The run is over.
The domination of the Gary Hall Snr stable and the state’s biggest event, the Gr.1 $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup has been thwarted by his good friend Kim Prentice.
Powerful five-year-old Soho Tribeca outstayed arch rival Chicago Bull and The Bucket List in the 2936m mobile start feature at Gloucester Park.
The victory of Soho Tribeca ended the reign of the Hall stable who were aiming for their 8th successive victory in the Grand Circuit event.
Driven aggressively by Prentice, the Bryan Cousins trained Soho Tribeca worked forward from his wide draw before parking outside early leader American Boy while Chicago Bull drifted back to last from his extreme outside draw.
Prentice sat patiently and bided his time while waiting for Gary Hall Jnr to make his move behind pint-sized pacer Chicago Bull with approximately 1600m left to run.
The lead time was covered in 99.1 seconds.
As soon as Chicago Bull loomed three-wide, Prentice asked Soho Tribeca to extend and quickly took the lead from American Boy which left Chicago Bull facing the breeze.
The first half of the final mile was covered in 29.3 and 29.5 seconds.
Entering the back straight for the final time, the pressure intensified with Soho Tribeca and Chicago Bull sprinting hard and fast while rivals were left flat-footed.
The third quarter was covered in 27.5 seconds.
Prentice remained confident with Soho Tribeca while Hall Jnr niggled at Chicago Bull and soon after straightening; Soho Tribeca raced clear and put a clear gap on his rivals.
A jubilant Prentice saluted to the crowd with Soho Tribeca scoring officially by a margin of 8m from Chicago Bull with another 5m back to The Bucket List in third.
The final quarter was covered in 27.9 seconds.
The mile rate was 1:56.9 and established a new race record but was outside of the track record of Smolda at 1:55.8.
“It’s all about the horse and his owner this victory, I’m thrilled to be part of it but this win is about a great horse in Soho Tribeca and Robert Watson. The Inter Dominion and Fremantle Cup didn’t go to plan but it’s very rewarding to snare the Pacing Cup.” Prentice said.
The victory provides Prentice with his third triumph in the Pacing Cup after previous success with Baltic Eagle (2003) and Im Themightyquinn (2011).
Ironically, Hall Snr prepared Im Themightyquinn.
Soho Tribeca has now won 19 of his 50 starts while banking more than $880,000.
The American Ideal – Pixel Perfect entire will be set for next month’s Gr.1 $500,000 Hunter Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton on February 3.
Soho Tribeca joins Lazarus (New Zealand Cup & Inter Dominion), Lennytheshark (Victoria Cup) and Vincent (Auckland Cup) as a winner of an Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit event for the 2017/18 season.
