Gloucester Park Review

Gloucester Park harness racing review with Ken Casellas

Superstar Minstrel is getting faster and stronger as the years fly by and he is firmly on target to create history by becoming only the third horse to win the WA Pacing Cup in three successive years in the history of this prestigious event.

Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond were unable to conceal their delight after Deni Roberts had driven the seemingly indestructible nine-year-old to a superb victory in the $31,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“We’re on the three-peat trail, just like the Brisbane Lions,” said Mrs Bond, whose husband Greg announced: “We are hoping to have about half a dozen runners in the Pacing Cup.”

Minstrel is the main contender from the Bond stable in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup over 2536m on December 11, with the trainers confident that they have talented support candidates in Golden Lode, Gee Heza Sport, Heres Herbie, We Walk By Faith and Harrison John, with the possibility of Mad Monday also being a Cup runner.

The Bonds have a remarkable record of having seven runners in the Pacing Cup on January 17, 2020, when they were represented by Mighty Conqueror (first), Vampiro (second), Our Jimmy Johnstone (third), Galactic Star (fifth), Our Alfie Romeo (sixth), El Jacko (seventh) and Ana Malak (ninth).

This is the only stable which has achieved a winning trifecta result in the Cup which was first run in 1913.

Minstrel was produced in fine fettle on Friday night for his first appearance for 28 weeks and from the No. 4 barrier was the $1.70 favourite who began with wonderful alacrity as he easily withstood an initial challenge from his arch rival Magnificent Storm ($2.45), who began speedily from out wide at barrier eight.

Minstrel had revealed tremendous strength and courage when working hard in the breeze in many of his first 32 victories, and the evergreen New Zealand-bred gelding showed somewhat surprising gate speed, with Roberts saying: “He was really good off the arm and it was nice for him to find the front.

“It wasn’t surprising that he showed that gate speed because at home he has been pacing so well and has ticked all the boxes. And, at the finish, he won with the ear plugs still in.”

Mrs Bond said that Minstrel was extremely sharp for his first-up run. “I think that was one of the best he has ever got out,” she said. “He has had a long, slow preparation and has spent eight weeks on the water-treadmill and has had only two hoppled runs before tonight’s race.”

Plans are for Minstrel to contest the $100,000 Running Camel James Brennan Memorial next Friday week and the $100,000 Stratton Cup a fortnight after that before lining up in the Pacing Cup.

This will be Minstrel’s sixth appearance in the Pacing Cup. He finished fifth behind Wildwest in February 2022, seventh behind Diego in January 2023, third to Magnificent Storm in November 2023, won the event in November 2024 (beating Mister Smartee) and won from Magnificent Storm in December 2025.

The Bonds are also looking forward to the Nullarbor slot race next April after Minstrel had finished second in the $1.25 million event to Catch A Wave in April 2024, third behind Mister Smartee in April 2024, and sixth behind Max Delight in April this year.

Minstrel now has earned $2,135,923 from 33 wins and 27 placings from 82 starts.

The only horses who have won the WA Pacing Cup in three consecutive years are Pure Steel and Im Themightyquinn. Pure Steel won the race four years in a row (1977-78-79-80) and Im Themightyquinn was successful in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Minstrel was not extended in winning on Friday night by four lengths from $41 outsider Brickies Dream, who finished solidly after enjoying a perfect trip in the one-out and one-back position. Minstrel ran the quarters of the final mile in 29.4sec., 28.9sec., 27.8sec. and 27.3sec. and rated 1.55.

His stablemates Goden Lode ($18) and We Walk By Faith ($9) impressed in finishing strongly into the third and fourth positions, respectively. Golden Lode, racing second after a spell, surged home with a three-wide burst from ninth at the bell, while We Walk By Faith raced in seventh position, four back on the pegs, and was inconvenienced behind a tiring runner before getting clear in the home straight and charging home, out wide.

Magnificent Storm, having his first start for two months, wilted after his hard run in the breeze (where he was inclined to over race) to finish eleventh.

Heres Herbie reappeared after a six-month absence when he scored a decisive victory in the $30,000 San Simeon Pace on Friday night.

He was the $1.10 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, and Deni Roberts dashed him to the front after 550m and he was not extended in winning at a 1.55.9 rate from $31 chance Captain Said So. That was Heres Herbie’s third win from three WA starts and it boosted his earnings to $214,134 from 12 wins and 23 placings from 69 starts.

Im Stealthy reigns supreme

New Zealand-bred gelding Im Stealthy confirmed his standing as WA’s best three-year-old when he outclassed his rivals with a devastating victory in the $200,000 WA Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

His effortless win gave trainer Gary Hall Snr and reinsman Gary Hall Jnr their seventh triumph in the group 1 classic and he will now be sent for a spell with an imposing record of 13 starts for ten wins and one third placing for stakes of $226,671.

“He was awesome,” said Hall Jnr, who went into the race with a plan of making sure he stayed in front of Havtimeformiki.

Im Stealthy, the $2 favourite, was driven out from barrier five and was pushed three wide in the early stages while Havtimeformiki ($3.60) was eased back to the rear from out wide at barrier No. 7.

“I just wanted to stay in front of Havtimeformiki, and when Deni (Roberts) committed to going back I was happy to be out there, waiting for them to slow down, and I was lucky enough to get in (into the one-wide line).

