac, who was having his second start after a spell.
“Tenzing Bromac has never been known for brilliant gate speed,” said Roberts. “Tonight, it was one of those things where there was no stagger out of the gate to help him, and Mighty Ronaldo is very fast.
“Then he had to do it a bit harder than we would’ve liked. Once he got settled and got a bit of a breather it was game on, and he was in it for the fight. At the top of the straight I thought we weren’t going to win. But he finds that good horse gear that other horses don’t have.”
Tenzing Bromac, a New Zealand-bred seven-year-old by Bettors Delight trained by Greg and Skye Bond and raced by Team Bond, has earned $347,009 from 20 wins and 16 placings from 48 starts.
His stablemates performed well in Friday night’s event, ten-year-old Mighty Conqueror ($15) running home powerfully to finish a close-up third, and 12-year-old Galactic Star ($101) coming from sixth at the bell to be a close fourth.
Seven in a row for Cyclone Jordy
Boom three-year-old Cyclone Jordy, the nominal favourite for the rich WA Derby late this year, extended his winning sequence to seven when he strolled to another easy victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred Art Major colt was the $1.10 favourite as the sole runner on the back line in the $25,000 Vale Peter Bennington Pace over 2130m.
Polemarker Illawong Mustang ($12) led for the first lap, with Gary Hall jnr quickly getting Cyclone Jordy into the one-out, one-back position after a slow lead time of 27.9sec.
Hall sent Cyclone Jordy forward with a three-wide burst after 700m and the colt zoomed to the front with 1250m to travel. He won, unextended, by just over two lengths from the strong-finishing Maungatahi, rating 1.57 after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 28.2sec.
“He is a perfect racehorse and has always been a pleasure to drive,” said Hall. “And kit’s exciting to drive him, as well.”
Cyclone Jordy is unbeaten at his six starts in WA and has a record of eleven starts for nine wins and one second placings for stakes of $225,849.
Keen High Price holds on
Consistent six-year-old High Price, the $2.90 favourite, raced keenly and gave master reinsman Chris Lewis a tough assignment to rate the gelding in the breeze before revealing excellent fighting qualities to hold on and win narrowly from El Chema ($6) and Ima Fivestar General ($5.50) in the $31,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Kenwick Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
High Price pulled hard in the score-up and was restrained at the start before Lewis gave him his head to dash forward in the early stages to race outside the frontrunning $5.50 chance Hoppys Way, who had charged straight to the front from the No. 7 barrier.
“He raced keenly but I was happy as long as I could keep him back (without racing alongside Hoppys Way),” said Lewis. “I thought the sectionals were pretty good and when the late challenges were coming, he still had something left. He grows a leg when horses come at him.”
High Price fought on tigerishly to beat El Chema by a half-neck, with Ima Fivestar general just a head away in third place. High Price rated 1.57.2 after final 800m of 56.2sec.
The son of former brilliant pacer Alta Christiano, High Price has earned $167,231 from eleven wins and 22 placings. He has been most consistent since being prepared at Northam by trainer Garry Sayers, with his 26 starts for him producing four wins and twelve placings.
Sweet Vivienne set for Race For Roses
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak is setting five-year-old mare Sweet Vivienne for the $35,000 Race For Roses next Friday week after driving her to a smart victory in the $23,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Sweet Vivienne’s 52 starts have been in mobile events, and Voak is looking forward to testing the mare in a standing-start event. He plans to qualify her to race in stands when she lines up in a standing-start trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday.
Voak knows what it takes to win the Race For Roses after having driven the Jemma Hayman-trained Taking the Miki to a convincing victory in this event two years ago.
Sweet Vivienne was having her first start since entering Voak’s stables five weeks ago when she was a $5 chance from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night. Though beaten for early speed by Madame Publisher ($2.40 favourite) and Remarkable Rock ($61), she was able to kick through on the inside and set the pace.
Quarters of 29.2sec., 29.1sec., 28.5sec. and 29.1sec. gave her rivals little chance and she won by a length from $5 chance Princess Katie, who settled at the rear from barrier eight and then went forward to the breeze in the first lap. Sweet Vivienne rated a smart 1.54.9.
Sweet Vivienne was bred and is owned by Paula Petricevich, who asked Voak to take the mare after she had faded badly to finish last in a race at Northam on February 15. She is by Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of unraced mare Quite A Sensation and now has had 52 starts for nine wins, eleven placings and $117,098.
