Kiara Davies
Five months ago Kiara Davies plucked up the courage to telephone Waroona trainer Bob Mellsop to ask if he would give her the drive on Little Boy Blue in a race at Gloucester Park.
At first Mellsop was reluctant to accede to her wishes. But he relented and gave her the drive. The 24-year-old Davies repaid him for his faith in her ability by winning the race.
And thus started a remarkable successful combination which they hope will continue when Davies handles Our Boy Sue for Mellsop in the Sue Ritson Birthday Surprise Pace at Gloucester Park on tonight.
“Bob has given me a lot of opportunities and it’s been great,” Davies said. “I’ve driven three horses for him and have won with all three. I’ve had ten drives for him for six wins. I have driven Little Boy Blue three times for three wins, Chaldea four times for two wins and a second and Our Boy Sue three times for one win.”
Davies was allocated to drive Chaldea in an event for junior drivers at Gloucester Park in April 2013 when Chaldea finished a half-length second to Justlikelindt. But Davies waited for a full 12 months before she put in her call to Mellsop.
“He was a bit hesitant at first because Little Boy Blue can play up,” Davies said. “Finally he said he would give me a crack, and I didn’t have a problem with the horse. I sent Little Boy Blue to the lead in the first lap and won the race.
“Last Friday night Our Boy Sue drew five and raced five back on the fence. Things worked out perfectly and we won the race. Now I have driven seven city winners, six for Bob and What God Knows for Debbie Padberg.”
Our Boy Sue goes up in class this week and faces a stern test from barrier three against pacers of the calibre of Zacs Nuggett, Galactic Galleon, Say It Now, Soho Highroller, The Feather Foot and The Ragpickers Dream.
“There’s too much speed on his inside and I’ll be aiming to go straight to the fence,” Davies said. “There’s a few to beat and he needs to get the right run again to win. However, I think he can figure in the finish. He’s suited over the 2536m and he enjoys the rolling type of racing. He’s not really a sit and sprint type, but he’s tough.”
Davies also will drive Menelaus of Sparta for trainer Brett Smith in the Elaine’s Birthday Pace, in which is unfavourably drawn at barrier six. “I drove him a fortnight ago when we got a flat tyre at the 400m and finished seventh behind Dashing Christian,” she said. “He’s a good sit and sprint horse.”
Davies trains one pacer, eight-year-old Arts Gangsta, whom she will drive in a race at Kellerberrin on Sunday. She got him for nothing from Jason Keys, with the proviso that she would give him $500 for his first win.
“Arts Gangsta has won six races for me and has earned about $30,000 which has enabled me to buy a brand new car.”
Warwick leans towards Robyns Raider
Ryan Warwick, stable foreman for Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond, gave punters a valuable lead when he chose to drive Robyns Raider in preference to Barrow Street in the Ron and Kerry Benjamin Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Warwick has handled both pacers at their recent outings, and although Barrow Street drew the inside barrier off the front mark, he preferred Robyns Raider from barrier four.
“I have a lot of time for Robyns Raider and at this stage both he and Barrow Street and possibly Everton VC will be set for the $30,000 Kalgoorlie Cup next Thursday night,” he said.
Robyns Raider has had only 39 starts for nine wins and 12 placings, but Warwick said that the five-year-old’s form left a little bit to be desired.. “His race form is not consistent, like his work at home, he said. “So it’s more a case of trying to find a bit more about him.
“On ability Robyns Raider should be able to win a couple of city stands. His work at home is a lot better than his race form.”
Robyns Raider has not finished farther back than fourth at his past 12 starts. A winner at Pinjarra in June, he resumed after a two-month absence with a smart all-the-way win in a 2503m stand at Gloucester Park on August 19 before working hard without cover and fighting on to finish a half-length second to the pacemaker Bartowski over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Machtu poised for a hat-trick
Brilliant New Zealand-bred four-year-old Machtu has resumed after a spell in superb form and he looks set to complete a winning hat-trick for ace reinsman Gary Hall jun. and champion trainer Gary Hall sen. by overcoming the outside barrier in the 2130m second heat of the RAB Kersley Memorial Warwick Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Halls also look set to win the Ryan Havercroft Longest Priced Winner Pathway Pace with another talented New Zealand-bred four-year-old Classic American, who also will start from the outside barrier on the front line.
This would complete a wonderful week for Hall sen., who trained four winners (Topshelf Attitude, Classic American, Marquita Amour and Crusader Banner) at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon before celebrating his 65th birthday on Tuesday.
Hall jun. drove five winners at Pinjarra, four for his father and Gives Me Chills for Michael Brennan. Then he had just one drive at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when he scored an easy all-the-way victory with 7/4 on favourite Bartowski for trainer Matt Scott.
Machtu has not been extended in winning over 2130m at Gloucester Park on the past two Friday nights.
However, Ryan Warwick, who will drive polemarker Bettor Offer for trainers Greg and Skye Bond, hopes the New Zealand-bred four-year-old, a winner at seven of his 17 starts, will extend Machtu.
“Ability-wise Bettor Offer is probably the best four-year-old we’ve got and we’d like to think that he will give Machtu a run for his money.” Warwick said. “We’ve had a lot of soundness issues with Bettor Offer, but he goes pretty good. I’ll be aiming to lead from barrier one.
“Ability-wise he’s pretty close to being the best horse we’ve got in the stable. I like Machtu a lot and if we beat him we’ll be going home doing cartwheels. If we can’t beat him with Bettor Offer, we can’t beat him with any of our other four-year-olds.”
