Written by Robbie Dewar.

It was once said “Any win is a special win.”

How true that saying is. If you need any proof just ask Banjup trainer Patricia McKenna.

Last Tuesday Patricia entered her pacer Houdini Mac in a C0 race for horses that had not won a race for a stake in excess of $3,000 in the previous 12 months.

Between the nine runners that took part they had started 305 times for just two wins between them.

Houdini Mac himself had started 55 times without tasting the sweet nectar of success.

That all changed on Tuesday and a special moment occurred.

Driver Murray Lindau brought the five-year-old from last at the bell with a well timed run to win by five metres, mile rating 2.3.2 for the 2130m.

As he crossed the line Lindau raised his arm slightly in acknowledgement and celebration of the win.

It was clearly an emotional win win for both Patricia McKenna and Murray Lindau.

“Mate you’ve got no idea the problems we’ve had with this horse.”

“He is a knee knocker and we’ve had problems with his feet. Tonight’s win means so much for Pat,” Lindau said.

For Pat McKenna it was her first winner since Houdini Mac’s full brother Bonny Mac won at Gloucester Park on Anzac Day 2009.

As the interview was ending Pat, with tears welling up in her eyes, turned to Murray and said

“We’ve finally won Murray.”

“Yes we did” was the reply.

That win was indeed special.

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FRIDAY night saw the conclusion of the 2009-2010 Gloucester Park harness racing season.

Has The Answers continued on like he had for just about every week prior when he was having his 47^th start for the season and won his 24^th race for the 12 months,  taking out the $20,500 Spring Stakes (2130m).

In typical fashion, the seven-year-old started from barrier 9 and streaked across the front of the field to lead after 150 metres.

Once in front driver Chris Lewis was able to steady Has The Answers before allowing him his head in the final lap, where he ran his last 800m in 55.8 secs and his last 400m in 27.6secs to win by 11.5m.

After the race trainer Tony Svilicich said that he will continue to race the son of Legacy Of Power.

“He is a very fit horse so why not?” Svilicich said.

In addition to his 24 wins Has The Answers has ran 14 placings and earned $451,422 for the season, and in the process took his career stake earnings to past the $715,000 mark.

In total, Has The Answers has won nine feature races during the season including the $125,000 Australian Pacing Championship in January,

Earlier in the night Has The Answers’ full sister Key Question put up a massive performance to win theD’Orsogna 3YO Fillies Pace(1730 m).

Three wide throughout, Key Question hit the front 250 metres out and fought on strongly in the straight to win by two metres to record her fourth career win.

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FRIDAY night was a night of multiple wins.

Driver Colin Brown drove a winning treble behind Key Question, Solomon Maguire and Pablito of whom trainer Greg Bond trained Solomon Maguire and Pablito.

As already mentioned Tony Svilicich trained Has The Answers and Key Question to wins.

Chris Lewis was drove a double behind Artorius and Has The Answers.

Ryan Bell bookended the meeting training Trojan Bromac to win the opening event, the The West Australian 2yo Pace(2130m), and Greyhawk to win the final event, the Veolia Industrial Waste Solutions Young Drivers Pace, which in the process gave driver Aiden De Campo his first city class success in the sulky.

Trojan Bromac was plunged on SuperTab from $10.30 into $3.20 before winning by a neck from the $3.00 favourite Lord Chelsea.

“Driver Matty White was saying that he won easy in the end.”

“I’ll have to talk to the owners but there is a possibility that he will have a start as an early three-year-old before going to the paddock with the WA Derby in April in mind,” Bell said.

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TRAINER Debbie Padberg said that she targeted Friday nights Veolia Environmental Services 3YO pace (2130m) with Celtic Crusader, a that ploy worked.

Friday night’s race was for three-year-olds that had not won a metropolitan class race during the season.

A winner of 10 races from 42 starts, Celtic Crusader was ideally placed for a forward showing but punters didn’t agree as the son of Kay Dee Hanover started at $19.20 on the tote.

Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, Celtic Crusader was three wide for the first 550m before getting to sit outside the leader Nomore Mr Niceguy.

Going to the front at the top of the straight Celtic Crusader was seriously challenged by Erris Lad soon after turning for home but he fought on strongly to win by a half length.

“We kept him fresh for tonight,” Debbie said.

“He’s honest, he tries but he’s not brilliant, I don’t think he’s a Golden Nugget horse.”

“In the new season he’ll be a C4, so we’ll just run him through the classes,” Debbie continued.

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It was a big week for Byford horseman Shannon Suvaljko.

On Friday night he drove he’s 150^th winner for the season statewide when successfull behind Celtic Crusader.

After Celtic Crusader won Suvaljko revealed that not only has the 2009-2010 season been his first 150^th win season but also the first time he has driven 100 winners in a season since he started driving 20 years ago.

Earlier in the week Suvaljko trained and drove a winning double at the Gloucester Parl midweek meeting when Robbery won a 2096m stand and former Victorian pacer Black Pontiac led throughout to win over 2130m at his  first WA start as a $3.30 second favourite.

On Monday Suvaljko guided Jay Cee Ess to triumph in a 2100m stand at Pinjarra.

It was Jay Cee Ess’s fifth win in succession since having four month spell.

On Saturday night Suvaljko was again in the cart when Jay Cee Ess’s stablemate Jumbo Operator won over 2100 metres at Bunbury.

Trainer Ron Huston is targeting the Kalgoorlie carnival with Jumbo Operator, who became a $183,000 earner after Saturday nights win

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FRIDAY night signalled the end of the 2009-2010 metropolitan harness racing season.

Gary Hall (jnr) took out the leading drivers title with 139 wins, eight ahead of Chris Lewis.

Gary’s father Gary Hall (snr) won the metropolitan drivers title with 108 winners and as expected Has The Answers has romped away with the Horse Of The Year award.

