Kim Prentice with Karen and Gary Hall after a previous win with Im Themightyquinn
Leading West Australian reinsman Gary Hall jun. will contest an invitation drivers’ championship series at Victorian country track Mildura on Friday night, providing Boyanup horseman Kim Prentice a wonderful opportunity to drive champion pacer Im Themightyquinn in the $35,000 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Gloucester Park.
Prentice, who has not been successful in the 46-year history of the group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup, should land the prize on Friday night to give premier trainer Gary Hall sen. his fifth win in the event.
Hall jun. has a remarkable record in the sulky behind Im Themightyquinn, having driven him 55 times for 37 wins, nine seconds, seven thirds, one fourth and one 12th placing.
Prentice jumped at the opportunity to replace Hall as Im Themightyquinn’s driver in the group 1 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park in January 2011 when Hall was under suspension. Im Themightyquinn charged home to win the Cup from Mysta Magical Mach and Ima Spicey Lombo. Prentice also drove the champion twice in October 2010 for a third and sixth placing.
Hall sen. trained and drove Tricky Bey (1994) and Abit Rich (1997) for wins in the Lord Mayor’s Cup. He has also won the event with Live To Reign (Hall jun. in 2007) and Talk To Me Courage (Shayne Cramp in 2010).
Hall jun. has accepted seven drives on the nine-event program at Mildura. His drives in the four heats of the invitation drivers’ series are Washington Heritage (unbeaten at his five starts and having his first run since last August), eight-year-old Smart Cecil (a winner at Mildura two starts ago), Our Walden Bury (a winner at five of his 34 starts) and last-start Mildura winner Shakatomic.
Hall, who has driven 89 winners this season and is second behind Victorian Chris Alford on the national drivers’ list, also looks to have sound prospects in the 2190m Mildura Working Man’s Club Pace, in which he will drive last-start winner The Ragpickers Dream for Shayne Cramp.
Im Themightyquinn’s prospects of winning the 2536m Lord Mayor’s Cup improved sharply when he gained the No. 3 barrier on the front line in the random barrier draw and stylish last-start winners Dasher VC and Lombo Navigator drew the back line.
Dasher VC, who caused an upset when he started from the No. 1 barrier, set the pace and won by a head from Im Themightyquinn in the 2936m Fremantle Cup last Friday week, faces a sterner test from the outside barrier (No. 3) on the back line this week.
However, Dasher VC’s prospects cannot be discounted. He is in superb form for Capel trainer Andrew de Campo and reinsman Chris Lewis, who holds the record of eight wins in the Lord Mayor’s Cup. Lewis was successful with Village Kid (1985, 1986, 19889 and 1990), Ballantines (1992), Desert Patrol (1993), Royal Motoring (1998) and Ohoka Ace (2005).
Lombo Navigator, also prepared by de Campo, overcame a back-line draw last Friday night when he worked hard in the breeze before winning from Mysta Magical Mach over 2130m. He will start from the inside of the back line, with regular reinsman Matt White in the sulky.
Evergreen eight-year-old Mysta Magical Mach is favourably drawn at barrier two on the front line and Morgan Woodley is likely to attempt to get the New Zealand-bred gelding to the front in the early stages. Legislate, unplaced at his past five starts, will start from the pole.
Mysta Magical Mach won the Lord Mayor’s Cup in 2009 and 2011 for veteran trainer Tony Svilicich, who also won the event with Taihape Tickler in 2006. Woodley was the driver of Taihape Tickler and he handled Mysta Magical Mach when he won the 2009 Cup from Mr Yankee and Smooth Crusa. Justin Prentice drove Mysta Magical Mach when he won the 2011 Cup from Can Return Fire and Tsunami Lombo.
Son of Fergie, winner of the WA Pacing Cup consolation and Fremantle Cup consolation at his past two starts, fared badly in the random draw and his prospects look slim from the No. 6 barrier.
