De Campo’s golden trifecta
Capel trainer Aiden De Campo enjoyed a remarkable highlight in a glittering career when he landed the treble in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And he will be aiming for a similar exceptional result when Menemsha, Grevis and Ideal Muscle line up in the $150,000 group 1 Golden Slipper next Friday week.
The 31-year-old De Campo drove with supreme confidence and skill to guide $5.70 chance Menemsha to victory by almost a length over $13 chance Grevis (Trent Wheeler) and $14 chance Ideal Muscle (Shannon Suvaljko). The trifecta dividend for a $1 unit was $142.80.
The only dark cloud over Friday night’s joyous celebration is that De Campo will be unable to drive Menemsha in the Golden Slipper. At midnight he began a 16-day suspension for causing interference in a race the previous Friday night.
De Campo was overjoyed at the result but admitted that everything in the race did not go to plan. “When I went back off the gate (from barrier five) looking for a hole, I missed two holes. So, it wasn’t my best drive early.
“I then had to work forward (three wide) to the breeze (with the polemarker and $1.70 favourite Waverider setting the pace),” said De Campo. “Menemsha wasn’t quite comfortable and got a bit keen in the middle stages. I was a little bit worried until the 400m when I saw that Waverider didn’t have much left and my bloke was going well.”
After a third quarter of 28sec. Menemsha finished strongly to hit the front 120m from the post and win comfortably, with a final 400m of 29sec. He rated 1.56.7 over the 2130m.
Grevis, who trailed Waverider all the way, finished with a spirited burst to be second, with Ideal Muscle finishing solidly, out four wide, after racing three back on the pegs. Cork Can Run ($41) ran on from seventh at the bell to finish fourth, just ahead of the wilting Waverider.
Menemsha, a colt by American stallion Sunshine Beach who purchased for $47,500 at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, has now earned $179,711 from three wins and four placings from ten starts. He is the fifth foal out of Falcons Gem, who was retired after finishing third at one of her three starts at Pinjarra.
Grevis, a colt by Lazarus and bought for $30,000 as a yearling, has also excelled under De Campo’s tuition, having raced nine times for two wins and seven placings for stakes of $88,599.
As a trainer De Campo has prepared five group 1 winners as well as eight wins in group 2 events and four in group 3 features. As a driver he has chalked up ten group 1 victories.
Maddison Brown keeps her cool
Richly talented driver Maddison Brown had tactical thoughts churning in her mind for the three days before driving Xceptional Arma in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But she remained composed and kept her cool to produce a faultless drive to land the $5.50 third favourite a brilliant winner of the 2130m group 1 feature event.
Xceptional Arma drew barrier No. 10, the inside of the back line, and Brown tossed over in her mind whether she would remain on the pegs and wait for an opportunity late in the race to ease into the clear, or to angle off the inside soon after the start to ensure the filly would not be hopelessly hemmed in at the business end of proceedings.
“I spoke to Dad (trainer Colin Brown), and he advised me to stay on the pegs,” she said. “But Xceptional Arma got a bit keen in the warm-up, which she hadn’t done before. So, I thought I didn’t want to be baled up on the rail if she was overracing.
“I considered coming off (the pegs) at the start before I decided against it. She was a touch keen, but not overly keen. I was looking to get off the pegs at the bell, but she was a bit keener, and I would’ve had to bring her back a bit to get off before the three-wide train came.
“I didn’t get off at the bell before things worked out perfectly when Bazaar Package on my outside was battling to keep up and dropped off (with about 600m to travel). I released the pull-downs at the top of the straight, but I probably didn’t have to.”
Xceptional Arma was fifth at the 300m and fourth on the turn before she burst to the front and coasted to a stylish victory, beating $41 outsider I Cross My Heart by two lengths, with the pacemaker and $2.60 favourite Miss Hepburn a gallant third, 2m farther back.
Water Lou, the $5 second fancy, finished sixth. She started from the outside of the back line and settled down in eighth position before Shannon Suvaljko sent her forward, three wide, to move to the breeze after a lap. She got on terms with Miss Hepburn 250m from home before wilting. The final quarters were run in 28.4sec. and 29.3sec. and the winner rated 1.56.8.
Grand Couteau ($18) impressed in finishing fourth after receiving a punctured sulky tyre in the middle stages and then running home, five wide, from eleventh at the bell.
Xceptional Arma gave her driver her second group 1 success, following her win with Longreach Bay in the Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings in June 2020. Friday night’s victory also gave the 27-year-old Brown her 274TH driving success.
