Gloucester Park harness racing evaluate with Ken Casellas
Max Delight A Panacea For Aiken
Champion coach David Aiken has loved nice success along with his pacers in Western Australia, and it was an emotional time at Gloucester Park on Friday evening when his previous battle horse Max Delight brought about an upset with an exhilarating victory within the $1,250,000 TABtouch Nullarbor slot race.
The win got here as an incredible enhance for the a lot cherished 67-year-old Aiken, who has not too long ago gained the best battle of his life, getting the all clear after a three-year battle to beat prostate most cancers.
“This has given me an important carry, 100 per cent,” mentioned Aiken. “My well being is admittedly good, and I acquired a clear invoice final November after I completed radiation.”
Aiken was compelled to go away his farm and coaching institution at Avenel in nation Victoria two years in the past and transfer to New South Wales to take care of his group of pacers at Menangle.
“In Victoria I needed to journey 130 kilometres a day for therapy in Shepparton, and it was a lot simpler to maneuver to New South Wales the place it was solely a ten-minute journey for therapy,” he defined.
And on Friday evening Aiken capped a splendid coaching feat to provide ten-year-old gelding Max Enjoyment of nice fettle to attain a beautiful victory and finish a shedding sequence of 14.
This gave Aiken his 34TH Group 1 success, and it was rising star reinsman Will Rixon’s fourth Group 1 victory and his 929TH win in an impressive ten-year profession.
The win was additionally an important tonic for Max Delight’s proprietor, octogenarian Mick Maxfield, a Devonport businessman who just isn’t having fun with the perfect of well being and was unable to make the journey to Perth the place he was represented at Gloucester Park by his son Dean.
Max Delight was offered for the then Australian file of $245,000 on the 2017 Sydney yearling sale, and the son of champion sire Bettors Delight has now earned $2,009,599. He’s the second foal out of former good mare Woman Euthenia, who raced 40 instances for 21 wins, seven placings and $461,285. She gained 4 Group 1 function occasions as a two-year-old earlier than profitable the 2010 New South Wales Oaks at Harold Park.
Max Delight, lining up for his 161ST begin, was a $19 likelihood in Friday evening’s race, with native ten-year-old stars Minstrel ($2.70 favorite) and Magnificent Storm ($3.10) dominating betting.
Magnificent Storm (barrier 4) was anticipated to burst straight to the entrance, however when he didn’t, it left Rixon in a quandary, whether or not to make a bid for the early lead or to search for a great sit within the one-wide line.
“The plan was to get to the working line and get behind Minstrel within the one-out, one-back place,” mentioned Rixon. “It crossed my thoughts when Aiden (De Campo, driving Magnificent Storm) didn’t come out, that I ought to drive my solution to the entrance.
“I took a breath and thought of making a bid for the entrance, however determined towards it, contemplating we’d get pressured within the lead.”
This was a sensible choice. The polemarker Hugotastic ($17) led for the primary 400m earlier than Magnificent Storm surged to the entrance, with Minstrel shifting, menacingly, to his outdoors and leaving Max Delight with an ideal path.
Magnificent Storm was being hailed because the winner when he shrugged off the problem from Minstrel approaching the house flip. However he was unable to maintain Max Delight at bay, with the veteran ending powerfully to realize the higher hand 45m from the publish and profitable by a neck from $71 outsider and Minstrel’s stablemate Golden Lode, who thundered house, out 5 and 6 vast after being ninth with a lap to journey. Minstrel battled on to complete sixth.
Magnificent Storm completed third, a size forward of the $7.50 third fancy Ubetcha Tigerpie, who ran house solidly after racing within the one-out, two-back place. The winner rated a wise 1.54.9 over the 2536m journey after the ultimate three 400m sections have been run in 28.7sec., 27.8sec. and 29sec.
For Aiken, Max Delight’s win revived fantastic Gloucester Park recollections when his pacers Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay carried out so brilliantly, with Lennytheshark profitable the 2015 Interdominion championship and being a warmth winner within the following Inters collection in Perth in 2016 and 2017. Hectorjayjay gained three heats and completed second to Smolda within the remaining of the 2017 Inters.
“Lenny was fairly particular,” mentioned Aiken. “And this horse (Max Delight) has been an important previous horse.”
Max Delight had three completely different trainers for his first eight begins, in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, earlier than coming into Aiken’s stables, and in March 2019 he was a $71 outsider when he gained the 2019 NSW Derby earlier than profitable the Tasmanian Derby.
A yr later, Max Delight completed third behind Lochinvar within the Chariots Of Fireplace at Menangle and suffered a strained tendon which saved him out of motion for eleven months.
Offering he pulls up properly after his Nullarbor victory Max Delight will contest the $300,000 Fremantle Cup subsequent Friday evening.
Prentice Eyes A Winner
Ace coach Kim Prentice has at all times had a eager eye for choosing kids, and he was spot on along with his judgment when he outlaid a mere $10,000 to buy a Fly Like An Eagle colt on the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale.
