IMA SPICEY LOMBO SET FOR STARDOM

Brilliant five-year-old Ima Spicey Lombo enhanced her standing as the State’s best mare with a devastating frontrunning display to crush her rivals in the $30,000 Parliamentarians Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Beaming Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri described her performance as “sensational” and declared she would be a major player in the rich feature events at the coming summer carnival.

As the only mare in the field, Ima Spicey Lombo received preferential treatment and started from the prized No. 1 barrier. Chris Lewis made full use of this considerable advantage, particularly with all mobile events being reduced by 30m to cut the distance to the first bend, and he shot the mare to a commanding early lead.

This advantage was accentuated when Pablito (barrier two) and Can Return Fire (four) galloped badly and forced other runners to cover extra ground.

From then on, it was a stroll in the park for Ima Spicey Lombo, who gave a sample of her class by sprinting the final 800m in 56.5sec. and careering away to win at a 1.56.3 rate over the 2506m journey.

She was challenged seriously by 5/4 on favourite Im Themightyquinn, who got to within a half-length of her 300m from home. But she quickly shook off that challenge and beat the favourite by two and a half lengths. The Hunter (20/1), who trailed the pacemaker throughout, finished third, just ahead of the fast-finishing Albert Jaccka.

Ima Spicey Lombo, bred in New South Wales and owned by Mick Lombardo, was heavily supported from 4/1 to 7/4. She now has the impressive record of 44 starts for 20 wins, seven placings and stakes of $256,306.

Twelve of her wins were in New South Wales and she also won twice in Queensland and twice in Victoria before arriving in WA earlier this year. She has had five starts for Olivieri in WA for four wins and a head second.

“The run tonight was sensational,” said Olivieri. “And the run of the second horse was very, very good as well. I think Ima Spicey Lombo is going to make a top-class mare and I’d like to pay tribute to Michael Sangalli. The last time this mare was in training (last winter) she was limping off the track, winning, but injured.

“We discovered a separation in a foot and Michael designed a special shoe which she now races in, and she’s a lot better horse now.”

The race saw a rare failure by Has The Answers, who started at 6/1, settled in fifth place and then moved into the breeze 550m after the start, providing Jumbo Operator (6/1) an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.

Ima Themightyquinn settled in seventh spot and Gary Hall jun. urged him forward, three wide, at the 1200m mark before he moved outside the leader 700m from home. It was the, about 650m from home that Has The Answers uncharacteristically began to falter and fade badly. This caused severe interference to Jumbo Operator, Pablito, Ima Rocket Star and Can Return Fire.

The stewards stood Has The Answers done for six days and ordered him to complete a satisfactory trial before being allowed to race again.

Hall was full of praise for Im Themightyquinn, saying that the gelding “went super” and “will probably get better.”

He said that it was now doubtful that Im Themightyquinn would travel to Sydney for the $500,000 Miracle Mile in a couple of weeks. He said that starting in the Victoria Cup next month was an option before the gelding contested the Gloucester Park feature events and then the Hunter Cup in Melbourne.

 MOTU TREASURE SET FOR CARNIVAL FEATURE EVENTS

New Zealand-bred five-year-old Motu Treasure warmed up for rich feature events at the coming Christmas carnival in fine style when he gave a powerful frontrunning performance to win the $20,500 D’Orsogna Italian Sprint over 1700m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“Tonight was a very important stepping stone, and he’s shown his true colours,” said part-owner Rob Gartrell. “We now hope to push the horse into the bigger races around Christmas time.”

Trained by Greg Bond and driven by Colin Brown, Motu Treasure was a firm favourite at 10/9 on and he impressed in rating 1.56.7 after Brown had to drive him hard in the early stages from barrier four in a bid to wrest the early lead from the polemarker Mon Gee.

“He would have been in a bit of trouble if he had drawn out a bit wider,” Brown said. But Brown was able to send Motu Treasure past Mon Gee and into the lead 220m after the start.

Badboy Nitro then applied some pressure in the breeze and the tempo increased when Kyle Harper sent Falcons Medley forward, three wide, approaching the bell. Little separated Motu Treasure, Badboy Nitro and Falcons Medley at the 500m mark before Motu Treasure asserted his authority and forged a length clear passing the 400m post.
   