Xceptional Arma is by American Ideal and is the fourth foal out of former star juvenile Arma Xpress, who amassed $279,890 in stakes from twelve wins and one placing from 18 starts.
Xceptional Arma, bred and owned by Liam O’Connor and Jim Currie, has had eleven starts for six wins, three placings and $208,054. Her full-sister American Arma won at five of her six starts as a two-year-old and now has raced 44 times for eleven wins, 14 placings and $177,785.
Friday night’s victory gave Xceptional Arma’s owners and trainer Colin Brown a welcome and worthwhile reward after they had shared the disappointment of the filly travelling to Sydney to contest the $400,000 APG Gold Bullion final at Menangle in late April this year when she broke early and then met interference soon after that and finished eighth behind Eye Believe.
Lusaka resumes in style
Lightly-raced colt Lusaka reappeared after an absence of almost four months when Deni Roberts drove him to an easy all-the-way win in the 1730m Boookings@Allwoodstud.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Produced in splendid condition by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, Lusaka was the $1.20 favourite from barrier No. 1, and he was not extended in beating the $8 second fancy Cheer The Major by a length, rating 1.57.4 after final quarters of 28.8sec. and 27.9sec.
“Obviously we’re heading towards the Derby with him,” said Greg Bond. “He is working good at home, and tonight he had a good run in front. He did it pretty comfortably which was to be expected.
“Hopefully, he will tighten up a little bit and we’ll have him firing come Derby time. He is right up there with our other Derby hopes, Fess Up and Cotton On.”
Lusaka, a winner at his only New Zealand start, at Addington in July 2022, has impressed in WA where his 11 starts have resulted in eight wins and two placings. He gave a sample of his class 12 months ago when he finished third behind Never Ending and Skylord in the Golden Slipper.
Lusaka is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the fourth foal out of Bettors Delight mare Batini, who is a half-sister to Hasani, who raced 22 times for the Bond stable for eight wins and eight placings.
“Our three Derby hopes will not disgrace themselves, but I think that we will all be chasing Never Ending,” said Bond.
The $200,000 WA Derby will be run over 2536m on November 3.
Acharne Girl is a Slick Bird
Champion trainer Gary Hall snr enjoyed wonderful success earlier this century with the Bettors Delight pacer Slick Bird, who was retired after having 34 starts for ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $89,999.
A highlight of Slick Bird’s career was her third placing behind Artemis Belle in the WA Oaks in May 2011, and her fourth foal Acharne Girl followed in her dam’s footsteps by finishing third behind Taking The Miki in the WA Oaks last October.
Acharne Girl has developed into a smart four-year-old this year and her victory in the $23,000 Allwood Stud For All Your Breeding Requirements Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night boosted her earnings to $118,062 from eight wins and five placings from 21 starts.
She is by Hall’s former outstanding pacer Alta Christiano and is a full-sister to While They Prey (39 starts for 16 wins, 12 placings and $170,788) and Faster Than Dad (39 starts for 12 wins, nine placings and $111,816). Acharne Girl’s half-brother Slick Artist (by Art Major) was retired with earnings of $370,303 from 29 wins and 50 placings from 143 starts.
Acharne Girl was the $1.10 favourite from barrier No. 5 on Friday night, and Gary Hall jnr did not bustle her early as he quickly angled her in to enjoy the ideal one-out and one-back passage while the polemarker and $14 second fancy Paroquet set the pace from Stormyskyes in the breeze and Shehadi enjoying the trail.
A slow lead time of 40sec. was followed by modest opening quarters of 31.4sec. and 29.7sec. before the final 400m sections whizzed by in 28.5sec. and 28sec.
Hall switched Acharne Girl three wide 300m from home and the mare finished strongly to get up and win by a head from the fast-finishing $21 chance Beyond The Sea.
This victory gave the Hall father and son combination its fourth success on the night, following earlier wins with Captain Bligh, Prince Of Pleasure and Master Publisher.
Refreshed Rascal returns radiant
Byford trainer Katja Warwick wasn’t happy with Rascal’s unplaced efforts at his three starts in his winter campaign, so she decided to give the five-year-old some time off.
And that has proved highly successful, with Rascal reappearing after a five-week absence with a strong frontrunning display to win the 2130m Fly Like An Eagle Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I wasn’t happy with his runs last time in and I decided to freshen him up a bit,” said Mrs Warwick.
