GP Review 7th August 2020

10 August 2020 | Ken Casellas
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Ridley’s bargain buy

About six seeks ago Brian Ridley was seriously considering buying New South Wales performer The Golden Cross after the gelding had won twice in the space of five days at Menangle, but he was dissuaded by Blythewood trainer Michael Brennan.

Brennan advised Ridley that The Golden Cross was unlikely to be suited to racing on the tighter Gloucester Park circuit and he suggested that he should consider purchasing Rebel With A Grin, who had just set the pace and scored an easy Gloucester Park win over 2503m for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.

Ridley now has no regrets that he heeded the sage advice from Brennan, who told Ridley that Rebel With A Grin was up for sale. Ridley paid just $14,000 for the New Zealand-bred four-year-old, who then entered Brennan’s stables and is proving a bargain.

Rebel With A Grin gave an excellent first-up display for Brennan and Ridley when he was held up for a clear run until late when an eye-catching fourth behind stablemate Forgotten Highway in the BOTRA Cup. And then at his fourth start for his new connections, Rebel With A Grin won the Retravision Marathon Handicap, a stand over 3309m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This took the gelding’s earnings for Ridley to $16,329 and his new owner is confident of further successes with a pacer who is closely related to a couple of $1 million performers. His sire Smiling Shard was a grand stayer who amassed $1,178,792 from 17 wins and 22 placings from 50 starts, and his dam Highview Chasue is a half-sister to Highview Tommy, a brilliant pacer who earned $1,021,904 from 17 wins and 27 placings from 104 starts.

Rebel With A Grin has certainly inherited much of his staying ability from Smiling Shard, who coincidentally finished second to Highview Tommy in the 3200m group 2 Franklin Cup. And Highview Tommy finished third to Terror To Love in the 3200m group 1 New Zealand Cup in November 2011 and second to the same pacer in the same event 12 months later.

After The Golden Cross had won two in a row at Menangle in mid-June, rating 1.52.1 over 1609m and 1.54.6 over 2300m Ridley said: “I was looking very seriously at buying him, but Michael (Brennan) told me that he was a seven-year-old unlikely to be suited to WA racing and that I should buy Rebel With A Grin, a four-year-old with a promising future.”

Rebel With A Grin’s victory on Friday night made amends for This Time Dylan’s second to Rocket Reign in the 2014 Marathon Handicap. This Time Dylan was owned by Ridley and trained by Brennan, who then prepared Naughty Maravau and The Bucket List for seconds in the 2016 and 2017 Marathon Handicaps, respectively.

Friday night’s win by Rebel With A Grin brought to mind another of Ridley’s bargain purchases. He outlaid $20,000 to buy This Time Dylan in a claiming race in December 2103, and at his third start for his new owner finished third behind Hokonui Ben in the WA Pacing Cup in January 2014. 

This Time Dylan, whose many victories included the group 3 2014 Narrogin Cup and the Mount Eden-No Dill Christmas Handicap in December 2016, earned Ridley more than $150,000 in prizemoney. Ridley’s other feature successes have been with Kasey John in the Kerry Clarke Four And Five-Year-Old Classic in August 2018 and Back On Board in the group 3 Four Year-Old Championship in March 2015.

Rebel With A Grin, a $11.50 chance began safely off the 10m mark and settled in eighth position for champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr, who made a significant decision to vacate the one-out and three-back position 1000m after the start. The gelding then raced in the breeze for a lap while the $2.70 favourite Donegal Art Chokin set the pace.

Forgotten Highway ($5) was eighth with two laps to travel before Michael Grantham urged him forward, three wide, 1350m from home to move into the breeze. Forgotten Highway dashed to the front 120m from the post and was overhauled in the final stride by Rebel With A Grin, with 40m backmarker Bettor Party finishing powerfully, out five wide, to be third. Bettor Party galloped at the start and settled down 80m from the early leader. He was still last 350m from home.

The win gave Hall his fourth success in the Marathon Handicap, after winning with Im Themightyquinn (2010), Code Red (2012) and Runrunjimmydunn (2018).

City century for the Bonds

Rising star Patronus Star gave star trainers Greg and Skye Bond their one hundredth metropolitan success for the 2019-20 season when he was not extended in setting the pace and coasting to victory in the $50,000 San Simeon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

It was a notable success for the New Zealand-bred three-year-old, who proved the master of his older and more experienced opponents.