The colt is known as Wake Up Geoff and is skilled by Prentice for a syndicate of 5 house owners who celebrated a splendid victory within the $100,000 TABtouch Wager Loop APG Gross sales Basic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.
This took Wake Up Geoff’s file to 12 begins for 3 wins, three seconds and $107,038 in prizemoney, and his fashionable win over elegant kids Perfect Seashore and Amalfi Knight was a robust indication he’ll become a number one contender in upcoming wealthy function occasions for three-year-olds, together with the $200,000 WA Derby on October 30.
Wake Up Geoff is the fifth foal out of Bettors Delight mare Gaylees Delight, who earned $67,784 from 5 wins and 11 placings from 37 begins, the ultimate 14 of which have been in WA for a solitary win at Pinjarra in 2016.
Wake Up Geoff confirmed good early promise, and he gave a pattern of his potential when he completed second to the good D Mac within the Group 1 Golden Slipper final September. He was making his second look after a spell when he started from the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday evening’s 2130m basic.
He was the third fancy at $6.50 and was overwhelmed for early tempo by the $1.85 favorite Amalfi Knight, who started speedily from the No. 3 barrier and led by a full size however was unable to cross Wake Up Geoff, who was pushed onerous by Mitch Miller throughout a flying lead time of 35.5sec.
Aiden De Campo then was capable of angle Amalfi Knight throughout to the pegs after 450m and luxuriate in a great journey behind the chief, who relaxed over the opening quarters of the ultimate mile in 30.8sec. and 30.6sec. earlier than sprinting over the ultimate quarters in 28.1sec. and 28.7sec. and profitable by 4m from the $3 second fancy Perfect Seashore, who ran on determinedly from seventh within the center levels. Amalfi Knight was 1m away in third place.
“Wake Up Geoff’s gate velocity has been a chink in his armour, however to carry the lead tonight hopefully will give him the arrogance, going ahead,” mentioned Miller. “It’s thrilling to have a real Friday evening horse, and I’m wanting ahead for the massive races for three-year-olds.”
Thirty-one-year-old Miller accomplished a double when he drove $11 likelihood Rellim to a straightforward all-the-way win within the 2130m Actual Punters Play Right here TABtouch Tempo. The seven-year-old, skilled by Miller’s elder brother Dean, ended a shedding sequence of 31 and improved his file to 86 begins for ten wins, 31 placings and $104,301.
Freak Run Aids Little Darling
Elegant mare Little Darling’s prospects of profitable the $75,000 Share Bets With TABtouch Wager Loop Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday evening appeared dismal when she was hopelessly hemmed in on the pegs behind the frontrunning Penny Black midway down the again straight within the remaining lap of the 2536m occasion.
However with 520m to journey the state of affairs modified dramatically when Penny Black shifted out and the breeze horse Pleasant Peg was badly checked and dropped again, out of rivalry. This allowed Deni Roberts to ship Aardiebytheseaside to the entrance whereas Jocelyn Younger was capable of ship Little Darling, an $18.80 likelihood, by on the within and settle right into a spirited duel with Aardiebytheseaside.
Little Darling fought on tigerishly and acquired to the entrance within the house straight and went on to win by a metre from the fast-finishing $10 likelihood Copy Cat Queen, with Aardiebytheseaside ($10) in third place.
Penny Black’s mistake of rolling up the observe was not completely sudden, with Younger saying she had it behind her thoughts the time when she was driving Steno in a race at Pinjarra and gained a dream inside run when Penny Black shifted out off the pegs.
“After getting the within run tonight Little Darling needed to dig deep to battle off Aardiebytheseaside,” mentioned Younger.
Little Darling was having her first begin for a month on Friday evening, with coach Cameron Ross explaining {that a} month between runs was not superb however was needed after the mare had completed on the rear at two appearances in March.
“She gained first-up (on February 20) after which we in all probability overdrove her and issues didn’t work out,” mentioned Ross. “She wasn’t racing at her finest, so we stopped and went again to the beginning. We gave her a block of labor and tonight she confirmed that was the suitable transfer.
“She’s going to now be set for the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes on Might 8, and after that she might need a let-up earlier than preparing for the massive occasions for mares in November.”
Seven-year-old Little Darling boasts a nice file of 65 begins for 15 wins, 24 placings and $488,558 and can be one among most important fancies for the $100,000 Norms Daughter Basic and the $150,000 Mares Basic.
Heres Herbie’s Nice WA Debut
Heres Herbie revealed excellent potential and splendid staying potential when he made a exceptional Australian debut with a runaway victory within the 2130m TABtouch Scan My Wager Tempo at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.
Although he was profitable at solely 9 of his 66 begins in New Zealand Heres Herbie seems destined to develop right into a severe contender for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 11.
