Gary Hall Jnr Photo by Scott Hamilton Media
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jun. is delighted to be reunited with talented pacer The Bucket List, who looks a star bet at Gloucester Park on Friday night, despite starting from the back mark of 40 metres in the 2503m Book A Private Box Handicap.
Hall has driven the New Zealand-bred eight-year-old only once --- 504 days ago when he brought the 14/1 chance home with a spirited burst from sixth at the bell to finish second to the 5/1 on favourite Hectorjayjay in a 2536m heat of the Interdominion championship at Gloucester Park on December 2, 2016.
Hall replaces the Michael Brennan-trained gelding’s regular reinsman Michael Grantham, who is recovering from a broken hand.
Grantham was in the sulky when The Bucket List smashed superstar Im Themightyquinn’s track record for a 2503m stand with a runaway victory by more than eight lengths from the pacemaker The Real Nadal last Friday week.
The Bucket List started off the 20m mark and revealed sparkling speed when he took off three wide from last in a field of ten 750m from home, surged to the front at the 300m mark and rated 1.57.1 which lowered Im Themightyquinn’s record rate of 1.57.9 set when he started from 30m and ran on from tenth in the middle stages to beat Christopher Three by three lengths on July 23, 2010.
The Bucket List, who has raced 91 times for 21 wins, 24 seconds and 11 thirds for stakes of $408,301, has a remarkable record in standing-start events. He had 39 starts in New Zealand for eight wins and 16 placings. Seven of those starts were in stands for three wins and three placings.
In Western Australia The Bucket List has contested 16 standing-start races for eight wins, five seconds, two thirds and one fourth. That means that he has had 23 starts in stands for 11 wins, ten placings, one fourth and one sixth.
Shannon Suvaljko, who will drive frontmarker The Real Nadal, said that the gelding, trained at Serpentine by Amber Sparks, has close to returning to the winning list.
“The Real Nadal ran a good race when he led and finished second to The Bucket List at his most recent start,” Suvaljko said. “But The Bucket List beat him pretty easily. However, The Real Nadal meets The Bucket List on 20m better terms.”
Tommy Be Good (30m) and Importer Exporter (20m) should be prominent, along with The Real Nadal. Tommy Be Good warmed up for this week’s assignment in fine style when he finished full of running to win easily from All The Whispers and Red Hot Roxy in a 2150m mobile trial at Byford on Sunday morning. He dashed over the final 400m in 27.5sec.
Importer Exporter, trained at Oakford by Chris Winston, is a capable standing-start performer who impressed when he raced in fifth position before finishing strongly to win the 2902m Easter Cup from Bettors Fire and Runrunjimmydunn last Friday fortnight.
A new drive for Hall will be behind the Nathan Turvey-trained Carter Micheal, who will start out wide at barrier No. 7 in a field of nine in the final event, the TABtouch --- The Brand That Funds The Industry Pace.
Carter Micheal, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old who has won at 12 of his 31 starts, is sure to be a short-priced favourite. But he is certainly far from being a good thing after disappointing efforts when a beaten favourite at each of his past three starts.
Carter Micheal, a 2/1 on fancy at Narrogin last Saturday night, set a dawdling early pace, with opening quarters of the final mile in 31.6sec. and 30.7sec. before covering the final sections in 28.4sec. and 28.6sec. He was overhauled 25m from the post by McArdles Gem, who finished fast after enjoying a perfect sit behind the pacemaker.
Carter Michael has had 25 starts in Western Australia for 11 wins and seven placings. But his nine appearances at Gloucester Park have produced no wins and just three placings. His chief opposition is likely to come from Walkabout Creek, Shes Artful and Shardons Rocket.
Walkabout Creek (barrier one) and Shes Artful (No. 2) possess good gate speed and are capable frontrunners. The 13-year-old Shardons Rocket will start from the outside barrier and will have admirers at his 360th start after his sound second to Raffaello after racing in the breeze last Friday night.