Patronus Star, the $1.10 favourite, gave leading reinsman Ryan Warwick an armchair drive, setting the pace from the coveted No. 1 barrier and rating 1.55.2 over the 2130m, with quarters of the final mile in 29.1sec., 29sec., 28.6sec. and 28.8sec.

Later in the program the Bond stable completed a double with Starlight Destiny’s win in a 2130m event for mares. The Bonds now have had 373 city starters this season for 101 wins, 65 seconds and 31 thirds for $2,056,862 in prizemoney. On all tracks in the State for the season the Bonds have prepared 207 winners, 105 seconds and 55 thirds for earnings of $2,579,245.

Patronus Star coasted to victory by one and a half lengths over $19 chance Boom Time, who finished powerfully, three wide, from tenth at the bell.

Patronus Star, winner of the WA Derby in April, is unbeaten at his five starts in Western Australia that have netted $171,530 in prizemoney. He will be one of the chief contenders for the rich Golden Nugget championship early next year.

Now for the August Cup

Superstar Chicago Bull was untroubled to extend his winning sequence to five when he strolled to an effortless victory in the 2130m Zippay At Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he will have a brief spell after contesting the August Cup next Friday night.

“I was real happy tonight,” said champion trainer Gary Hall snr. “He didn’t have too hard a run and went to the line pretty good. After the August Cup he will have a few weeks off, just doing nothing at home.

“There are no interstate trips planned because of the travel restrictions. If we do go away it will be for the Hunter Cup at Melton early next year.”

Chicago Bull, favourite at $1.04 from the outside in the field of six, was not bustled early before Gary Hall jnr sent him to the lead after 650m. He then bowled along easily in front before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.4sec. and 27.5sec. and winning by just over a length from Convert Denario, rating 1.55.5.

This improved his remarkable record to 81 starts for 53 wins and 22 placings for stakes of $1,883,419.

When Chicago Bull is spelling, Convert Denario and Bletchley Park (who led for the first 550m and finished solidly along the inside to be third) will pay to follow. Convert Denario dashed to the front after 550m and then enjoyed a perfect sit behind the pacemaking Chicago Bull before finishing solidly.

Cups mission for Sangue Reale

Smart four-year-old Sangue Reale is developing nicely into a realistic contender for the rich Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups at the summer carnival.

Starting a hot favourite at $1.50 Sangue Reale gave his rivals little chance by setting the pace for Chris Voak and sprinting over the final quarters in 28.5sec. and 27.8sec. and winning by 2m from Destined To Rule ($23) in the 2130m Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He’s pretty lazy in front, but he got the job done,” said trainer Michael Brennan. “Leading is really not his go, but when you draw a good barrier (No. 2) you’ve got to take advantage of it. He waited for them (the opposition) before running away late. That’s just him. Hopefully, he’ll be able to run in both the big Cups.

“Once he gets up in grade, you’ll see that he will be a bit sharper. Following the speed is his go. Once he’s up in grade you’ll see the real Sangue Reale.”

Sangue Reale now has raced 35 times for eight wins, 15 placings and $169,599 in stakes.

American Delight on the march

Up-and-coming four-year-old New Zealand-bred mare American Delight continues to perform at a high level and Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo is looking forward to her contesting feature events for mares in the coming months.

De Campo drove American Delight, favourite at $1.80 from the No. 1 barrier, to a convincing all-the-way victory in the 2536m Shop Online At Retravision.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.  

“She’s getting through the classes quickly,” said de Campo. “She wasn’t proven at that grade and over that distance, but we got an easy enough time. She was star gazing a bit at the top of the straight but on the line she was getting away from them.

“She won a couple in own as a three-year-old and a $30,000 event at her previous preparation. So, she’s got a good record and, hopefully, she will keep improving on it. Every time she comes back after a spell she gets a bit stronger.

“I think she will measure up to contesting feature events for mares. She’s definitely not better than them, but with the right run she will have the chance to beat the better mares.”

Robbie Easton ($7) maintained his consistent form when he worked hard in the breeze for almost the final two circuits and fought on doggedly to be second to American Delight on Friday night.

High praise for Alta Blues

Champion trainer Gary Hall snr lavished praise on Alta Blues after the big West Australian-bred gelding scored a narrow victory in the 2130m Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Alta Blues, second fancy at $2.60, had a tough run in the breeze outside the pacemaking $1.90 favourite Be My Rock before taking a narrow lead 450m from home and fighting on grandly to defeat the fast-finishing Power And Grace by a head, with Be My Rock wilting to third. The winner rated 1.56.6 over the 2130m and improved his record to six starts for three wins and two seconds.