Mon Gee got clear in the home straight and ran home gamely to finish second, one and a half lengths behind Motu Treasure. Tsunami Lombo sustained a three-wide run from last approaching the bell to finish a sound third and Little Big Sister, a stablemate of the winner, caught the eye in finishing strongly from the rear to be a close fourth.

 STLYISH McCARTHY LANDS DOUBLE AT WA DEBUT

Outstanding young reinsman Andy McCarthy brought his distinctive style of driving to Gloucester Park on Friday night and delighted aficionados with his deft skills, winning the first and final events on the ten-race program watched by a bumper crowd in the vicinity of 8000.

Showcasing the peculiar lean-back method of driving, the 24-year-old Queenslander landed a winner at his first attempt in Western Australia, with a masterly exhibition to score with 8/1 chance Captain Bromac in the opening event, the D’Orsogna Mealsoeasy.co.au Claiming Pace.

He then drove In The Force into eighth place behind Ima Spicey Lombo in the Parliamentarians Cup before scoring with the heavily-backed Bronze Icon in the final event, the D’Orsogna Continentals Pace.  

McCarthy, is the son of prominent Brisbane trainer-driver John McCarthy, who drove Washakie to victory in the $400,000 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park last January. Andy McCarthy’s elder brother Luke trained and drove Fleur de Lil in the $125,000 WA Oaks in May 2007.

Andy McCarthy, who has driven 415 winners in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, has spent the past three years driving in north America where he has won 447 races, the most recent being at the Meadowlands on Saturday November 6.

Queried about his lean-back style, McCarthy replied: “That’s an American thing. I try not to lean back here, but it’s just a habit, really. I try to sit up like everyone else, but after having driven in a couple of thousand races in America it’s hard to change immediately. It is just the style in America. That’s how everyone does it. That’s what owners and trainers want to see. It seems to make horses go faster over there.”

An interesting sidelight to Captain Bromac’s win on Friday night was that his younger half-brother Crown Bromac, driven by John McCarthy, finished a close third to Triumphant Reign at Harold Park in Sydney just before Captain Bromac was successful.

Captain Bromac, owned and trained by Alan Bell, won five times from 25 starts in New Zealand and six times from 28 starts in Victoria. This was his first win from nine WA appearances and it boosted his earnings to $77,674.

Chris Lewis has been Captain Bromac’s regular reinsman in WA, but he opted to handle polemarker Surfin Superstar, who was a firm 2/1 favourite, even though he had been unplaced at his previous 21 starts. Surfin Superstar was untroubled to set the pace from the No. 1 barrier, but he was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Captain Bromac, who hit the front 50m from the post.

McCarthy gave a delightful exhibition in the sulky. He sent Captain Bromac forward from barrier seven and after racing three wide for the first 250m he moved into the breeze. McCarthy immediately restrained Captain Bromac and Parasite forged forward to race outside the pacemaker, presenting Captain Bromac with the perfect trail, one-out and one-back.

McCarthy did not panic and was quite content to remain in that spot when Gary Hall jun. sent 5/4 favourite Hussy Hoffa forward, three wide, into the breeze with 500m to travel. McCarthy switched Captain Bromac three wide at the 450m mark before angling the gelding into the one-wide line behind Hussy Hoffa.

Then, 220m from home McCarthy eased Captain Bromac three wide again and the son of Falcon Seelster, with the driver leaning back, surged to the front in the final stages before recoding a smart one-length win over Surfin Superstar at a 1.59.5 rate over the 2506m.

There was one claim. Trainer-reinsman Brett Archibald claimed Hussy Hoffa for for $10,000.

Bronze Icon, a five-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding trained at Pinjarra by Kelly Groves, was solidly supported from 6/1 to 3/1 and he gave McCarthy an armchair drive in front before winning the D’Orsogna Continentals Pace by a length from Lees Approval (9/4), with Amongst Abbey (7/1) finishing third after enjoying the run of the race behind the leader.  

McCarthy dashed Bronze Icon to the front 150m after the start and from then on the race was simply a procession. Lees Approval surged forward into the breeze 550m after the start and battled home doggedly. Heeza Top Dog, favourite at 5/4, was shuffled back to eighth at the bell and he was badly hampered for room until late, when he ran home well into fourth place.