Rascal began from the No. 2 barrier and Shannon Suvaljko dashed the $4.10 second fancy to the front after resisting a challenge for the early lead from $10 chance Regal Cheval, who led by a half-length but was unable to cross to the front.
Rascal sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28sec. and 28.7sec. and won by a neck from $4.80 chance Musztang, who fought on doggedly after racing without cover.
“The freshen-up has worked well, and Rascal did have a favourable draw, which makes a difference,” said Mrs Warwick. “He is his own worst enemy. If he leads, he tends to behave himself really well and is hard to run down. If he doesn’t draw to lead, he is not as versatile.”
Rascal, who is by American sire Captaintreacherous, is raced by Mrs Warwick and Tom Erceg and has had 38 starts for 12 wins, ten placings and $114,849 in prizemoney.
Soho Dow Jones appreciates drop in class
Soho Dow Jones, a noted frontrunner, was seen in a different role in the 1730m Contact@Allwoodstud.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was driven with a sit by Mitch Miller and proved too strong for his seven rivals.
The American Ideal four-year-old, trained by Kim Prentice, appreciated a considerable drop in class and represented excellent value as the $4.30 second fancy, with newcomer Ira Poole the $1.65 favourite at his first appearance in Western Australia.
Diamondsonthebeach ($20) began with his customary brilliance and raced away to a big early lead, leaving Soho Dow Jones in the breeze. But Miller quickly was able to slot the gelding across to the inside to enjoy a comfortable passage three back on the pegs.
This left Ira Poole racing without cover, and at the bell Miller eased Soho Dow Jones off the pegs to follow Ira Poole, who eventually took a narrow lead on the home turn. But Soho Sow Jones carried too many guns and he burst to the front in the closing stages to beat Duty Bound ($4.80) and Ira Poole, rating a smart 1.55.2.
“I was disappointed with his run last week (when fifth behind Watts Up Sunshine),” said Miller. “He is a bit of a pretender. When he gets it all on his own terms, he looks pretty good, but when he doesn’t, he’s not so good.”
Soho Dow Jones, a winner of four races in Victoria, now has raced 24 times in WA for eight wins and six placings, taking his career record to 34 starts for 12 wins, nine placings and $114,461. He is out of the Art Major mare Soho New York, who had 27 starts for ten wins, four placings and $65,710.
Soho New York is out of Before Night Falls, who earned $169,279 from 12 wins and eight placings from 38 starts, with her career highlight being her victory in the $100,000 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in June 2008.
Master Publisher notches a hat-trick
Master Publisher completed a hat-trick of wins when he unwound a powerful finishing burst to beat Cordero and Rockaball in the 2536m Allwood Stud Supporting WA Breeders Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Master Publisher, the $2.40 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of six, began speedily and Gary Hall jnr was able to manoeuvre the New Zealand-bred six-year-old across to the pegs to trail the fast-starting $11 chance Jaspervellabeach.
Hall restrained Master Publisher off the inside with about 550m to travel in a bid not to be hemmed in by the tiring pacemaker and kept in a pocket by the breeze horse Cordero. He then eased the gelding off the pegs, forcing Carrera Mach three wide, before surging to the front 110m from the post to score convincingly from the $2.50 second fancy Cordero, rating 1.59.8, with final quarters of 28.6sec. and 28sec.
Master Publisher, trained by Gary Hall snr, had three unplaced runs in New Zealand early in 2019 before arriving in WA where her now has had 52 starts for 14 wins and 13 placings.
Alcopony survives knee injury
Henley Brook trainer Kevin Keys has nursed Alcopony back to full health after the four-year-old was laid low by a damaged knee, and the WA-bred gelding has returned to racing in grand style.
Alcopony was the $1.60 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 1730m Ultimate Sniper Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gave a bold frontrunning display to beat Mea Culpa ($9) and Watts Up Sunshine ($3.80).
Driven by Aiden de Campo, Alcopony kept his rivals honest by reeling off 400m sections of 29.1sec., 28.5sec., 27.9sec. and 28.7sec. He rated a smart 1.53.1 and improved his record to 46 starts for 11 wins, 16 placings and $138,401 in prizemoney.
Alcopony was able to fend off his rivals despite his ear plugs failing to release.
Mea Culpa, who worked hard in the breeze after failing in a strong bid for the early lead, and Watts Up Sunshine, who trailed the pacemaker and did not get clear until the final 200m before fighting on strongly, will pay to follow.
