BURCH KEEPS HER PERFECT RECORD

Courtney Burch, the least experienced driver in the race, combined with the lowest-assessed pacer Zed to cause an upset by winning the $25,000 RWWA Rising Stars Invitation Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The 21-year-old Burch was having only her 75th drive and was competing against 11 rivals who had driven in almost 10,000 events for more than 1000 wins.

Burch is so inexperienced that she still has to receive special permission from the stewards to contest a metropolitan-class event.

She has received this permission twice, and, remarkably, has a 100 per cent record. Her previous drive in a city-stakes race was three weeks earlier when she set the pace with 4/1 chance Nunganungstein and won a Young Drivers Pace.

The South Australian-bred Zed came into Friday night’s M0-class event as a C2-class performer, the lowest assessment of the 12 runners.

Zed, trained at Serpentine by Matt Scott, drew ideally at barrier one and was a 6/1 chance. Zed was beaten for early pace by the 5/2 favourite Mon Hanover, who sped straight to the front from the No. 2 barrier. Burch then drove Zed hard to retain the perfect sit behind the pacemaker.

Rampaging Roy was in the breeze early before Robbie Williams sent Hillview Storm forward in the first circuit to apply pressure on the leader.

Hillview Storm eventually got his head in front 400m from home as Please Release Me, sustaining a strong three-wide burst, moved into third place. As Mon Hanover, fighting back on the inside, Hillview Storm and Please Release Me turned for home looking likely to fight out the finish, Im Light Hearted (Justin Prentice) emerged from the pack and charged home, out wide on the track.

But Zed flew home along the pegs to burst to the front in the closing stages and went on to win by almost a length from Im Light Hearted, with Mon Hanover (Morgan Woodley) and Hillview Storm dead-heating for third, narrowly ahead of Please Release Me (Michael George).

Pacific Idol, driven by New South Wales rising star Robert Morris, was an unlucky sixth. Pacific Idol (14/1) started from the inside of the back line and raced on the pegs in seventh place for much of the journey. He was hopelessly blocked for a clear passage in the final circuit before flying home on the inside.

Burch was thrilled at her victory, saying: “I just saw the gap on the inside and went for it. And he just took off.”

Zed, by Our Sir Vancelot, now has had 15 starts in WA for Scott for two wins and four placings. He won five minor races in SA and two in Victoria before arriving in WA 11 months ago.

He is the third foal out of Zelena, who won once in Victoria and six times in SA. Her dam, Disneyland, produced handy performer Ianalbert, a winner of 13 races, including six in WA.

 PARSONS DRAGON GIVES PRENTICE SECOND DERBY SUCCESS

Outstanding young reinsman Justin Prentice brought up his second success in the Hankook Tyres Country Derby when Parsons Dragon gave a splendid frontrunning performance to easily beat Lively Attitude and Aussie Terror in the $30,000 classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

And the victory erased much of the disappointment felt by Harvey owner-trainer Peter Kimberley, who prepared the speedy General Naseem for the 2008 Country Derby when the gelding finished a half-length second to Trunkey Daydream, driven by Prentice.

Prentice, now 21, put the result of Friday night’s race beyond doubt when he got Parsons Dragon away brilliantly from the No. 5 barrier and then was able to cruise through the first half of the final mile in a leisurely 64sec.

Parsons Dragon then reeled off two sparkling 28.8sec. quarters to stroll to an effortless victory, his first from six starts as a three-year-old after he had shone as a two-year-old with victories in the State Sires Series and the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Parsons Dragon, backed from 3/1 to 5/2, reversed the result of the South-West Derby at Harvey when he set the pace and was beaten a nose by Aussie Terror, the 2/1 favourite on Friday night. 

Aussie Terror, started from the outside of the back line and Morgan Woodley got him away beautifully to land in the one-out, one-back position, with Thomas With Steam (7/2) pulling in the breeze and with Terry Purnell reluctant to put any real pressure on the pacemaker.