 INDOMITABLE SAAB GETS HIS CHANCE TO EMULATE HIS SIRE

Indomitable Saab gave a powerful frontrunning exhibition to win the $20,5000 XXXX Gold Golden Nugget Prelude over 2506m at Gloucester Park on Friday night and now has the chance to emulate the performance of his sire Saab, who won the Nugget final in 1998.

Indomitable Saab’s victory at 5/1 over even-money favourite Grinjaro made him an automatic qualifier for the $175,000 final next Friday week.

Saab won the 1998 final from Touch of Zam, who was owned and trained by Ken White, the owner and trainer of Grinjaro.

With the new distances for mobile events at Gloucester Park coming into being on Friday night, Indomitable Saab’s prospects received a tremendous boost in the random barrier draw when he drew the inside barrier, with several runners with much inferior records drawing out wide.

In fact, Indomitable Saab (with 13 wins from 34 starts going into the race) and Grinjaro (11 wins from 31 starts) were, by far, the best credentialled runners and only M1-class pacers in the race.

Wayne Reid made the most of the huge bonus of drawing the inside barrier (with all mobile events being reduced by 30m to provide a significant advantage to the polemarker going into the first turn) by driving Indomitable Saab hard early to take up the role of pacemaker.

Grinjaro, from barrier six, raced at the rear before Gary Hall jun. moved him into ninth position, three wide, at the bell. Grinjaro went four wide at the 450m mark and he finished with a resolute burst and was beaten only by one metre, with the final 800m being covered off the front in 57.9sec.

Gday Mate, backed from 10/1 to 7/1, enjoyed a perfect trip behind the pacemaker before fighting on gamely into third place, with Why Live Dangerously finishing boldly from tenth at the bell to be fourth.

Indomitable Saab is a credit to his Wanneroo trainer Barry Morrison, who produced the horse in top shape for Friday night’s assignment. Indomitable Saab, the first foal out of unraced Mystical Prince mare Infinite Scale, took his earnings past the $100,000 mark. He has had 35 starts for 14 wins, four placings and stakes of $110,518.

 JAY CEE ESS PROVES A WONDERFUL BARGAIN

A syndicate of six, headed by Jeremy Skelton, has struck gold with five-year-old Jay Cee Ess proving to be one of the bargains of the year.

Purchased for $15,000 earlier in the year, Jay Cee Ess has gone from strength to strength for Byford trainer Ron Huston, with the gelding’s first 16 starts for his new owners producing nine wins and $67,118 in prizemoney.

Jay Cee Ess, favourite at 7/4 on, moved to an M3 classification after Justin Prentice had driven him to a stylish all-the-way victory in the D’Orsogna Classic WA Pace over 2503m.

“He’s certainly been a good buy,” declared Huston, who said that the gelding would have a brief break from racing before running in the heats of the Christmas Gift next month in a bid to qualify for the $35,000 final.

Jay Cee Ess began with his usual alacrity from barrier four on the front line of Friday night’s stand and Prentice rated the New Zealand-bred pacer to perfection before he reeled off the final two 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 28.3sec. to keep his rivals at bay.

Country Change, the 4/1 second favourite, impressed with her effort in finishing a 1m second. She dashed forward to race without cover in the first circuit and then gained a good sit, one-out and one-back, before finishing with admirable determination.

“She performed really well,” said Country Change’s driver Gary Hall jun., who added that the mare was likely to continue to contest standing-start events. 

 LITTLE ANGEL CAUSES UPSET; MILLWOOD MEG UNPLACED

Consistent New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Little Angel ended a losing sequence of ten and caused a major upset when she stormed home to win the D’Orsogna Ham Royale Pace over 2506m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Her victory at 20/1 gave 22-year-old Boyanup reinsman Justin Prentice the first leg of a double. He was successful in the following event with Jay Cee Ess.

Most punters considered brilliant four-year-old Millwood Meg a certainty and she was sent out favourite at 5/1 on.

Little Angel started from barrier one and Millwood Meg from barrier three, and Prentice made the most of the significant advantage of starting from the inside with the distance of all mobile events reduced by 30m. With the first bend approaching 30m earlier than has been the case in the past, Prentice was able to keep Little Angel in front around the first corner.