Statewide with two meetings remaining of the season at Pinjarra and Northam at the time of writing Chris Lewis has a commanding lead in the Leading Drivers Award with 209 winners, it will be the fourth time Lewis has topped 200 winners in a season and will give him his 14^th State Premiership .

Gary Hall (snr) has a 14 win leading lead going into Monday’s Pinjarra meeting.

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Morgan Valance broke a 27 run losing streak when defeating Jett Dee by a nose in 2096m.

For trainer Amanda Penno it was her first win since Tyler Durden has triumphed at Northam on May 18.

Morgan Valance last won at a Gloucester Park midweek meeting on May 31 2008.

BOTRA is lucky enough to sit on the Race Programming Committee where clubs, BOTRA and WAHROA are able to give their opinions on race programs and suggest changes if they are needed.

From now BOTRA would like to get your opinion, as an industry participant, on these race programs.

So please have a look at the draft programs for November and December and email us back any suggestions you have to botrot@westnet.com.au and we will take them on board.

The meeting to discuss the November and December programs will be held on Wednesday the 8th of September so please make sure you email us your thoughts a few days before that.

You can view the draft race programs for November and December 2010 here.

Pedigrees are now available online for the 2010 National Blue Ribbon Broodmare Sale catalogue. The catalogue for the Sunday, September 19 harness racing sale — to be held at Alabar Bloodstock, Echuca — features 101 horses, including 74 broodmares and 24 yearlings.

This year’s sale features large drafts from the estate of the late Peter Provis and Mick Lombardo’s Lombo Standardbreds.

Visit the website www.graemeboard.com to view the pedigrees or order a catalogue or phone Peter Dow 0412 195 986, Graeme Board (02) 6844 8355 or Alabar Bloodstock (03) 5859 2201.

Courtesy of Peter Wharton.

Written by Robbie Dewar.

THERE was authority about Im Themightyquinn’s win in Friday nights $35,000 DBC Tender Ridge Beef August Cup (2536 metres) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

There was arrogance about the win.

There was a statement made loud and clear – “I am the best!”

Friday night’s feature race cast aside any vestige of doubt as to who the best horse in the state is.

Beaten out of the mobile by Has The Answers, Im Themightyquinn was able to gain the one out, one back spot as Has The Answers strolled through the first 400 metre sectional in 31.2 secs.

Coming into the home straight to get the bell driver Gary hall (jnr) made a three wide move and went up to sit outside Has The Answers, even so he was still two and a half lengths off the Tony Svilicich star as they past the winning post to get the bell.

It’s problematical whether or not it was the winning move, but it certainly aided the cause when Hall (jnr) was able to duck Im Themightyquinn onto Has The Answers coat tails with 450 metres to travel.

Pulling out with 250 metres left Im Themightyquinn asserted his superiority to win convincingly by three quarters of a length.

The mile rate of 1.58.3 was two seconds outside of Washakie’s state record, but Im Themightyquinn was privately timed to run his last 800 metres in a sensational 54.7 secs.

After the race Hall (snr) indicated that Im Themightyquinn would have at least one possibly two more starts in WA before going to Sydney to contest the Miracle Mile.

As for the race itself, Hall did say he had some worrying moments.

“In running with the way the pace was I was worried. I said to part owner Glen Moore at the time that he’ll have to run a sub 55 second last half to win and that’s what he has done,” Hall (snr).

For Mark Congerton and Henry McManus it was a case of lightning striking twice.

Both owners have a share in Im Themightyquinn and were involved in the ownership of the 2003 Inter Dominion winner Baltic Eagle.

“Tonight he passed Baltic Eagles stake earning marks, both horses have won nearly three quarters of a million dollars, incredible really that we could be involved in the ownership of two great horses as these,” Congerton said.

Gary Hall (jnr) as a mark of respect to his good friend and stable foreman Michael Brennan wore an armband to signify five years to the day of the death of Michael’s father Mickey.

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ON a night of highlights Artemis Belle further emphasised her standing as the state’s best filly when she took out the XXXX Gold 2YO-Fillies Pace (1730 metres).

Starting from the outside of the front line Artemis Belle was taken back to last, before Cortopassi took the daughter of Lovera three wide after 550 metres and was soon sitting outside the leader Forza Di Volonta.

Surging to the front 250 metres from home, Artemis Belle strolled away to record an effortless four and a half length win.

Friday night’s success was her sixth from eight career starts which has included two placings and took her stake earnings including bonuses to just under $134,000.

After the race Cortopassi lamented that there weren’t any three-year-old fillies races early in the new season which starts on September 1.

“We’ve got to make hay while the sun shines ,” Cortopassi said by way of explanation.

“She’s a real racehorse. She’ll now go and have six weeks in the paddock where I anticipate she should come back as good as ever if not better.”

“Every time I’ve given her a little let up she has improved. Her aim when she comes back will be the WA Oaks,” Cortopassi said.

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STEPHEN Reed’s decision to target career penalty stands with The Jamaican is paying off in droves.

On Friday night Reed took a little diversion when The Jamaican started in the DBC Ever Tender Beef Conditioned Pace (2503 metres).

Starting off a 10 metre handicap, The Jamaican settled in the back half of the field before making a three wide move with 1000 metres to travel. Hitting the front soon after turning for home, The Jamaican went onto win by just over a length.

It was his 11^th start for Reed (all in stands) and those starts have netted five wins and four placings.

“I’ll go to Bunbury next Saturday with him and start him in C0 stand, after tonight he’ll probably get 70 metres,” Reed said.

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VETRAN trainer Ken White has always shown confidence with his horses and Friday night was no exception.

Coming off a second row draw, Grinjaro settled midfield in the moving line before going three wide from the 1200 metre point. Hitting the front 150 metres out, the son of At Melrose Place went onto win by five metres.

