Bunbury & Pinjarra Wrap Up
Mr Fantastic NZ taking out the second at Bunbury. Photo Credit: Photography by Jodie Hallows
Sport Sport Sport broke through for her maiden win after saluting the judge six out of her last seven attempts. Taking out the first at Bunbury on Saturday night for trainer/driver Aiden De Campo, the two-year-old led all the way from barrier five, holding on by a head in a mile rate of 2:00:3.
Justin Prentice and Gary Hall Jnr teamed up for an early double in races two and three, with the $1.08 favourite Mr Fantastic NZ winning first up in WA for the Prentice stable since making the move from New Zealand earlier in the year. The three-year-old Bettors Delight USA colt led all the way in a mile rate of 1:57:2 and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
Adda Something tenaciously ran down the front runners in the third, taking the longest way home after being held up for a run at the top of the straight. In a mile rate of 1:59:9, the favourite found the front at the right time to win by a neck, giving Prentice and Hall Jnr their doubles on the card.
Miss Eerie saluted the judge in race four after over a year away from the winner’s circle. Trained by Bunbury local John Graham and driven by Emily Suvaljko, the four-year-old recorded her fourth career victory after leading all the way in 1:59:3, winning by 2.2m.
Just American has made it two wins from just four starts this season for trainer Brad Lynn and driver Mark Johnson. Starting from barrier four, the five-year-old settled midfield and made his run three wide late to win by a head in 1:59:8 in race five.
It was shaping up to be a great night for favourite punters on Saturday night and Doctor Tom did not disappoint in race six. Trained by Michael Brennan, the $1.04 settled behind the leader throughout the race, with Michael Grantham biding his time, taking full advantage of the sprint lane in the finish to win by 5.8m in a mile rate of 1:57:7. The in-form gelding has made it four in a row, with two wins this season since resuming in June.
Starting off the 30m handicap, Awaitinginstruction won comfortably in the stand for trainer Matt Scott and driver Shannon Suvaljko in 2:03:3. The four-year-old has now won four in a row, giving owner Tim Blee a successful weekend, with his other runner Miss Taken NZ winning on Friday night at Northam.
The last was a rough and tumble affair with the two leaders locking wheels around 900m from home, opening up the race for the maidens behind them. Jovovich came out on top for trainer Hayden Reeves and reinsman Bailey McDonough. Starting first up for Reeves, the six-year-old mare graduated from maiden status in a mile rate of 2:00:7.
Diamond Daze leading the field at Pinjarra on Monday. Photo Credit: Photography by Jodie Hallows
It was a wet day at Pinjarra on Monday, but that didn’t stop Swingband taking out the first on the card for trainer Ryan Bell and driver Aiden De Campo at just his first start. The two-year-old led all the way in the small six-horse field, winning by 14.8m in a slick 1:54:2 over the 1684m sprint journey.
Leeann Lee was all smiles after race two with her westbred filly Diamond Daze taking out the maiden with Mitchell Miller in cart. Purchased at the 2019 APG Yearling sales, Diamond Daze put it all together on Monday, winning with ease by 13.8m in a mile rate of 1:59:6 at her eleventh start.
New import Tricky Ric NZ made it two in row since making his debut in WA just six days ago. Trained by Gary Hall Snr and driven by son Gary Hall Jnr, the New Zealand import looks to have a bright future in WA after taking our the third comfortably in 2:00:5 over the 2185m standing start.
It was a successful day out for driver Mitchell Miller, with the youngster driving an early doible on the card. The second leg of his driving double came up in race four when he piloted the Kim Prentice trained Dontwaitforme to victory in 2:00:2, going one better after a last start second at Gloucester Park last Tuesday.
After navigating his way to the front from barrier 12, Star Of Willoughby was just too good for his rivals, taking out the fifth on the card for Josh Dunn and Shannon Suvaljko. In a mile rate of 1:58:0, the three-year-old double westbred gelding brought up his sixth career victory and second win for the Josh Dunn stables.
It was a successful weekend for broodmare Arma Fifty Five, with her two foals Fifty Five Reborn and Arma Einstein taking out their respective races over the weekend. Trained and driven by Colin Brown, Arma Einsteen started as the $2.60 favourite in race six and settled at the rear throughout, with Brown put the gelding in to the race at the 500m point, swinging three wide and winning by a head in 1:56:9.
Gary Hall Jnr had driving honours on Monday with a driving treble on the card. Teaming up with Tony Svilicich in the seventh, Talkerup NZ led all the way to win narrowly in 1:59:2.
The wins continued for Hall in to the eighth when he piloted newcomer Nearis Green NZ for his first victory at just his second start in the state since making the move from Queensland recently. Trained by Michael Young, the seven-year-old stepped cleanly from 20m handicap and won comfortably in 1:58:4.
All Aussie Mach broke through for his maiden win in the last for trainer Dennis Roche. Winning narrowly for driver Emily Suvaljko, the 24-start maiden took the win at just his second start for the new stable in a mile rate of 1:59:2.
Ashleigh Paikos