Having his first begin since profitable the 2810m Christmas Cup on the grass observe on the Banks Peninsular course on December 29, he was the $1.20 favorite from the No. 5 barrier on Friday evening and was held at bay by $11 likelihood Opal Hunter throughout a scorching lead time of 35.5sec.
Driver Deni Roberts then was content material to stay within the breeze whereas Opal Hunter set a quick tempo with a gap 800m of the ultimate mile of 59sec. earlier than the final 800m whizzed by in 56.8sec.
Heres Herbie took a slender lead with 300m to journey earlier than dashing away to win by 10m from $17 likelihood Candy Pins, who completed strongly from ninth on the bell, score a wise 1.54.3.
Heres Herbie is a youthful full-brother Gee Heza Sport, who has earned $553,889 from 15 wins and 17 placings from 68 begins. Heres Herbie is ready by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who’ve given Gee Heza Sport 22 begins for eight wins and eight placings.
The Bonds race the full-brothers in partnership with New Zealanders Colin and Julie De Filippi, with Mrs Bond saying: “When Heres Herbie acquired on his mark in New Zealand, Colin and Julie determined to ship the horse to us below the same deal as we now have with Gee Heza Sport.
“It was an important run by Heres Herbie tonight, and he provides you the texture of an excellent horse in trackwork at house. So, it wasn’t stunning to see what he did tonight.”
The win of Heres Herbie in race two was adopted by victories within the following two occasions by the Bond-trained Captainshavtime and Mad Monday, four-year-olds pushed expertly by Roberts.
Captainshavtime ($1.90) started brilliantly from barrier 5 and relished the function of pacemaker in profitable by greater than two lengths from $26 likelihood Xceptional Arma within the $25,000 TABtouch Obtain In the present day Empress Stakes Comfort over 2536m.
“Captainshavtime has matured and is now a happier horse whose previous couple of runs have been incredible,” mentioned Mrs Bond. “If she retains stepping up, she ought to play an element within the large races for mares later within the yr.”
Mad Monday, an $8.70 likelihood from barrier six within the $100,000 Preux Chevalier 4-Yr-Outdated Basic over 2536, mustered nice early tempo to hurry to the entrance after 220m. He then bowled alongside in entrance and after remaining quarters of 28.2sec. and 28.3sec. he beat $34 outsider Final Arduous Copy, who completed quick after having fun with an ideal sit behind the pacemaker.
“Mad Monday’s work from home has been actually good and this franked what he has accomplished at house,” mentioned Mrs Bond. “He can be aimed on the function occasions for four-year-olds later within the yr.”
Grasp coach Gary Corridor Snr notched his sixth win within the annual Parliamentarians Cup when Gary Corridor Jnr introduced $7.30 likelihood Alta Tribute house with a spirited burst to grab a half-head victory over the fast-finishing Tiger Royal ($11).
Corridor Senior’s earlier Parliamentarians Cup winners have been Difficult Bey (1994), Our London Delight (1999), Im Themightyquinn (2012), Perfect Alice (2016) and Prince Of Pleasure (2025).
Wishing Belle ($1.10) maintained her excellent type for main trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo when she started out vast at barrier No. 8 earlier than dashing to the entrance after 220m and setting the tempo and profitable the $100,000 APG Gross sales Basic for three-year-old fillies by a half-length from $21 likelihood Livy Ann, who trailed the chief all through.
“She wasn’t at her finest tonight,” mentioned De Campo. “She had some ft issues through the week. However she is a troublesome filly and acquired the job accomplished.”
Edwards Loves A Discount
Gnangara coach Luke Edwards relishes the problem of revitalising previous pacers, and he and several other trustworthy secure purchasers are delighted on the type of eight-year-old Getn Wiggy Withit, who’s proving a discount.
Getn Wiggy Withit, pushed by Joey Suvaljko, was an outsider at $47.80 and at $81 on the fastened market when he thundered house from eleventh on the bell to win the 2130m TABtouch Place A Similar Race Multi Tempo at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.
The New Zealand-bred gelding was purchased for $5000 seven months in the past and has earned $29,412 from three wins and two seconds from 14 begins for his new connections.
“Loads of the house owners of Getn Wiggy Withit have been first-time house owners with Shehadi, a mare I bought for $4000 who went on to have 164 begins for eleven wins, 34 placings and $126,248 in prizemoney,” mentioned the 36-year-old Edwards.
“After I retired Shehadi, I changed her with Getn Wiggy Withit, a pacer I appreciated as a result of he’s by American Perfect and was a metro winner. I’ve had a little bit of pleasure with these previous pacers that I’ve been capable of rejuvenate.
“I’ve reduce from a much bigger secure and have gotten right down to eight from a excessive of 30. I’ve a hill at house, and I hold my horses away from the observe and take them to the seashore.
“I’ve at all times mentioned that if a horse has potential early in his profession, he ought to at all times be capable of get again into that type.”
For full race outcomes, click on right here.
by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park
Gloucester Park harness racing review