“He had worked tremendously leading up to the race,” White said.

“I thought he would win, I’m naturally tickled pink with the win.”

“We’ve got no big plans for him, we’ll just take it casual,” White continued.

Punters agreed with White’s pre race confidence by backing him in from $2.90 into $1.80 on SuperTab.

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For the second time in four starts Sheer Dreams showed the value of drawing barrier 1 by winning the DBC Valley Spring Lamb Pace (2536 metres) on Friday night.

When she drew barrier 1 previously Sheer Dreams sat on the back of the leader before getting clear soon after turning for home and sprinted quickly to win.

Friday night’s win was a carbon copy.

Driver Chris Brew had no hesitation in taking a trail behind the leader Mach Ruler before getting clear in the home straight and going on to win by a half length.

In between her two Gloucester Park victories Sheer Dreams came of 60 metres to win at Kellerberrin.

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PEEL horseman Chris Brew is starting to be noticed by trainers for his abilities.

Aiden Warwick has known it for a while and the duo have set up a training partnership together and bore fruit via the deeds of the likes of The Feather Foot, Roman Trickster, Scruncher and Victreos to just name a few.

Pinjarra trainer Brad Groves has trained Nomore Mr Niceguy to wins at Bunbury and Gloucester Park – both times driven by Chris Brew.

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SPEAKING Of horseman starting to make a name for themselves, Robbie Williams is certainly doing that via his deeds in and out of the cart.

Two weeks ago Williams won the Howard Porter Memorial behind the Chris King trained Flamin Tact and out of the cart he has trained Western Jade to two successive wins.

Last Mondays Gloucester Park midweek meeting saw Western Jade get onto the back of the leader Dekker Diamond before getting clear at the top of the straight and going onto win by a length, at her previous start Western Jade won in similar circumstances when defeating Smile With Me by a half length.

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SATURDAY nights Gloucester Park career penalty meeting saw a couple of horses break long losing droughts when successfull.

The Tommy Sheehy trained and driven squaregaiter Melpark Sunset broke an 11 run losing streak when winning a 2503 metre trotter stand.

At the same meeting Irish ONeill won his first race since winning at Narrogin on Australia Day some 13 starts previous.

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THIS coming Friday night will indeed by a sad night for West  Australian harness racing when starter Colin Campbell will start a race for the last time.

Come October it will 34 years of starting races for Campbell.

In a interview on “Coffee And The Formguide” on Saturday morning, Campbell said there were only two tracks where he never started a race and they were Albany and Bridgetown.

“It’s the people I will miss most. I’m the luckiest bloke in the world to have had the job that I have had,” Campbell concluded.

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A decision has been made to extend the trial period of the earlier start times for Gloucester Park Friday night meetings until at least October 31.

Three months ago a trial started where the Friday night meeting was brought forward to start at 5.20pm instead of 5.50pm and it has proved to be an outstanding success.

For years West Australian breeders have been asking for a breeding incentive scheme, well now they have one!

WABIS (or Western Australian Breeding Incentive Scheme) was launched on Golden Slipper night at Gloucester Park and promises to be a great boon for West Australian breeders.

The scheme is open to any foals born and branded in WA, starting the foals born in 2008/9.

The cost is $500 (plus GST) and delivers the following bonus payment to breeders:

The nominated horse is eligible to win bonuses as a 2 & 3yo.

Nominations for Series 1 close on the 30^th of September. For more information please contact RWWA or a WABIS brochure and nomination form can be downloaded below.

WABIS Brochure

WABIS Nomination Form

The next stage of a United Industry Body is upon us, that is industry consultation through forums.

These forums are designed for you, the industry participants, to put your opinions forward.

We have received much positive feedback in regards to a United Industry Body and believe it will be a positive for the industry, but we want to see you at the forums.

The dates and times for the forums are as follows:

Byford Trotting Training Complex

Sunday 15^th August 2010 (2pm To 4pm)

Wanneroo Harness Racing Club

Wednesday 18^TH August 2010 (7pm To 9pm)

Bunbury Trotting Club

Sunday 22^nd August 2010 (7.30pm To 9.30pm)

Narrogin Harness Racing Club

Sunday 29^th August 2010 (2pm To 4pm)

Northam Harness Racing Club

Sunday 12^th September 2010 (2pm To 4pm)

Light Refreshments will be available after each Forum.

Please make an effort to come along and tell us how you want to be represented.

Further reading on what has happened thus far can be found here.

Written by Robbie Dewar.

DEVOTEES of standing start racing would have certainly been in their element during last Thursdays Gloucester Park meeting , last Friday nights Fremantle Harness Racing Clubs Marathon Handicap meeting and Saturdays meeting at Gloucester Park.

On Thursday night The Jamaican overcame a 60 metre handicap when winning over 2503 metres then in the Austnet Real Estate Marathon Handicap (3309 metres) we saw Im Themightyquinn overcome an 80 metre backmark to defeat fellow 80 metre backmarker Has The Answers by a half length.

On Saturday night Truckers Ruffnut came off a 60 metre handicap when winning over 2503 metres, four races earlier the Bob Fyfe squaregaiter Keepyaguardup triumphed off a 40 metre handicap also over 2503 metres

In a brilliant drive by Mark Reed, The Jamaican settled at the rear of the field before being taken three wide with 1200 metres to travel.

Going to the breeze with 850 metres to travel The Jamaican joined the leader Maguinness at the top of the home straight and the duo engaged in a battle to the line, before The Jamaican prevailed by a neck.

Surprisingly The Jamaican, who had been in the care of Mike Reed before joining his son’s Stephens  Bunbury stable, had not had a standing start race prior to joining Stephen’s care.

In eight starts since joining Stephens stable all have been in stands which has resulted in three wins three seconds and a third, including two wins from backmarks of 50 metres.