Reinette bounces back
Talented youngster Reinette, who disappointed as the hot odds-on favourite three weeks earlier when she led and faded to third behind Its Maa Time in the $100,000 Sales Classic, bounced back in fine style at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she gave a bold frontrunning display to win the $21,000 Catalano Trucks.com.au Pace over 2130m.
She was excellent value at $4.40 from the favourable No. 2 barrier when Trent Wheeler rated her perfectly in the lead to win by a length from the $3.70 favourite Fakenit, rating 1.56.9.
Fakenit raced without cover early and then enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, before being inconvenienced on the home turn and then finishing fast, out wide.
“You could tell in the preliminary tonight that Reinette was a lot sharper,” said Wheeler. “Once we got three-quarters of a length in front of Iseeubaby (the polemarker) out of the gate I was happy to find the front.
“We got a pretty easy lead time (37.7sec.) and then had to run some solid sectionals (29sec., 28.5sec. and 29.4sec.). The team took her home after her previous start defeat and got her right.”
Coolup trainer Frank Nafranac explained: “We took it too easy on her before her previous start, so we decided to put more work into her. The way she worked on Tuesday made us super confident. We plan to race her in upcoming feature events for fillies and the WA Oaks later in the year will be the major plan.”
Reinette, who is by former star New Zealand pacer Vincent, has earned $217,518 from seven wins and five placings from 15 starts.
Belly Up shows his class
Inexperienced three-year-old Belly Up produced an outstanding performance to score a runaway victory over the highly-rated New Zealand-bred six-year-old My Watchlist in the $21,000 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Pace over 21390m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a display which indicated he should develop into a strong contender in feature events for three-year-olds this year.
Having his third start after a spell and following seconds to Soho Shakedown and Captain Stirling, Belly Up, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $4.90 second fancy behind the $1.45 favourite My Watchlist, who was having his first start for six months.
Three-year-old Wicked Hustler ($16) set the pace from the No. 2 barrier while Belly Up settled down in fifth position, one-out and one-back, with a slow lead time of 38.5sec. and a casual opening quarter of 31.9sec.
Deni Roberts switched Belly Up three wide with 950m to travel, and his run was followed by My Watchlist. Belly Up dashed to the front with 300m to travel, and after sprinting the final quarters in 27.9sec. and 28.3sec. he defeated My Watchlist by just under six lengths, rating 1.58.
“I think Belly Up is a lot better being driven with a sit, on a helmet,” said Roberts. “Once he learns to race, I think I might be able to drive him without cover. He has matured a lot but is still a work in progress.
“I wasn’t overly concerned that we had to pop out earlier than I had planned, because we hadn’t gone that fast. He performed really well, and his heart rate was low. From what he does at home, he is really fast and is very talented. It didn’t shock me the way he put that field away like that.”
Belly Up, a gelding by Foreclosure, has earned $167,935 from three wins and five placings from eleven starts.
A bite boosts Harper’s confidence
Reinsman Donald Harper wasn’t upset when temperamental mare Luvaflair bit him on the shoulder and lashed out and tried to kick her trainer Nigel Johns in the birdcage before going on to the track to contest the $21,000 WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Trot over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It boosted by confidence,” said Harper. “When she is in a mood like that, she gets aggressive in her races, and I expected her to prove hard to beat tonight.
“She was in a good mood and on her best behaviour during the race in which we enjoyed a perfect trip.”
Uptown Lad ($8) set the pace, with the $1.85 favourite Chumani working in the breeze, and the 40m backmarker Patched back in eighth and last place. Harper was content to keep Luvaflair, who began off the 20m mark, back in the field in sixth position. She was sixth at the bell before unwinding a spirited burst which took her to the front 60m from home.
Luvaflair, a $14.20 chance, beat Chumani by a length and a half, with Uptown Lad holding on to finish third, and Patched, who began a three-wide move from last at the bell, a well-beaten sixth.
Harper has formed a wonderful association with the Nigel Johns-trained Luvaflair, having driven her 56 times for eleven wins, six seconds, 13 thirds and nine fourths.
Luvaflair, a chestnut bred and owned by Victorians Kaye and Noel Boyd, has raced 125 times for 24 wins, 40 placings and $240,794. She is by champion French sire Love You and is out of All Flair, who was placed once from 21 Victorian starts before coming to WA where she raced 150 times for Johns for eleven win, 59 placings and $120,237.
Love You was a star performer, who amassed $2,411,372 from 22 wins and 13 placings from 59 starts.