Woodley sent Aussie Terror forward, three wide, with 950m to travel and the colt moved into the breeze at the 700m mark. However, Parsons Dragon had plenty in reserve and coasted to victory, rating 2.2.3 over the 2536m trip. Lively Attitude, who trailed Parsons Dragon throughout, got up on the inside to take second spot, a head in advance of Aussie Terror.

“I wasn’t quite sure whether Parsons Dragon would cross (to the lead),” Prentice said. “And I didn’t think that he’d cross that easily. But I had him fired up behind the mobile and he was really switched on tonight.

“In the South-West Derby he got to the front fairly easily, but he overraced too much. I thought that all he needed to do tonight was to relax. And he relaxed perfectly and he could have run another 200m at the same speed.”

 CRUSADERS CREST GUNS DOWN STAR PACERS

South Australian-bred five-year-old Crusaders Crest shot down some big guns when he caused a major upset in winning the WA Country Harness Association Pace over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His shock victory at tote odds of 31/1 ended the triumphant march of star pacer Has The Answers, who found the 50m handicap simply too tough and finished a gallant fourth.

Has The Answers, a brilliant winner at his four previous outings, was an easing 10/9 favourite, with up-and-coming four-year-old Tommy Tornado, a runaway winner at his three previous starts, a firm second fancy at 7/4 and the speedy Talk To Me Courage next in line at 4/1.

Crusaders Crest, bred and owned by David Sharpe, had won 18 times and once in Victoria from only 44 starts before arriving in WA late last year and his first seven starts for Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri produced a win and four seconds in restricted company.

He was handled for the first time by Morgan Woodley, with Chris Lewis electing to drive Has The Answers. The 21-year-old Woodley stole a march on the opposition when he got Crusaders Crest away brilliantly from the 10m line and shot the gelding straight to the lead, past scratchy frontmarkers Born To Groove and Just Ludachris And well ahead of the other four 10m markers, including Tommy Tornado.

Mark Reed revved up Tommy Tornado and Woodley was quite happy to restrain and allow Reed to take the four-year-old to the front 550m after the start.

Spirit of Shard (40m) dashed forward to move into the breeze 1500m from home before stablemate Talk To Me Courage (30m) charged forward to race without cover 200m later. Has The Answers was still last in the field of 12 before Lewis asked the seven-year-old for an effort 1180m from home.

Has The Answers surged forward and was hard under restraint from Lewis as he moved into second place at the bell, with Tommy Tornado flying along in the lead.

Reed then decided to sort the wheat from the chaff. Tommy Tornado exploded and flew through the third 400m of the final mile in a sizzling 27.9sec. Has The Answers was holding on grimly in second place passing the 300m mark.

But he was wilting slightly approaching the home turn and Woodley was able to ease Crusaders Crest off the pegs at the 220m mark and force Has The Answers three wide. Crusaders Crest got past Tommy Tornado 80m from the line and he held on to win by 1m from Talk To Me Courage, who finished powerfully. Parasite ran home gamely to cut Has The Answers out of third place.

Crusaders Crest rated 2.0.3 over the 2503m, with Has The Answers rating 1.58.6. The track record rate is 1.58.6, set by Mysta Magical Mach last April.

“I didn’t totally disregard Crusaders Crest,” said Woodley. “Always when you drive one of Ross’s, with decent numbers next to his name, you know you’re going to be thereabouts.

“He needed the run he got. I anticipated that I’d get a run. I didn’t know whether I’d have to pull right back to get out behind Has The Answers. He’s such a courageous horse, but the 27.9sec. probably found him out a little bit.”

 FLAMING ROADSTAR ENDS 28-MONTH DROUGHT

Widely-travelled evergreen veteran Flaming Roadstar wound back the clock at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he returned to the winning list after a lengthy 28-month absence.

Dropping down to claiming company, the nine-year-old was a hot 5/4 favourite whose victory over the pacemaker Touch Me Toes and the consistent Falcons Dragon in the 2130m Hankook Tyres Country Dealers Pace ended a losing sequence of 44.

It was his first win since he survived a protest after leading and beating Smoken Up at Moonee Valley in November 2007.

