The delighted connections of Im Themightyquinn surround trainer Gary Hall Snr and driver Gary Hall Jnr
Gary Hall even surprised himself.
The training great dared to dream and pushed the boundaries to the extreme as a horseman with his star pacer Im Themightquinn in tonight's Gr.1 $250,000 Stallion Station Fremantle at Gloucester Park.
Hall knew he facing a massive battle to have Im Themightyquinn readied for the grueling 2902m staying test off a very limited preparation.
Most trainers wouldn't go there, Hall did.
Hall had faith in his own ability and most of all, his horse.
Im Themightquinn resumed from a Sydney Chariots of Fire campaign and was taken to Northam first up where he tasted defeat over a sprint scamper in fast time but Hall remained constant in his focus for his much bigger target in the coming weeks.
Fast forward to the Fremantle Cup, Hall was adamant that his ace pupil was fit enough to claim the prestigious prize.
As back-up, Hall had numbers on his side with the stable sending out a record five of the twelve starters in the race.
As the race unfolded, the majority of the Hall trained runners all maintained forward positions with Im Themightyquinn finding the lead from his 10m handicap at the mile marker whilst boom Victorian and race favourite Bonavista Bay, met early interference before being made to race without cover over the concluding stages.
Im Themightyquinn was perfectly rated in the lead by Gary Hall Jnr with quarters posted in 32.3 and 30 seconds for the first half of the last mile.
Entering the back straight for the final time, Im Themightyquinn had his rivals chasing whilst he kicked away with a strong third quarter left behind in 28.4 seconds.
At the finish with his condition starting to wane, Im Themightyquinn was able to hold off his stablemates Alzona and Dartmoor thus providing Hall with a first three finish.
Im Themightyquinn recorded a mile rate of 2.01.2 whilst his last quarter stopped the clock at 28.4 seconds.
"That was a super effort, second up in a tough race like that takes some kind of performance" an excited Hall stated.
"All credit goes to the horse, he is very special and thoroughly deserved a big one like that....it's great for the horse" Hall added.
The victory gave the Hall stable its third success in the event after taking it out in 2002 and 2004 with their former champion pacer The Falcon Strike.
"This race is so hard to win and we've been so close in recent years but this victory with this horse is extra special tonight" Hall said.
"We all had the belief in the horse but it's fair to say it wasn't an ideal preparation, it was a gutsy effort and a very clever drive from Jnr" Hall added.
Race favourite and last start Golden Nugget winner Bonavista Bay finished officially sixth.
Hall will now focus on the $125,000 Find 30 Australian Pacing Championship on January 8 before the $400,000 Find 30 WA Cup on January 22 at Gloucester Park next with Im Themightyquinn.
