Westspeed Centurion Club
When Dark Target recorded the narrowest of wins at his final start as a three year old, at the last prime metropolitan meeting of the 2007/08 Season, it was a significant moment for Westspeed. He became the first galloper to reach the $100,000 bonus mark since the scheme’s inception in 1999/00, and in doing so he dethroned Local Legend, which had led the way on $99,000 for four seasons, as the Westspeed king.
Flood Gates Open
Nollamara, 07/08’s leading two year old earner, was the first horse to join Dark Target in the “Westspeed Centurion Club” in 2008/09 when he recorded his second three year old victory early in 2009 to take his accumulated bonuses to $105,000, just $3,000 short of Dark Target’s total.
Revolition then leapfrogged them both, when on Anzac Day he recorded his second three year old open win in seven days and took his bonus total to massive $120,000, a remarkable achievement given that he didn’t race as a two year old and was having only his thirteenth race start!
Meanwhile a four year old mare named Star Encounter was beginning to dominate W.A.’s premier staying events and was seemingly gathering “Stayer’s Bonuses” at will. Having ended her three year old season with one win and $5,000 in bonuses to her credit, she disappointed slightly during the spring, but returned to the track in February and in an eleven start campaign, has recorded 7 wins (each of which carried a $20,000 stayer’s bonus), one second and three thirds. As a result we now have a Westspeed Queen, who can boast a career bonus total of an amazing $145,000.
It may surprise a few to see that the Centurion Club has a fifth member in Hawkeye Mort. The Fighting Falcon gelding didn’t flatter at his two starts as a two year old, and it’s almost hard to believe that in a gruelling 23 start three year old season, he’s recorded six open victories in his own age group and accumulated $120,000 in Westspeed bonuses in the process. Perhaps most significantly, his final victory was over 2000 metres, which indicates that he could be a real candidate for Stayer’s Bonuses in 2009/10, and is perhaps the heir apparent to the Westspeed throne!
| Westspeed’s Top Earners (As at 13/07/2009) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Horse | Wins | Breeder | Owner | Total | Foaled |
|
1 |
Star Encounter |
8 |
$36,250 |
$108,750 |
$145,000 |
2004 |
|
2 |
Hawkeye Mort |
6 |
$30,000 |
$90,000 |
$120,000 |
2005 |
|
2 |
Revolition |
6 |
$30,000 |
$90,000 |
$120,000 |
2005 |
|
4 |
Dark Target |
6 |
$27,000 |
$81,000 |
$108,000 |
2004 |
|
5 |
Nollamara |
6 |
$26,250 |
$78,750 |
$105,000 |
2005 |
|
6 |
Local Legend |
6 |
$24,750 |
$74,250 |
$99,000 |
2001 |
|
7 |
Cohort |
6 |
$23,750 |
$71,250 |
$95,000 |
2004 |
|
8 |
Paris Petard |
6 |
$22,500 |
$67,500 |
$90,000 |
2003 |
|
9 |
Vain Raider |
5 |
$22,000 |
$66,000 |
$88,000 |
2004 |
|
10 |
Metallic Storm |
7 |
$21,375 |
$64,125 |
$85,500 |
2002 |
Calling All Stayers
Although it’s long been the case that the depth of local staying ranks is such that owning a sound stayer of good quality can be W.A. racing’s equivalent of having a licence to print money, the introduction of the “Westspeed Stayer’s Initiative” has effectively taken the value of the “licence” to a new level!
Providing bonuses for Westspeed participating two, three and four year old gallopers for wins in all TAB covered races over 1800 metres or more, the initiative has generated bonus payments exceeding $565,000, as its second season of operation draws to a close.
Star Encounter
To date this season total bonuses amount to $290,000, with Star Encounter dominating proceedings picking up $100,000 of this total. Having completed her three year old season with a modest $5,000 in Westspeed bonuses to her credit, breeder /owner Bob Peters could hardly have imagined this would have blown out to a massive $105,000 with her four year old season still not over!
In fact, as the following table highlights, 75% ($220,000) of this year’s total has been shared between the connections of just four horses!
| Horse | 2yo (06/07) | 3yo (07/08) | 4yo (08/09) | Career Total |
| Star Encounter | $0 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $105,000 |
| Mythical Man | $5,000 | $28,000 | $40,000 | $73,000 |
| Sky Drama | $0 | $25,000 | $40,000 | $65,000 |
| My Becks | $0 | $5,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 |
Statewide Benefits
The benefits of the Stayer’s Incentive and Westspeed in general, aren’t merely confined to the top tier of racing or juvenile gallopers however. When a syndicate of Great Southern owners headed by Alan Smith purchased the four year old, one start maiden Movie World from Bob Peters last October, to compete on the Great Southern circuit, they probably weren’t even aware that being a fully nominated Westspeed horse, they also acquired the right to any future owner’s bonuses she may earn. She produced the goods immediately with an Albany win, which also carried a $5,000 Westspeed “First Win” bonus ($3,750 to the new owners, $1,250 to Mr Peters) and then went on to win a further $10,000 in stayer’s bonuses with victories over 2000 and 1800 metres at Mt Barker and Albany respectively.
Check the Westspeed Status
If at any time you’re weighing up the merits of purchasing an untried or maiden galloper, it’s worthwhile clarifying its Westspeed status because irrespective of age or racing location, its earning potential may well be greater than you (or the vendor) realize.
John Doherty
RWWA – Westspeed Officer