Now in his ninth year of racing, Flaming Roadstar had been placed at nine of his first 19 starts in WA. Two recent seconds to Has The Answers underlined his winning prospects.

Before arriving in WA 11 months ago Flaming Roadstar had competed in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia, forging a fine reputation. Among his notable achievements were placings behind superstars Blacks A Fake, a record-breaking four-time winner of the interdominion championship, and dual Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny.

Flaming Roadstar, trained by Ross Olivieri, was driven aggressively by Chris Lewis, who sent the gelding forward from the wide No. 8 barrier to move into the breeze after 550m. Colin Brown rated Toes Me Toes superbly and the eight-year-old sprinted the final 800m in 57.6sec.

However, Flaming Roadstar carried too many guns. He forged to the front 100m from the post and beat Touch Me Toes by just under a length, rating 1.58.4.

 SCOT BAY GIVES SUTTON HER FIRST CITY VICTORY

Forty-three-year-old Manjimup trainer Debra Sutton landed her first metropolitan-class winner when highly-promising two-year-old Scot Bay overcame difficulties to beat The Witness by a head in the Hankook Tyres Key Dealers Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It was Scot Bay’s forth win from four starts and the son of Grinfromeartoear is one of the early fancies for the two-year-old classics this season.

Bred and owned by Doug Sutton, a 67-year-old Manjimup butcher, Scot Bay was a 5/4 on favourite who started from barrier seven, with young Pinjarra reinsman David Young in the sulky.

Scot Bay raced wide for the first 650m before Young moved him into the breeze, with Master Damon setting the pace. Scot Bay worked his way to the front 550m from home and Young drove with considerable confidence to get him home by a narrow margin.

Young remained cool and did not panic when The Witness and Blissful Boy sprinted home powerfully. He was completely unruffled as he held Scot Bay together and kept his mind on the job with just a couple of gentle taps with the whip over the final 60m.

The Witness (11/2) impressed with his powerful finish, coming from fifth at the bell, and Blissful Boy (7/1) also caught the eye with his spirited burst from last the bell to be a head behind The Witness in third place.

Tactical Strike (9/2) ran on from seventh (three wide) at the bell to move into second place in the final lap before wilting to finish fourth.

Scot Bay is out of Mystical Prince mare Lorinda Bay, who earned $38,593 from her seven wins and 20 placings from 50 starts. 

 COOL HARPER GETS LORD GUY HOME

Teenager Kyle Harper made the most of his first opportunity to drive quality pacer Lord Guy when he gave a cool and competent exhibition to guide him to an impressive victory in the Hankook Ultra High Performance Tyres Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Oakford trainer Kade Howson (22) gave the 19-year-old Harper the drive to gain a concession for a junior and therefore make Lord Guy, an M3-class pacer, eligible to start in an event restricted to M1 and M2-class pacers.

The lightly-raced Lord Guy, who was driven by Howson to a notable victory in the 2007 WA Derby, was supported from 6/4 to evens and started from barrier nine.

Harper did not want to exert Lord Guy early and restrained him to last in the field of 12 while Gross Misconduct set the pace. Westwind Renegade (Chris Lewis) dashed forward and into the breeze after a lap, while Harper waited until the 1200m post before sending Lord Guy forward, out three wide.

This flushed Young Walton out three wide and Lord Guy was able to follow that pacer in the final circuit before he charged to the front in the final 50m and scored by a half-length from Longshoreman, who finished fast after racing two back on the pegs. Gross Misconduct fought on gamely to be fourth, just ahead of Money Twitch, who ran home solidly on the inside after being held up for a clear passage.

Lord Guy now boasts an impressive record of 33 starts for 12 wins, eight placings and stakes of $218,941.

“Kade said that he was a bit worried that Lord Guy was slightly underdone,” Harper said. “But he was spot on tonight. It’s a big help driving a good horse. You can drive the other ones as good as you like and it still doesn’t matter. But you drive these ones and you can make little mistakes and just having the gears makes up for them.”

 DEKKER DIAMOND PROVIDES OLIVIERI WITH NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 

Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri had high hopes of winning the Hankook K415 Fuel Saver Tyres Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night with 6/4 favourite Sunrose Mary.