“I got him in February and he got tangled up in a fence at home and had to have some time off.”

“I qualified him from a stand and decided to target the career penalty stands.”

“He is a M4 class pacer and I thought he was better off coming off backmarks in career penalty races than coming to Perth on a Friday night and have to tackle the likes of Has The Answers,” Reed said.

The Jamaican was due to come off a 60 metre handicap in a 2100 metre handicap at Kellerberrin after this column was written.

On Friday night Im Themightyquinn stepped safely off his 80 metre handicap and was still 60 metres of the leader Undertheinfluence after a lap.

With Has The Answers stalking his every move the race developed into a battle of tactics.

Spirit Of Shard made the first significant move of the race 850 metres from home and Hall (jnr) took off with Im Themightyquinn, with Has The Answers right on his tail. With 500 metres to go Im Themightyquinn unleashed four and five wide around the field leaving Has The Answers three lengths astern.

Swamping his rivals, Im Themightyquinn hit the front soon after turning for home and won by a half length.

Has The Answers would have lost few friends as he rattled home to get so close to Im Themightyquinn.

After the race trainer Gary Hall (snr) said that once he caught the field he didn’t worry.

“Gaz didn’t even pull the earplugs, that’s how easy he did it,” Hall (snr) said.

However Hall (snr) did set up an entrancing thought of future battles.

“His next two starts will be in next week’s Howard Porter Memorial and the following weeks August Cup, both are mobile events. It will be a different story trying to beat Has The Answers from a mobile,” Hall (snr) said.

Truckers Ruffnut was having his fifth run back from a five and a half month spell when triumphing.

Latching onto the back of the main body of the field after 400 metres driver Gary Hall (jnr) went three wide after a lap and was sitting outside the leader with 1400 metres to travel.

Going to the front 400 metres from home, Truckers Ruffnut went onto win by two lengths.

Saturday nights win took the Parson Den four-year-olds stake earnings past the $192,000 mark in the process.

Keepyaguardup was three wide from the 1200 metre point and went to the front with 400 metres to travel.

Looking to have the race all parcelled up soon after turning for home, the six-year-old started to get tired  close to home and just held off the fast finishing Earl Of Stanton to win by half a head.

Heavily supported on SuperTab from $2.30 into $1.20, Keepyaguardup up has now won twice from three WA starts since coming from New Zealand via Victoria.

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This week’s announcement by Racing and Wagering WA that Geraldton won’t have any more harness racing as part of its strategic plan for harness racing certainly has created a lot of reaction.

Rob Tomlinson president of BOTRA said,

“We are concerned about the loss of the meetings and prizemoney to the industry . With the cuts that have happened we believe the races or stakemoney should be distributed amongst other clubs,” Tomlinson said.

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EARL Of Locksley has shown what an evergreen pacer he is by winning the The Porter Matthews Dash For Cash Stakes (2130 metres) .

A rising 11 year-old Earl Of Locksley’s win was his 30^th from 183 starts.

Trained by Amada Suvaljko and driven by her husband Callan Earl Of Locksley last won six starts ago and took his stake earnings to just under $280,000 in the process.

“Dennis Langrell bought him for $18,000 after he made C2-C3 class and had won about $20,000 in stakes.”

For Dennis he won about $240,000 before Dennis died, we  bought the horse when Dennis died and he has won about $25,000 for us, he is a bit of a marvel,”  Callan said.

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In a week where multiple wins at meetings were more the norm than the exception Karnup trainer Grant Williams trained two doubles with Cromac Johnny and Ohoka Du Nord winning at Pinjarra on Monday and then Williams was back in the winners circle on Friday night with Haagen das and All Courage saluting.

Cromac Johnny was having his first start since the middle of April and looks set for a great campaign after he engaged in a two horse war with Majestic Cullen in a 2170 metre mobile.

Friday nights win by All Courage in the Landmark Settlement Stakes (2536 metres) was his second in successive Friday nights having won the previous week over 2130 metres.

Ryan Bell saluted with a training double at Northam via the deeds of Greyhawk and Barnetts Secret.

Bell who has a team of six in work at Byford last trained a double with Modern Mundana and Schinzig Buller at Pinjarra on November 30.

“After Schinzig Buller broke down in the WA Pacing Cup I took a quieter role in the industry, as you know it’s an up and down game and the double is a good change of luck.”

“I think Barnetts Secret can work his way through the grades and Greyhawk has had a bit of bad luck of late so it was good to see him win,” Bell continued.

Northam was a happy hunting ground for Nathan Turvey as well on Tuesday night winning behind Christopher Three and Admiral Bluechip.

Gary Hall (jnr) took his tally of Perth wins for the season to 127 following a winning double on Thursday behind Grinjaro and Aussie Reactor. Then on Friday night Hall (jnr) triumphed with Partywiththedevil, Im Themightyquinn and Nat Serling  with the Friday night treble trained by his father, before driving a  quartet of winners on Saturday night when successfull behind My Jasami, Donovan Bromac, Kamwood Girl who were all trained by his father.

The fourth winner Truckers Ruffnut comes from the Murray Hansen yard.

Gary Hall (snr) winning treble on Saturday night at Gloucester Park took his tally of Perth winners for the season to 102.

Tony Svilicich had a winning double at the Gloucester Park Thursday meeting with Rostriever Ornum and The Final Word.

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JUST a little stat that was picked up over the weekend – of the last ten opening races held at Gloucester Park on a Friday night, eight of the winners have been favourites and one second favourite has won.

Though the average price has been a skinny $1.70, your $10.00 win investment on the ten favourites would have netted a 34% profit on turnover.

Nice if you can get it.

Written by Robbie Dewar.

LAST week praise was quite rightly heaped on Chris Lewis for achieving his double milestone of 4,000 career and 2,000 Perth winners, but there was one milestone that quietly slipped under the radar.