“He is one of the better three-year-olds I’ve ever trained,” said Hall. “I really like him and I reckon he’s probably better than Chicago Bull was as a three-year-old. Chicago Bull didn’t have the depth that Alta Blues has now.

“But Alta Blues has a lot to learn; he’s not great gaited, but every time he goes around he gets better and better. I think he could develop into a very good horse.

“We’ll see how he pulls up, but he’ll probably go for a month off and then get ready for a few more three-year-old races before the end of the year on his way forward for the Golden Nugget next year.

“I expected him to sit on the outside of the odds-on favourite and win. Junior (Gary Hall jnr) reckoned Alta Blues never got going until Power And Grace challenged him, and then he just took off again. He’s not the type of horse who will win by two lengths.”

Combination scores again

The combination of eight-time WA premier trainer Ross Olivieri and leviathan owner Merv Butterworth continues to thrive, with the partners celebrating a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night with five-year-old mare Queen Shenandoah and six-year-old trotter Mr Sundon.

Queen Shenandoah, the $2.80 favourite driven by Chris Voak, made the most of the prized No. 1 barrier by leading all the way and winning the 2130m Retravision 60 Day Price Promise Pace. She dashed over the final 400m section in 28.3sec. and won by a neck from $17 chance Anime, who had enjoyed the perfect trail behind the pacemaker throughout.

This improved Queen Shenandoah’s record to 46 starts for 11 wins, 15 placings and $128,563 in stakes.

Mr Sundon maintained his status as the State’s best trotter when Chris Lewis drove the $1.22 favourite to an easy three-length victory over the pacemaker Tenno Sho in the 2130m Retravision Your One Stop Electrical Shop Trot.

Mr Sundon was not bustled from out wide at barrier No. 7 and he settled down in seventh position, some eight lengths behind Tenno Sho, who dashed to the front after 150m. Mr Sundon took the lead 220m from home and raced away from his rivals to score easily at a 1.59.4 rate.

Mr Sundon now has had 45 starts for 17 wins, eight placings and $141,393 in prizemoney.

Just Rockon Bye in the twilight

Talented mare Just Rockon Bye notched her 25th victory when she finished powerfully to snatch victory in the Members Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and will soon be retired to enjoy the second stage of her splendid career --- as a broodmare.

“She’s been a good mare,” said trainer Gary Hall snr. “She’s booked into Bettors Delight and will race while in the early stages of her pregnancy before being retired.”

The much-travelled Rockon Bye has proved a great bargain for her South Australian owners Adam, Ben and Terry Cormack, who purchased her for $15,000. Rockon Bye is a winner of two races in New Zealand, 14 in South Australia, three in Victoria and six (plus ten placings) from 28 starts in Western Australia. Her stake-earnings now stand at $206,660.

Rockon Bye, a $6.20 chance (and at $8.50 on the fixed market), started from the No. 4 barrier and she settled in fourth position for reinsman Gary Hall jnr in an Indian file event for just six runners in Friday night’s race.

After Our Alfie Romeo moved to the breeze 1200m from home Hall obtained a perfect trail with Just Rockon Bye in the one-out, one-back position. Ryan Warwick sent Our Alfie Romeo past the pacemaker Golden State and to the front 90m from the post. But she failed to hold out Just Rockon Bye, who went three wide at the 250m mark and got up in the final stride to score by a head at a 1.57.9 rate.   

Polemarker Rock Me Over, the $2 favourite, was beaten by Golden State for early speed and raced behind that pacer all the way. He was badly blocked for a clear passage until the final stages and finished an unlucky fourth.

Starlight Destiny holds on

New Zealand-bred mare Starlight Destiny revealed good fighting qualities to set the pace and hold on with grim determination to beat the fast-finishing My Prayer by a short half-head in the 2130m Retravision Your Fujitsu Specialist Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Starlight Destiny, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, was favourite at $4.10 and from the No. 1 barrier she was able to dawdle through the lead time in 38.9sec. and the opening quarter in a slow 31.8sec. before she sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 27.8sec.

My Prayer ($4.40) trailed Starlight Destiny until Chris Lewis was able to get her into the clear on the home turn. She finished fast to fail narrowly.

Starlight Destiny is the sixth foal out of Western Starr, who produced Pal Amino, who raced 18 times in WA for two wins (at Pinjarra in November 2014 and at Kellerberrin in August 2015). Starlight Destiny has had all of her 38 starts in WA for ten wins, 17 placings and $69,376 in stakes.

                    

 

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