Skylou aimed at the Golden Nugget
Lightly-raced four-year-old Skylou returned to action at Gloucester Park on Friday night in a blaze of glory, scoring an impressive all-the-way victory in the $50,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Easter Cup, a performance which stamped him as a major player in the $200,000 Golden Nugget in December.
Making his first appearance after winning the WA Derby early last November, Skylou was the $1.30 favourite, who was smartest to begin and was not seriously challenged throughout the 2503m journey, winning by two lengths from stablemate Im The Black Flash, who fought on grandly after racing without cover all the way.
The win gave champion trainer Gary Hall snr his fourth success in the Easter Cup --- and it was star reinsman Gary Hall junior’s sixth win in the big race.
“It all worked out well,” said Hall jnr. “He jumped away well (at his first run in a standing-start event), and once he led, I wasn’t concerned at all. He led, he settled, and that was it.
“I think that he is good enough to go all the way. He has improved so much from his Derby win I expect him to be a WA Pacing Cup candidate next summer.”
Skylou is by the American stallion Sweet Lou and is the ninth foal out of the In The Pocket mare Sky Beauty, who raced 44 times for seven wins, 15 placings and $58,665. He had three starts in New Zealand for two wins and a nose second, and his seven WA starts have produced five wins and a third placing, taking his career record to ten starts for seven wins, two placings and stakes of $185,027.
Skylou is a half-brother to Our Sky Major, who earned $825,538 from 19 wins and 21 placings from 72 starts. He won the group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle in March 2015, and his final seven Australian appearances were in Western Australia the following year when he won a race at Gloucester Park and was placed twice before continuing his career in America.
Im The Black Flash, the $3.90 second favourite on Friday night, will also be set for the Golden Nugget, as will other pacers from the powerful Hall stable, including Mister Smartee and Hes Never Been Beta, each of whom was successful at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Skylou ran the first quarter of the final mile in a leisurely 31.7sec. before he dashed over the final three 400m sections in 29.8sec., 27.9sec. and 28.2sec. to leave the 30m backmarker Ardens Horizon and the in-form Lucca (20m) facing almost impossible tasks.
Ardens Horizon ($26) fought on from eighth and last at the bell to finish fourth, while Lucca, a $14 chance, finished last after racing three wide for much of the final thousand metres.
Brickies Dream ($13) enjoyed a favourable trip in the one-out, one-back position before finishing solidly into third place.
Watts Up Sunshine is off to America
Experienced New South Wales-bred six-year-old Watts Up Sunshine bowed out as a winner at his final Australian start when he led and scored a narrow victory in the $21,000 Call Garrard’s Horse And Hound For All Your Equine Needs Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has been sold to the United States, providing he passes a vet test,” said trainer Michael Young after Gary Hall jnr had driven Watts Up Sunshine, the $1.10 favourite, to a half-head win over $13 chance Solesseo Matuca.
“There have been conditions for the sale. His owner Bradley Watts was happy to sell if he won tonight. There has been an agreement reached on the price, so it’s pretty much all done.
“Watts Up Sunshine will suit the American style of racing. He is a good frontrunner capable of rolling some big sectionals in front. Junior was a bit kind with him tonight.”
Watts Up Sunshine has thrived under Young’s care, with the gelding’s 31 WA starts producing five wins and eight placings, taking his career record to 90 starts for 22 wins, 25 placings and stakes of $270,887.
Watts is a prominent breeder and owner, and he certainly must have been delighted with the performance of his four-year-old trotter Watts Up Partytime, who revealed great speed to win a 1720m trial at Melton last Tuesday when he won by 48 metres from Kyvalley Michael, rating 1.57.8, when he covered the final 800m in 56.6sec. and the last 400m in 27.9sec.
Watts Up Sunshine is by American sire Sunshine Beach and is the fourth foal out of the Art Major mare Cheeky Cheeky, who raced five times for four placings before being retired.
Hall ends on a high note
Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr ended Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park on a high note when he drove Hes Never Been Beta to an effortless win in the final event, the 2130m Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace, giving him his fourth success, including the final three events.
Hes Never Been Beta was the $1.04 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, and he was not extended in rating 1.56.9 when he beat $51 outsider Little Bit Of Fun by four lengths. He sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.7sec. and 28.2sec.
Duty Bound, the $14 second favourite, beat out Hes Never Been Beta and led for the first 200m before Hall sent Hes Never Been Beta into the lead.
Hes Never Been Beta is a New Zealand-bred four-year-old who has done all his racing in Western Australia for trainer Gary Hall snr, and he now boasts a fine record of 18 starts for eight wins, five placings and $65,999.