Morgan Woodley drove his 500th career winner when he guided Auto Pilot to victory at Gloucester Park.

When you consider that Woodley is only 21 it is an outstanding achievement.

Congratulations to Morgan on his milestone.

The weekend’s harness racing action saw Chris Lewis and leading trainer Gary Hall (snr) put their feet on the steps of some more milestones in their stellar careers.

Lewis’ double behind Has The Answers and Cracklin Rose took his statewide winners tally to 196 and with still 21 meetings available to him to drive at it looks highly probable that he will smash the 200 win mark for the season.

Gary Hall (snr) is on the verge of training 100 Gloucester Park winners following his training double with Laser Edge and Partywiththedevil.

Hall has ten Gloucester Park meetings remaining to achieve his target which would appear to be a mere formality.

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THIS column has long sang the praises of the quality of harness racing being seen at Gloucester Park and on Friday night we had to look no further than the opening event, the Bazzo Real Estate 3YO Fillies Pace (1730 metres) for an example of the quality that we are seeing .

Smile With Me was heavily supported late on SuperTab from $2.20 into $1.60, before winning the start and leading.

Taken on midrace by Kamwood Girl, the Bob Mellsop trained filly showed courage to fight back tenaciously to shake off Kamwood Girls challenge and win by a sulkys length.

Her last three 400 metre sectionals were all under 30 secs (29.2, 29.2 and 29.8) on a rain affected track.

A daughter of Luscious Franco, Smile With Me is unbeaten in her three starts since joining Mellsop’s stable.

“She goes OK” Mellsop said.

“I wasn’t worried when I was challenged midrace, she always felt like there was something there,”
Mellsop continued.

There is a 3YO Fillies race at Gloucester Park on August 13 and another one on August 27 and Mellsop has said that he will probably target those with Smile With Me.

“She is still a C0 so we’ll probably try and pick that up in between ,” Mellsop continued.

Bob Mellsop has another nice horse join his stable in Majestic Cullen.

Having his first start in WA since coming from New Zealand, Majestic Cullen was crunched late on the tote from $4.70 into $1.70 before winning first up over 2100 metres at Bunbury during the week.

Despite being three wide early, Mellsop found the breeze position after 500 metres and worked to the front 400 metres from home. He quickly opened up a break on his rivals before being eased down to win by just under two lengths.

There was quality in that performance and it could be imagined that he will be well supported in his couple of starts.

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FORMER Victorian Partywiththedevil led throughout to win Friday nights feature race the $35,000 John Higgins Memorial (2130 metres).

A model of consistency, the five-year-old has now won three races since joining the Hall camp and been placed on the other two occasions.

If we take his last 11 starts into account, Partywiththedevil has won six times and been placed three times.

“I thought we would win, I was happy with the draw (barrier 2),” Hall said.

“I didn’t know how he would get out of the mobile, but he showed that when he leads he is extremely hard to get around.”

“The track helped as horses were struggling coming from the back.”

“He is good strong horse who would make a nice Fremantle Cup type.”

“I don’t think he is as good as the real good ones, but if they make a mistake he is the type of horse to take advantage of that,” Hall (snr) concluded.

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STEPHEN Reed’s ability in the cart is undoubted and Kellerberrin trainer Tom Groves uses Reed’s ability to great effect.

Friday night was no exception.

Reed drove Sheer Dreams for Groves and although she drew barrier 1, she was crossed at the start by Nullabor Song.

Biding his time until turning for home, Reed got clear and ran on strongly to win by five metres.

After Friday night Sheer Dream’s has won 17 times, with Reed aboard for 13 of those wins. Reed’s brother Mark and Peter Tilbrook are the only other two drivers to taste success behind the Shoneer Lobell mare.

It was Sheer Dreams’ first metro class success since winning the Four-Year-Old Mare Sires Final back in May 2008.

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PLEASING to see Phil Costello have success of late.

Phil trained Hydroflyte earlier this decade to win 14 races from 37 starts which included a Two-Year-Old Sires Final and just over $141,000 in stakes.

In recent weeks the likes of Baza Magoo and Getaway Barney have both seen Phil return to the winners circle.

Getaway Barney broke a 27 run losing drought when he was ably handled by Don Harper to win over 1670 metres at Pinjarra.

Settling in the back half of the field, Harper took Getaway Barney three wide with 500 metres to travel and hit the front 250 metres out , going onto win by a length.

A son of Kiss Me Casey, Getaway Barney last won at Pinjarra on June 23 2008.

On the same programme Cliff Woodworth tasted success with Our Dezzy Mac.

Having his fourth race start, Our Dezzy Mac settled just off the speed in a 2170 metre mobile before going three wide with 800 metres to travel. Joining Adda Tak with 250 metres to go, the duo engaged in a battle royale down the home straight before Our Dezzy Mac got away from his rival 50 metres out to win by just under three lengths.

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LAST Tuesday the nominees for possible induction to the Racing And Wagering Racing Hall Of Fame were announced.

Across the three codes there were 36 nominees.

From the harness racing side of things the nominees announced were.

HORSES : Kola Girl, Frosty Nelson, Binshaw, Daintys Daughter, Pure Steel, Preux Chevalier and Village Kid.

TRAINERS/DRIVERS : Cliff Clarke, Bill Johnson, Fred Kersley(snr), Alan Woodworth, Lyle Lindau, Trevor Warwick and Chris Lewis

ASSOCIATES:  J P Stratton, Ray Holloway and Dr Ern Manea.

The seven inductees will be announced at a gala function on November 25.

At the launch Roy Adams was presented with the RWWA Club Volunteer Recognition Award for his services to harness racing.

Roy was a founding member of the Pinjarra Harness racing Club and has served on the committee for 27 years with six as president, he performed various administrative duties around the club including being the club and lap steward at trials.

