Veteran millionaire pacer Better Eclipse gave local harness racing enthusiasts a sample of his class when he broke through for his first win in Western Australia at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred seven-year-old, trained and driven by Gary Hall jnr, was a $4.90 chance from the No. 2 barrier in the $31,000 Book Your NYE Party Pace over 2130m, and he revealed excellent fighting qualities to win by a short half-head from the $3 favourite Golden Lode, rating 1.55.9 over 2130m after a final 800m of 56.4sec.
This was Better Eclipse’s fifth start in WA, and it ended a losing sequence of 13, stretching back to December 1, 2024, when he was successful in a 1609m event at Methven in New Zealand.
The son of American sire Betterthancheddar now has earned $1,390,925 from 25 wins and 27 placings from 92 starts for Victorian owner Antoinette Bajada. Apart from this victory Better Eclipse has won 17 times in Victoria, three times in Queensland and twice in both New Zealand and New South Wales.
Better Eclipse is out of unraced Northern Luck mare Power Of Eclipse, and his major victories include the 2022 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle, the 2022 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park, and the Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park in May 2024 when he sprinted home from seventh at the 400m to win from champion pacer Self Assured.
Rolling Fire, the $3.50 second fancy from the No. 1 barrier, held out Better Eclipse to set the pace before being challenged hotly after a lap when Deni Roberts eased Golden Lode from the one-out and two-back position to make a spirited bid for the lead.
Better Eclipse was racing in the breeze, and Hall made a quick decision to deny Golden Lode when he sent Better Eclipse to the front. This left Golden Lode in the breeze for the remainder of the event.
Golden Lode fought on with great determination and just failed to overhaul Better Eclipse, who also fought on grimly, with Rolling Fire, taking advantage of an inside passage, finishing third.
“After failing in a bid for the lead I was happy with the way we were (in the breeze),” said Hall. “But when a horse (Golden Lode) was coming three wide I came up with Plan B on the spot, and luckily Better Eclipse was quick enough to take the lead from Rolling Fire, who was probably star gazing.
“It was good to see Better Eclipse getting a win. He has been a really good horse every year of his career, and it would be a shame to come over here and not win a race. So, we have now ticked that off.
“He is still way too fat, and hopefully he is still on the way up. I’m still learning about him, and there is a lot of pressure when you have a horse who has banked so much money to come out and do his best.
“He is happier now than he was a month ago, and so am I. On the bend tonight he was running on empty, but he still found a way up the straight to dig deep. You expect good horses to fight, and he fought on well.”