Alcopony’s win followed placings behind Mea Culpa and Youre So Fine at his first two appearances after a three-month absence.
“It was the morning after Alcopony had finished a close second to Prince Of Pleasure in May that he was kicked on his offside knee by another horse in the paddock,” said Keys.
“X-rays revealed no fractures, but an infection set in, and that took a while to be cured. I had to treat the knee every day, and he also exercised on the treadmill every day.”
Three of Alcopony’s past four wins have been over 1730m, and he has led at seven of his eleven starts. However, Keys said that Alcopony was not just a 1700m horse or does not have to lead in his races.
“Leading is not his cup of tea,” said Keys. “But having the No. 1 barrier tonight was a bonus. I reckon the better the opposition, the better he will go. Sitting is his better style of racing, and we will definitely be looking at the big feature races for four-year-olds later this year.”
Captain Bligh turns the corner
Captain Bligh, who managed two second placings from nine starts in New Zealand, has turned the corner since arriving in Western Australia where he has been untroubled to win at his first three starts --- by a combined margin of 67 metres.
The son of American stallion Captaintreacherous was the $1.30 favourite from barrier three in the 2130m Allwood Stud Devoted To Breeding Excellence Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was driven confidently by Gary Hall jnr to stroll to the front after 200m and then set the pace and win by just under three lengths from $16 chance Crowd Control.
Captain Bligh dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.9sec. and 28.3sec. and rated 1.56.2. This followed his 15-length win over 2185m at Pinjarra and his five-length victory over 2130m at Gloucester Park three days before his win on Friday night.
“He is definitely a WA Derby horse,” said trainer Gary Hall snr, who is also preparing Mister Smartee, Im The Black Flash and Skylou for the $200,000 WA Derby on November 3.
“All three should perform well in the Derby, but Never Ending is something else, and no horse can beat him.”
Captain Bligh, bred and owned by Syd and Shona Brown, is out of the Washington VC mare Askmenow, who raced 49 times for ten wins, 12 placings and $112,344. She won once in Victoria and once in New South Wales before the Browns sent her to WA to be prepared by Hall snr.
Askmenow’s eight wins in WA included two preludes of the WA Oaks before she finished fourth behind Frith in the final in May 2013. Captain Bligh’s four-year-old full-sister is Scarlet Ribbon, who had four starts for the Hall stable last year for four wins before breaking down.
Hall snr is pleased with Captain Bligh’s progress, saying: “He was a bit of a handful early, but is getting better and better, and by the time the Derby comes he should be really firing.”
Catching the eye in Friday night’s race was another New Zealand-bred pacer Frisky Styx, who flooded home from eighth at the bell to finish third at his fourth race start --- following wins at both of his New Zealand appearances and third at Northam at his Australian debut.
Prince Of Pleasure is on the way up
New Zealand-bred pacer Prince Of Pleasure will be a major player in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on November 10, according to Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr.
Prince Of Pleasure maintained his excellent form when he began speedily from the No. 4 barrier, set the pace and dashed home over the final 800 metres in 55.8sec. to win the $35,000 Howard Porter Memorial over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I was disappointed when he failed to get a start in the Pacing Cup last January,” said Hall. “In hindsight, he probably wasn’t ready for it. But he is now. He has a chance in any race he’s in, and he has that much speed that it is hard to put pressure on him.
“He looks a bit disappointing at times when he stops a bit, when he’s out wide. In a fast run Cup and racing three back on the pegs he will finish really well.
“Prince Of Pleasure bowed his tendon three times, but since I’ve brought him back, he has gone from strength to strength.” He looks set to improve considerably on his record of 35 starts for 15 wins, eight placings and stakes of $217,727.
Prince Of Pleasure was the $3.30 second favourite behind the veteran Galactic Star, who was well supported and started at $2.90, with most punters predicting he would set the pace from the prized No. 1 barrier and prove hard to beat. But he was unable to hold out Prince Of Pleasure and Deni Roberts had to be content to trail the pacemaker.
Galactic Star fought on gamely to finish second, 2m behind the winner, with the Hall-trained Wildwest finishing solidly to be third after racing in fifth position, three back on the pegs.
The Hall stable’s other two runners were unplaced but far from disgraced. Diego, winner of the WA Pacing Cup last January when he beat Jumpingjackmac, was last on the home turn and finished sixth in the field of eight, while Jumpingjackmac finished in fifth place.
Jumpingjackmac was last at the bell, and he ran home strongly, with Hall snr declaring that his was the best performance in the race.