The Hall stable had four four-year-olds in action on Friday night, with Skylou winning the Easter Cup and Im The Black Flash finishing second, and Mister Smartee and Hes Never Been Beta both winning easily.
“Hes Never Been Beta is not far behind our other four-year-olds, but he is definitely behind them,” said Hall jnr. “The ability is there, but the others, at this stage, are more genuine.”
Hes Never Been Beta is by American stallion Hes Watching and is the only foal out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Never Been Bettor.
Mighthavtime causes an upset
Handy mare Mighthavtime caused a minor upset when she was the $5.50 third favourite in the $23,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Australia and NZ Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and beat the pacemaker and $20 chance Fleur Du Marquis by a half-length, with the $1.75 favourite Turn the Page a half-head away in third place.
Mighthavtime has been a consistent performer for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, with her 22 WA starts producing five wins and nine placings after racing 22 times in New Zealand for four wins and six placings. She now has earned $113,465.
Deni Roberts chose to handle Turn The Page for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond ahead of stablemate Mighthavtime, following Turn The Page’s splendid first-up victory at Gloucester Park a fortnight earlier.
Dylan Egerton-Green was then engaged to drive Mighthavtime, who began from the No. 4 barrier, with Turn The Page at barrier five.
Kyle Harper was hellbent on setting the pace from the No. 2 barrier with Fleur Du Marquis, who had to withstand a spirited early challenge from $16 chance Rocknroll Sass. Mighthavtime settled down in fourth place and she gained the one-out and one-back position when Roberts dashed Turn The Page forward to move to the breeze when Fleur Du Marquis dawdled through the opening 400m section in 32.3sec.
Egerton-Green switched Mighthavtime three wide approaching the home turn, and the mare finished strongly to gain the upper hand in the final stages, with the final quarter taking 28.7sec.
“She was keen in the run, and I was able to ease off on the corner and get the job done,” said Egerton-Green.
Mighthavtime will not contest the $35,000 Race For Roses, a 2503m standing-start event, next Friday night, but Turn The Page will be aimed for this event.
“Mighthavtime is too revvy and won’t step in stands which are not her go,” said Roberts. “The stand will suit Turn the Page, who was a little bit on the lazy side tonight, which probably got her beaten. She has her mood swings, so, hopefully, she will turn up next week.”
The Miki Taker is learning to sprint
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo has always considered The Miki Taker to be a tough and determined pacer who lacked brilliance.
But with age the five-year-old The Miki Taker is developing into a strong sprinter at the end of his races. He revealed this asset when he was a $6.90 chance in the 2130m Garrard’s Online Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Miki Taker was beaten for early speed from barrier two and he raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, while the $1.50 favourite Hoppys Way was bowling along in front after a very slow lead time of 39.2sec.
De Campo eased The Miki Taker off the pegs 400m from home, and after going five wide on the home turn, the gelding sprinted strongly to get up and snatch victory by a nose from $26 chance Ima Fivestar General, who ran on from the one-out, one-back position to get his nose in front a couple of strides from the winning post. Hoppys Way was a head away in third place.
The final quarters were run in 27.9sec. and 28.5sec., with De Campo saying: “He has always been a tough and dour horse, but in two of his past three runs he has sprinted well.”
The Miki Taker, who won the group 1 Pearl Classic for two-year-olds in June 2021, has earned $201,107 from 12 wins and 12 placings from 33 starts. He is by Always B Miki and is the second foal out of Art Major mare Topless Beach Girl, who raced 21 times for one win, ten placings and $21,810.
Warwick praises All Is Well
“He is up there amongst the better four-year-olds in the State,” declared Byford trainer Katja Warwick after All Is Well won the $30,000 www.horseandhound.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
All Is Well, who was purchased by Warwick for $16,000 at the 2021 Perth APG yearling sale, boosted his earnings to $149,279 from 13 wins and 11 placings from 39 starts when he was the $1.60 favourite and set the pace and beat $34 chance Mister Montblanc by just under a length, rating 1.56.4 over the 2130m.
“At his previous start he was super impressive in finishing a close third to Never Ending in the group 3 Preux Chevalier Classic,” said Warwick.
All Is Well, driven by Chris Lewis, from the No. 1 barrier was beaten for pace at the start by the $3.60 second fancy Skylord on Friday night when that pacer got more than a half-length in front but was unable to cross to the lead.
“He is not the greatest out of the gate but is getting better,” said Warwick. Lewis agreed, saying: “I was a little concerned when he was beaten out, but he was able to hold up --- just. And he has done a good job to do that. He has gradually improved as a horse, and hopefully after a break he will show more improvement.”
All Is Well should perform strongly in feature events for four-year-olds this year, including the Golden Nugget in December.