Adams and his wife Lil were instrumental in bringing back from a trip to Sweden the idea of the flexi poles which are now standard across harness racing tracks.

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VETERAN Wanneroo trainer Ken White has high hopes for a rising two-year-old he recently bought at the Queensland Yearling Sales.

A colt by Falcon Seelster out of Lombo Lola the colt who is known as The Brown Falcon is a half brother to the well performed Queensland three-year-old Karter Brown who has won nine races and $122,358 in stakes.

“I don’t know how good he is but so far he has shown exceptional ability, I reckon he might be something,” White said.

“He’s not a sprinter like Grinjaro or a stayer like Touch Of Zam, he is somewhere in between,” White concluded.

Where do we start for highlights from Friday nights Gloucester Park meeting?

Do we start with the race record effort of Ohokas Bondy in winning the $125,000 Premier Suzuki Golden Slipper Stakes (2130 metres)?

Or do we start with Chris Lewis’s outstanding achievement of 2,000 Perth winners which was achieved when he guided Has The Answers to victory in the Premier Suzuki “We Survived The Hail” Pace (2130 metres), and was added to his 4,000 career win achievement during the week when he won with Secret Interlude last Tuesday?

Or do we look at Im Themightyquinn’s win in the Premier Suzuki “Swift Sport” Conditioned Pace (2503 metres), continuing his amazing career?

Or do we look at the outstanding spectacle that is WA harness racing?

Case in point, was there any further evidence of the quality of our product when Lombo Navigator never got near the pegs and still won the opening event the Premier Suzuki “Swift” 3YO Pace (2130 metres) and, what a strong win by Pablito in the Premier Suzuki “APV” Pace (2130 metres).

Or was it the launch of the WA Breeders Incentive Scheme”WABIS”?

Let’s start with Chris Lewis.

Over the years I have had the fortunate experience of interviewing Chris Lewis for community radio and various publications and one of the stories he tells is of his first winner Classic Eyre at Kapunda in South Australia.

His father Allen was down to drive the horse and was a 4/6 favourite, Chris’s Dad took ill and was replaced by Chris and the horse drifted in betting to 6/4, the horse duly won! It’s hard to imagine but Lewis only had six drives in that first year – all behind Classic Eyre and was never out of a place, including a couple of wins.

Little did he or anyone know the heights that he would scale.

A total of 40 Group 1 victories and two Inter Dominions followed.

On Friday night Lewis returned to receive the all clear with the strains of “Simply The Best” playing over the PA.

In a presentation by the WATA after the win of Has The Answers Lewis told of his wonderment when living in Adelaide of the great Dick Webster driving 1,000 career winners and of Vic Frost driving 100 winners in a season.

“At the time I was wondering how did they do that?” Lewis said at the presentation.

In a touch of things to come Chris Lewis drove a winner at the very next drive after his 2,000^th winner when Premium Black won at Saturday’s  Gloucester Park career penalty meeting , less than 24 hours after his milestone success.

Whatever recognition Chris Lewis receives it is richly deserved.

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Friday nights announcement of the WA Breeders Incentive Scheme “WABIS” looks set to give standardbred breeding a boost in WA.

Under the scheme breeders pay a $550.00 (Inc GST) fee for their foals and from that the breeders receive incentive payments everytime that horse wins a race as a 2 & 3yo.

For races worth $3,000 – $10,000 there is a $1,000 bonus, $10,000 – $50,000 a $2,000 bonus will be paid and for races worth $50,000 and above $5,000 will be paid, there is no limit to the amount of wins a horse may have and collect the bonus.

In addition breeders of 2008 – 2009 foals (2yos in 2010/11) will be eligible for a $1,000 first win bonus regardless of what age the win occurs.

There will also be two additional $50,000 Westbred Finals for 2YO’s in July 2011.

“It stacks up very well next to the Vic Bred scheme and will be run along similar lines to the WESTSPEED thoroughbred scheme,” co-organisers Terry Ferguson and Mike Hackett said.

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Whilst trainer Greg Bond and his wife Skye are on the East Coast campaigning with the likes of Millwood Meg, Ima Rocket Star and Money Twitch, the home fires have been kept burning bright by stable foreman Michael George.

For the second Friday night in a row Bond horses have won a double in Greg and Skye’s absence.

Last week Ohokas Bondy and Mister Odds On won, this week it was Group 1 glory when Ohokas Bondy won the $125,000 Premier Suzuki Golden Slipper Stakes (2130 metres).

In a strong performance which underlined the versatility of the former New Zealand bred gelding,  Ohokas Bondy sat up on the outside of the $1.70 favourite Go West U Terror  before hitting the front 250 metres out and winning by a half length.

Ohokas Bondy ran his last 800 metres in a slick 57.4 secs, mile rating 1.57.8 which took one second of the race record set by Disco Force in 2000.

At his first two starts in WA Ohokas Bondy had zapped his rivals to lead and win by a combined margin of 36.7 metres.

“After drawing barrier 7 we were always going to follow Go West U terror across the field and sit outside him , I just thought we were tougher than him, there was no point in going back,” Brown said after the race.

“He seemed to switch of a bit. He’s jumped out of the ground since he’s been here, when he first arrived Bondy said that he looked a bit tired but he has freshened him up.”

“The difference between his first up win at Narrogin and tonight has been marked, Michael has done a terrific job in Greg and Skye’s absence,” Brown continued.

As for the horses immediate future?

“We were going to send him to the paddock but he seems to have pulled up really well , I’ll talk to Greg , we might give him one more run,” Micheal George said.

A point emphasised on Saturday morning by Bond from Sydney.

“The major three-year-old races are a fair way away so we might have one or two more runs before sending him for a spell,” Bond reiterated.

