Clinton Hall sticks with My Hard Copy

28 January 2015 | Ken Casellas
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Clinton Hall

Clinton Hall

Pacing’s man of the moment Clint Hall has opted to drive My Hard Copy in preference to four stablemates in the $22,500 Abbot t and Company Lord Mayor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night, despite the five-year-old drawing the outside of the front line in the 2130m feature event.

Hall, fresh from scoring a dazzling last-to-first victory with My Hard Copy in the $400,000 WA Pacing Cup last Friday week and a career best four winners last Friday night, warned punters that the New Zealand-bred horse was far from a certainty in the Lord Mayor’s Cup.

“Yes, of course he can win,” he said. “But the outside barrier will make it tough. I’m going to stick with him for obvious reasons. From barrier seven I wish Friday night’s race was over 2936m (like the Pacing Cup) and not 2130m. This is a much harder task than the Pacing Cup, even though the calibre of horses is not as good.

“I will assess my options early. I’m not trying to talk him down, but I have a feeling that he will be at odds-on which is well and truly under the odds. He won from a much more favourable draw (barrier two on the back line) and paid $11 two starts ago, in the Fremantle Cup Consolation.”

My Hard Copy was a 17/1 chance when he started from barrier seven in the Pacing Cup in which Hall restrained him to the rear. He raced in 12th and last position and was suited by the fast pace. He was sixth on the home turn and flew home to win easily from David Hercules and Northview Punter, rating 1.57.4 which smashed the track record of 1.58.3 held by Dasher VC.

Hall has chosen to drive My Hard Copy again this week in preference to Northview Punter (barrier six), Bettor Reason (No. 4), Some Kinda Tactics (five) and Soho Jackman (barrier three on the back line of three runners). He drove Northview Punter to a fighting victory over the pacemaker Shardons Rocket in a 2536m event last Friday night, with Northview Punter overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the outside of the front line (No. 7).

Northview Punter was restrained back to last before Hall dashed him forward to take up the breeze position with 1350m to travel. Northview Punter fought on with fierce determination to get up and defeat Shardons Pocket by a nose, with Bettor Reason fighting on from fifth at the bell to be a half-length away in third place.

“All three runners were out on their feet and I’ve got the feeling that Shardons Rocket will be very hard to beat this week, given that it took Northview Punter almost 2536m to get past him last week,” Hall said.

Shardons Rocket, to be driven by Justin Prentice for veteran trainer Tony Svilicich, is favourably drawn at No. 3 on the front line and looks certain to lead, with 11-year-old Rocket Reign (placed once from his past ten starts) and Say It Now (unplaced at five starts in weaker company this season) drawn on his inside.

Shardons Rocket should be able to get away with an easy lead time. He was untroubled to set the pace from the No. 1 barrier last week and showed that he was close to his top form by dashing over the final two 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 28.8sec.

Svilicich will be aiming at his fourth success in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, after victories with Taihape Tickler in 2006 and Mysta Magical Mach in 2009 and 2011.

Champion trainer Gary Hall sen. has a splendid record in the 48-year history of the Lord Mayor’s Cup, having won the race five times --- with Tricky Bey (1994), Abit Rich (1997), Live To Reign (2007), Talk To Me Courage (2010) and Livingontheinterest (2014). His best prospects this year are My Hard Copy and Northview Punter.

Chris Lewis, who will be in the sulky behind Pacific Warrior, has an outstanding record in the Cup, a race he has won eight times --- with Village Kid (1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990), Ballantines (1992), Desert Patrol (1993), Royal Motoring (1998) and Ohoka Ace (2005).

Pacific Warrior is in top form for Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams and will have admirers from the inside of the back line. The seven-year-old was an unlucky fifth in the WA Pacing Cup when he was badly hampered for room in the final stages. A week earlier Pacific Warrior set the pace and finished second to My Hard Copy in the Fremantle Cup Consolation.

 

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