But Sunrose Mary had to lower her colours when she was beaten by a nose by Dekker Diamond, a mare closely related to Tempo Cavallo, a horse who gave Olivieri some notable successes in the early 1980s.

Dekker Diamond, a seven-year-old by former New Zealand star Iraklis, is the second foal out of Crouch mare Dash of Diamonds, whose dam April Franco produced Tempo Cavallo, who earned $128,436 from seven wins and ten placings from 26 starts.

Olivieri drove Tempo Cavallo when he won the Galaxy Grand Slam at Moonee Valley in April 1983. Olivieri also was in the sulky when Tempo Cavallo finished second to the mighty Gammalite in the City Tatts Golden Mile at Harold Park in October 1983 and was fourth behind Double Agent in the Miracle Mile at Harold Park in January 1984.

Dash of Diamonds managed only one win (at Busselton on Boxing Day 1998 as a three-year-old) from 12 starts for earnings of $7710. Dekker Diamond has been more prolific, with her 94 starts yielding seven wins, 16 placings and stakes of $58,131.

Dekker Diamond, trained at Pinjarra by Robert McDonald, was driven assertively by Kim Young. She started from the inside barrier and set the pace before holding on grimly to beat Sunrose Mary.

The win ended a losing sequence of 23, with her previous success being at Pinjarra 13 months ago. That win ended a 26-month drought and a losing run of 42.

 CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS GIVES LEWIS A DOUBLE 

Christmas Stockings, unplaced at his 11 previous starts, made the most of drawing the No. 1 barrier by trailing the pacemaker Serial Pest before unwinding a solid late burst to win the 2130m Hankook Enfren Silica Tyres Pace from that pacer at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The win completed a double for Lewis, who had been successful earlier with Flaming Roadstar.

Part-owned and trained at Banjup by Annie Belton, Christmas Stockings was a 7/1 chance in a race in which Awesome Achiever was favourite at 6/4 on at his first appearance after a spell.

Serial Pest (4/1) was smartest into stride from barrier two, with Lewis quite content to take the trail with Christmas Stockings. 

“Everything worked out well,” Lewis said. “There was pressure up front and we were just off that pressure.”

Awesome Achiever started from the outside barrier and Gary Hall jun. eased him back to last before sending the four-year-old forward with 1300m to travel. Awesome Achiever moved into third place at the bell and retained that position down the back straight before he began to fade at the 400m post.

With nothing on his outside, Callan Suvaljko dashed Serial Pest away approaching the bell in a bid to open up a winning break on Christmas Stockings. However, Christmas Stockings had enjoyed such a soft trip that he was able to issue his challenge on the home turn before dashing to the front in the final 50m.

 IN THE FORCE DOES THE TRICK --- BY LEADING 

Smart New Zealand-bred four-year-old In The Force, beaten into a minor placing at short odds when forced to race wide at three successive starts, relished the opportunity to lead by winning the Hankook Dynapro All Terrain Tyres Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Favourite at 5/4 from barrier six, In the Force surged to the front after 500m and Colin Brown then was able to dictate terms and In The Force coasted to a two-length victory over Miss Shanley.

“The whole trick was to find the front,” Brown explained. “In The Force is a lot more competitive in front. I said before the race that if he led he would win and if he didn’t he’d probably run a place.”

In The Force, trained by Greg Bond, has been a model of consistency and he now has a fine record of 39 starts for 12 wins, 13 placings and stakes of $254,679.

Brown and Bond failed by the narrowest of margins to complete a double when Our Mercurio failed by a nose in the Hankook Truck Tyres Pace over 2503.

Our Mercurio (11/4) was a little scratchy into stride from the stand, while Waikawa Bay, backed from 6/4 to favouritism at 5/4 on, jumped straight into the lead from barrier one.

Our Mercurio raced wide in the first lap before moving alongside the pacemaker. These two horses then raced stride for stride for two laps, with Waikawa Bay, driven hard by Mark Reed, holding on to gain the verdict by a nose.