Punters weren’t afraid to support Ohokas Bondy either as he was backed in from $4.10 into $2.60 on SuperTab.

Bond’s run of feature race successes could continue this Friday with Bond qualifying Motu Treasure (who won at Northam on Thursday) for the $35,000 Higgins Memorial at Gloucester Park and Ima Rocket Star in the $200,00 Chariots Of Fire at Sydney’s Menangle.

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IM Themightyquinn won his second race in three starts (and was desperately unlucky on the other occasion) when he took out the Premier Suzuki “Swift Sport” Conditioned Pace (2503 metres).

Stepping safely from his 30 metre handicap Im Themightyquinn settled in the back half of the field before going three wide with 1300 metres to travel.

Sitting outside the leader Conte Centovalli with 800 metres to travel, Im Themightyquinn went to the front 500 metres from home , going onto win by eight metres.

The five-year-old took his stake earnings to just over $707,700 and it was his 18^th win in 53 starts.

“He felt good tonight, he went really super,” driver Gary Hall (jnr) said.

“Dads trying to space his runs but his main aim the Miracle Mile isn’t until November so we’ll probably have to give him another three runs prior,” Hall(jnr) concluded.

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LOMBO Navigator broke through the $100,000 stake earning barrier when he won his fourth successive race this campaign on Friday night.

Starting from outside the front line in the Premier Suzuki “Swift”3YO Pace (2130 metres), Lombo Navigator was three wide for the first 1300 metres of the race and no matter what driver Matt White tried to do he couldn’t get into the field. If he kicked up horses underneath him would hold up and keep him wide. If he tried to restrain and find a position in the field when spots opened he couldn’t. In the end he went forward and with 950 metres to go started to serve it up to the second favourite Master Metallica who had gone to the front .

Eventually Lombo Navigator found the front 450 metres from home, those watching the race were waiting to see a horse emerge from the ruck and challenge Lombo Navigator.

Free The Man emerged late but the race was won by then and Lombo Navigator won by two metres.

A measure of the quality of the performance can be seen in the sectional times.

The last four 400 metre sectionals were run in 29.8, 28.8, 29.6 and 29.9 secs for a 1.57.1 mile rate.

It was an exciting race that showcased all that is great about West Australian harness racing.

This Fridays clash with Motu Treasure and Bombora Lombo in the Higgins Memorial should be a beauty.

Five races later Pablito led in the Premier Suzuki “APV”Pace (2130 metres) and was challenged strongly by Truckers Ruff nut after 500 metres and put the speed on.

Pablito despite the early speed test was able to run away from his rivals with 250 metres to go and won by two lengths winning his 12^th race and taking his stake earnings to past $110,000 in the process.

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SOON after finishing calling Friday nights John Higgins Memorial meeting at Gloucester Park caller Richard Bell will be on his way to Queensland to participate in a tribute meeting for Queensland’s harness racing calling icon David Fowler.

Fowler is going to replace Wayne Wilson who is retiring calling gallops for Radio TAB in Queensland.

Joining Bell in the tribute will be Jim Jacques from Adelaide, Dan Mielicki from Melbourne, New South Wales callers Fred Hastings and Kevin Thompson along with Fowlers replacement Chris Barsby.

“I am excited to have been asked to go and be with the calibre of callers that will be there,” Bell said.

Written by Robbie Dewar.

Written by Robbie Dewar.

FRIDAY night’s Alabar Bracelet winner Artemis Belle could be headed for the spelling paddock following her win in the $35,000 feature.

“I don’t want to race her against the colts and she looks like as if she will develop into a nice 3yo,” trainer/driver Aldo Cortopassi said after the win.

Artemis Belle has had a great start to her career winning four of her six starts to date for $111,199 in stakes.

“Barrier 1 helped, but she treated them with contempt tonight, there is race for 2yo fillies in a couple of weeks time but I’ll have to sit down and look at it. She may end up in the paddock,” Cortopassi said.

Winning the start, Artemis Belle dictated terms and was able to run home her last 800 metres in a quick 58.5 seconds on a rain affected track.

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DRIVING home from the trots on Friday night I was trying to put into perspective the performance of Has The Answers after he won the Sutter Hanover 1.50.2 Stakes (1730 metres).

I mean let’s look at the win in its rawest state.

The Tony Svilicich trained 7yo ran a mile rate of 1.54.0 from barrier 8 on a track that clearly had taken some weather.

It was a time that bettered Our Malabar’s track record of 1.54.2 set on December 11 last year.

Gloucester Park track staff do a sensational job to get the track into the magnificent condition that we race on every meeting, but to still run 1.54.0 was an amazing effort by Has The Answers.

Has The Answers has proved to be an iron horse winning 21 races from 42 starts this season and with still six weeks remaining looks likely to significantly add to that total.

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OPPORTUNITY is a great thing and the decision by Greg Bond and his wife Skye to give Michael George the opportunity to run the home stables whilst they were in the Eastern States campaigning with their team paid handsome dividends on Friday night.

George took two horses to Gloucester Park on Friday night for the Bond stable and came home with two winners.

Ohokas Bondy, having his second start in WA since coming from New Zealand, smashed his rivals when he easily won the Art Major 1.48.8 2YO Stakes (2130 metres) .

George had no hesitation in taking the son of Asabella to the front and from there just dictated terms before George opened the after burners and Ohokas Bondy raced away to record an outstanding five length win. Just six days earlier in his first start in WA, Ohokas Bondy blitzed his rivals to win by seven and a half lengths at Narrogin.

Next weeks clash with Go West U Terror in the $125,000 Golden Slipper Stakes should be a beauty.

Mister Odds On won his first race since winning the August Cup last season, when he sat outside the leader Smooth Shift and raced away in the straight to win the Santanna Blue Chip 1.51.6 Pace ( 2503 metres)  by a length and a half at odds of $22.00.