First-up triumph for Dominus Factum
Outstanding Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo produced Dominus Factum in wonderful condition for his return to racing after an eleven-month absence in the 2130m Garrard’s, Service With Integrity Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred six-year-old was a $9.80 chance from the inside of the back line, and De Campo was quite content to race in fifth position, three back on the pegs while the speedy Lamandier ($9) was setting a brisk pace, with Rupert Of Lincoln ($9) in the breeze, Burghley Shard ($4.20) trailing the leader and Firerockfireroll ($6) in the one-out, one-back position.
Dominus Factum got off the inside 600m from home and he sustained a strong burst, out wide, to get up and win by a half-neck from the fast-finishing $51 outsider Machlani, rating 1.56.5, with final quarters of 28.6sec. and 29.7sec. The $2.70 favourite Post Game faded from sixth at the bell to finish tenth.
“Dominus Factum did a small ligament in his fetlock,” explained De Campo. “He needed only a month or two to get over the injury. But he’d had a lot of racing as a young horse and hadn’t had a really good spell. So, I elected to give him eight months off.
“He has great gate speed, and he has done a very good job, winning 17 races (plus 12 placings from 54 starts and earning $151,308).” His main win has been in the group 3 Chandon Classic in July 2022. He is by American Ideal and is the second foal out of Nikkis Delight, who raced 77 times for nine wins, 18 placings and $55,563.
Sky’s the limit for Mister Smartee
Legendary Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr and his son, star reinsman Gary Hall jnr, heaped praise on inexperienced three-year-old Mister Smartee after his brilliant victory in the 1730m Garrard’s Free Call Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has enormous ability and when the penny drops, he will be anything,” said Hall snr.
Hall jnr said: “Potentially, he will be one of our best horses if he ever sorts himself out.”
“He is so lazy that I had to chase the arm pretty hard tonight.”
Mister Smartee, the $1.10 favourite, began from barrier seven and raced three wide early before Hall sent him to the front after 420m. After opening quarters of 29.8sec. and 30.8sec. Mister Smartee dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 27.7sec. and coasted to victory by two lengths over $20 chance Galaxy Warrior. He rated a smart 1.55.7.
“He has huge toughness about him,” said Hall jnr. “He just keeps coming.”
Mister Smartee is sure to develop into one of the major players in the $200,000 Golden Nugget in December. He raced twice in New Zealand for a win and a head second placing as a two-year-old, and he has had six starts in WA for five wins.
Mister Smartee is by American sire Always B Miki and is the second foal out of the unraced mare Luna Dancer, whose dam Lento produced eight winners after retiring with a record of 64 starts for 15 wins, 15 placings and $272,110.
Kabochon aimed at Classic
Inexperienced gelding Kabochon gave a sample of his excellent ability when Ravenswood trainer Jocelyn Young drove him to a stylish victory in the $21,000 Garrard’s Your One Stop Shop Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred Kabochon now has had two starts for Young for two convincing wins at his first two starts as a three-year-old, and now Young is setting him for the $50,000 group 3 Caduceus Club Classic on April 26.
Owners Peter and Sue Gianni sent Kabochon to WA last year to be trained by Young’s younger sister Madeliene. “And when she went travelling, the horse was sent to me,” said Jocelyn Young.
“He is a nice horse and there is plenty more there. He is still learning.”
Kabochon, the $3.60 second favourite, got away well from barrier two and settled down in the breeze, with the polemarker and $3.40 favourite Off The Charts setting the pace. Grevis ($3.90) dashed forward to move to the breeze after about 500m, thus providing a perfect one-out, one-back trail for Kabochon.
Young bided her time before she sent Kabochon forward, three wide, 250m from home, after the third 400m section of the final mile was run in 28.2sec. Kabochon sprinted strongly and won in fine style by a length from Off The Charts, rating 1.58.4 over the 2130m, with a final quarter of 28.5sec.
“I was happy to take cover, one-out and one-back, because he was probably a run short tonight,” said Young. “At this stage he is better suited to sit up in his races. He was nice and relaxed tonight after he was quite keen when he won at Pinjarra three and a half weeks earlier.”
Kabochon, who has earned $21,104 from two wins and two placings from five starts, is by American sire Captaintreacherous and is the first foal out of the Roll With Joe mare Arts Treasure, who was retired with a splendid record of 29 starts for seven wins, 14 placings and $152,542. She won the group 1 Qbred Triad for two-year-old fillies at Albion Park in July 2017.
Arts Treasure is a half-sister to five winners, including Expensive Ego (57 starts for 25 wins, 13 placings and $992,307). Expensive Ego won the Chariots Of Fire in February 2021, was second to King Of Swing in the 2021 Miracle Mile and finished a head second to Boncel Benjamin in the 2021 Interdominion Championship final at Menangle.