Millwood Meg was forced to use up considerable energy as she raced three wide for the first 500m before being able to cross to the front soon afterwards and provide Little Angel with a soft run on the leader’s back.

Millwood Meg began to feel the pinch approaching the home turn and was easy prey for Little Angel, who had been eased off the pegs with 250m to travel and then went three wide on the home turn.

Little Angel burst to the front 90m from the post and she cruised to victory over Blissful Snag, who ran home gamely from seventh on the pegs at the bell. Hirli Birli Lombo, who had raced without cover over the final 1050m, fought on to be third, with Millwood Meg wilting to fourth.

Little Angel has had 23 WA starts for three wins and 11 placings for an overall record of 49 starts for six wins, 14 placings and stakes of $63,374.

 SMOOTH SHIFT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF A DOUBLE CONCESSION

Keen judges with an eye for value cashed in when the well-performed Smooth Shift resumed after a spell in the D’Orsogna Sliced And Shaved Meats Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

These pundits considered Smooth Shift had been “thrown” into the 2096m stand after receiving a double benefit from the controversial new drop-down regulations which allow a pacer on an M2 mark or better to drop down a grade after contesting ten events without winning.

Smooth Shift, an M3-class pacer after winning at Gloucester Park 13 months ago, went into Friday night’s race with a losing sequence of 21, therefore gaining the benefit of two reductions in class and classifying him as an M1-class pacer who was to meet his rivals on extremely beneficial terms.

Smooth Shift started from 10m and at the liberal odds of 8/1. And he returned handsome tote odds of 13/1 when Gary Hall jun. brought him home with a powerful burst from seventh at the bell to win easily from 5/2 on favourite Fast Turnover, who had made all the running.

Smooth Shift had hardly been unproductive during his sequence of 21 starts without a win. Those runs earned his connections $21,483 in prizemoney after he had earned $44,525 at his previous 13 starts.

Smooth Shift, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old, has had 61 starts for 12 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $110,745. He is now classified as an M2-class pacer. 

Smooth Shift’s win completed a training double for Gary Hall sen. and Hall jun., who had combined to win the D’Orsogna Christmas Hams Pace with Ohoka Georgia.

Ohoka Georgia, favourite at 6/4, started from the outside barrier and was restrained to last while Appladay bowled along in front. Ohoka Georgia came from eighth at the bell with a three-wide burst to hit the front 420m from home.

But punters groaned when Gathering Gears (who had come from last at the bell and had followed the favourite all the way in the final circuit) charged forward and got his nose in front about 260m from home. But Ohoka Georgia fought back grandly to regain the lead in the closing stages. Ohoka Georgia beat Gathering Gears by a metre, with Alby Albert running on from ninth at the bell to be third.

Ohoka Georgia, a winner of 15 races in Victoria, is unbeaten at two WA starts and he now has earned $102,319 in prizemoney.

 LOMBO AIR EXPRESS IS BRED IN THE PURPLE

Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri and star reinsman Chris Lewis brought up the first leg of a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Lombo Air Express finished full of running to beat 5/4 favourite Celtic Crusader in the 1700m D’Orsogna Antipasto Pace.

The successful combination, a powerful force in WA pacing for several years, completed the double with Ima Spicey Lombo’s victory in the Parliamentarians Cup.

Lombo Air Express, second favourite at 13/4, dashed forward to race without cover before Shannon Suvaljko pressed forward, three wide, with Celtic Crusader, who moved to the breeze 400m after the start, with Eyes On Armbro setting the pace.

Lombo Air Express carried far too many guns for Celtic Crusader in the concluding stages and scored by 7m at a 1.58.7 rate, withy the final 400m being covered in 27.7sec.

The WA-bred Lombo Air Express, a six-year-old by Village Jasper, has earned $93,831 from his 11 wins and ten placings from only 31 starts.

He is the first foal out of Lombo Par Avion, who managed to win twice (at Junee and Albury in 2003) from 19 starts. Lombo Par Avion is a daughter of former champion mare Concorde Lombo, who earned $550,451 from her 33 wins and 23 placings from 76 starts.

Concorde Lombo’s successes included the WA and Victorian Oaks and the $50,000 Ladyship Cup at Moonee Valley at her final start, in May 1999.