Friday nights win took the 5yo’s stake earnings to past the $200,000 mark.

Unfortunately the success on the West Coast couldn’t transplant to the East Coast.

Millwood Meg gallopped 100 metres after the start of the $75,000 Nevele R Stud Australian Oaks (2240 metres) at Melton losing all possible hope.

Speaking from Melbourne Bond was at a loss to explain what happened.

“She didn’t seem to race rough, she may have baulked at a shadow, that’s the only thing we can put it down to,” Bond said.

Meanwhile in Sydney Ima Rocket Star qualified for the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire final on July 30 when finishing a half length second behind Make Mine Cullen in the Hondo Gratton Sprint – a qualifying race for the Chariots Of Fire.

Money Twitch who is trained by Skye finished eighth and will go around again in this coming Friday nights Paleface Adios Sprint in an endeavour to qualify.

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COPPER Beach Girl put up a strong performance on Friday night to win the Ponder 1.48.2 stakes (1730 metres).

Trained by her owner and breeder Mike Howie, Copper Beach Girl was taken on for the early lead and held off the challenges. So emphatic was the early burn that the first 400 metre sectional was carved out in a very quick 28.8 secs before driver Matthew White was able to give the Red Hot Copper five-year-old a “breather” of sorts with the second sectional being run in 30.1 sec and then had to hold off the late charge of Truckers Ruffnut to win by a metre.

Howie bred not only Copper Beach Girls mother but also her grand dam in Copper Strike.

Copper Strike won a Sires Produce Final and Pink Diamond Classic as a two-year-old.

Friday nights win took Copper Beach Girl’s stake earnings to just under $90,000 and one more city class win breaks the magical $100,000 stake earning barrier.

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IS it just me or have I noticed a changing trend in driving tactics at Gloucester Park?

Over the past three to four months I have noticed a preponderance of drivers to take off on leaders at the 400 metre point, open up a substantial lead and either win by large margins or fall in.

Doesn’t matter which it makes for spectacular pacing .

Cases in point on Friday night were Ohokas Bondy and Has The Answers, and Xupan Three and Ice Ice on Saturday night scored by adopting similar tactics.

During the week I attended the funeral of Phil Coulson who used the “death” seat as a tactical weapon, Justin Warwick changed the thinking again in the nineties by going three wide 1200 metres from home and out toughing his rivals.

Could this be just another part of the evolution of tactics that someone has found to gain an edge.

One thing that is common to all of the tactics mentioned is that the horses are superfit to pull of such daring deeds.

The industry benefits as a result.

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DENNIS Morton likes to keep a low profile.

On Friday night he trained his first city winner in 55 years of being involved in the industry when Dellas Jack led throughout to win the Real Desire TT1.48.4 Stakes (1730 metres).

Driven by Shane Butterworth, Dellas Jack was able to hold off the late charge of Nesian Mystic to win by a head.

Morton who is a horse educator in the Collie region came closest to a city success when Copper Dream finished third behind Alberts Fantasy in the 2006 Sales Classic Final behind Alberts Fantasy.

“He was the fastest of the horses I trained but this bloke (Dellas Jack) goes alright too.”

Morton is most proud that he broke in the great Norms Daughter.

“She was born on my property,” Morton said.

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Long priced winners have become more common place in WA harness racing in recent times, just look at the $123.00 about Edna Anne in the Three-Year-Old Sires Fillies Final and Jessie Power winning at $79.90 in the 2YO Fillies Sires Final on the same night.

On Friday night at Gloucester Park four of the last seven winners were at odds of $15.00 or more

Scram Jet won at $15.80, Copper Beach Girl ($32.90), Mister Odds On ($22.00) and Dial A Taxi ($24.60). Even the Quaddie on Friday represented value if you could find it by paying $17,718.20 and that’s with a $1.20 chance Has The Answers winning the final leg.

During the week no one gave Bronski Bomber a chance as he won at SuperTab odds of $113.90 at Northam.

Trained by Wagin preparer Barry Ainsworth the eight-year-old was ably handled by Ainsworth’s son Ashley to win over 2560 metres.

Settling one out one back, Bronski Bomber was taken three wide with 450 metres to travel and went onto win by just over two lengths.

A son of Go Bush Bronski Bomber last won at Wagin back in May 2007, some 25 starts previous.

The Northam win was at only his second start since a 14 month layoff.

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MARK Reed’s reputation as a horseman gained further impetus on Saturday when he trained the winner of the main race at Belmont Park gallops with Peach Tree in the $75,000 Belmont Classic (2200 metres) and then two and a half hours later was at Gloucester Park driving Waiwera South to victory for his father Mike.

Already the trainer of a Kalgoorlie Cup winner in Gondorff and Bunbury Cup winner in Whipsaw in the gallops, Reed has tasted success on the main harness racing stage with Another Party (AG Hunter Cup) and Tricky Vic (Victorian and West Australian Derbies) amongst others and his intuitive driving has been lauded by many.

Despite his success with the thoroughbreds let’s hope we still can be regaled by his driving skills at Gloucester Parl for a long time to come.

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JULY 30 could shape as a big night for WA harness racing , not only will the West have a very live chance in the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire at Sydney’s Menangle Park with Ima Rocket Star and possibly Money Twitch but on the same night we will see the running of the $35,000 john Higgins Memorial Final.

During the past week we have seen the heats conducted with Motu Treasure winning at Narrogin, Bombora Lombo being successfull at Northam and Lombo Navigator triumphing at Bunbury.

The race should be a ripper.

Speaking of which I can’t recall a Winter when we’ve such a lot of racing to look forward to on as weekly basis!

In the past we’ve had what you could call “lull” periods but not this year. Every week there seems to be something to look forward to on the track.

There is nothing wrong with our product here in WA.