“I moved to the breeze (with two laps to go) as I expected Havtimeformiki to come and push me to the front. But that did not happen and I was confident of driving sit-kick from the breeze (with $7.50 chance Kotare Rimu setting the pace).”

Hall eventually sent Im Stealthy to the front 420m from home and the Downbytheseaside gelding careered away to win by just over two lengths from $31 chance American Machine, who finished solidly after racing in fifth place, three back on the pegs. Kotare Rimu held on for third.

Im Stealthy rated 1.56.1, with the final quarters being run in 28.8sec., 26.7sec. and 28.3sec. His time was just outside the race record of 1.56 shared by Christopher Dance (2024) and Runkle Crunch (2025).

Im Stealthy’s win completed a double for the Halls who combined for the win of Delightful Peg, the $1.10 favourite in the $25,000 www.horseandhound.co.au Pace over 2130m.

Delightful Peg set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and sizzled over the final quarters in 27.2sec. and 27.4sec. to win by 2m from $13 second fancy Copy Cat Queen, rating a smart 1.53.6 which was just outside Steno’s track record of 1.53.5 for mares.

Hall heaped praise on Delightful Peg, a four-year-old by Bettors Delight who has earned $165,032 from ten wins, five seconds and one third from 31 starts. She has won at seven of her 11 WA appearances and the best of her three wins in New Zealand was in the group 2 Southern Oaks at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill in April 2025.

“I don’t think that there is a mare here who can beat her when she leads,” said Hall. “She can run along in front and if something comes at her, she just keeps giving.

“Copy Cat Queen (who worked hard in the breeze) was probably the run of the race. I can’t believe she was taking ground off me. I think that either of the two mares leading in the big races should win.”

Delightful Peg and Copy Cat Queen are expected to renew their rivalry in next Friday night’s $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic and the $150,000 Westral Mares Classic a fortnight later.

My Machane is making up ground

Hopes of a WA Derby campaign for My Machane were dashed in July when the WA-bred gelding disappointed with an under-performing fifth in a race at Gloucester Park which resulted in him being on the sidelines for two months.

He is now realising his potential with two wins in the space of five days for veteran trainer Colin Brown and his daughter Maddison, who excelled in the sulky when guiding the American Ideal pacer to a dashing win at Pinjarra last Monday, followed by an easy all-the-way victory in the $25,000 WA Derby Consolation over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“My Machane has always shown ability,” said Brown. “A few months ago, he went well in a Pinjarra race, and we backed him up at Gloucester Park later in the week when he was disgraceful.

“He was off the boil, and we had some tests done which revealed he was suffering from stomach ulcers. So, we treated them and now he has been running some good times on the track, and we are starting to see the best of him.”

My Machane was a $27.20 chance at Pinjarra last Monday when he finished strongly to win a 1684m sprint, rating a smart 1.52.7.

At Gloucester Park on Friday night My Machane, from the No. 1 barrier, was the $3.30 equal favourite with He Is Talking when he set the pace and sprinted home with 400m sections of 28.3sec. and 28.2sec. to beat $41 outsider Major Moves by two lengths, rating 1.58.6.

My Machane is by American Ideal and is the sixth foal out of Bettors Delight mare La Machane, who raced 61 times for 20 wins, 14 placings and $335,268. La Machane was placed in two group 1 events as a two-year-old and then won the group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old mares at Melton in July 2013.

La Machane’s first two foals were good winners, with La Puddie winning eight times in Victoria, three times in New South Wales and five times in America, and La Captain earning $196,840 from 14 wins and 22 placings from 85 starts.

My Machane is owned by Liam O’Connor and Jim Currie, and the three-year-old, a $55,000 purchase at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale, has earned $43,818 from five wins and four placings from 19 starts.

Grace Ella is bred to succeed

New Zealand-bred three-year-old filly Grace Ella is following in the footsteps of her elder half-sister Heaven On High and looks set for a successful career in Western Australia for leading trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo.

Grace Ella improved her record to four starts for three wins and a third placing for earnings of $23,219 when she set a brisk pace as the $1.70 favourite in the 2130m Garrard’s Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

She is by American sire Downbytheseaside and is the fourth foal out of Christian Cullen mare Eva Sophnally, who raced 45 times for six wins, 12 placings and $65,350.

Eva Sophnally’s first foal Heaven On High has been a consistent performer, having had 131 starts for 19 wins, 45 placings and $332,311 in prizemoney. She won twice in New Zealand and five times at Menangle in 2022 and 2023 before being sold to America where she has won another twelve times.

Grace Ella was able to stroll through the lead time on Friday night in 38.2sec. after the polemarker and $3.90 second fancy Not So Sweet galloped in the score-up and settled down at the rear.

Not So Sweet was seventh at the bell, and Grace Ella sprinted over the final quarters in 27.6sec. and 28sec. to win by 5m from $20 chance The Sea Siren, rating 1.55.8. Not So Sweet, who was seventh at the bell, caught the eye when she charged home powerfully, out three wide, to finish third.

“Grace Ella has had an interrupted preparation, and she has gone beyond expectations,” said De Campo. “She will now go for a spell.”

Grace Ella’s win completed a training double for De Campo, who prepared four-year-old mare The Bettor Side, for her narrow victory in the 2130m Your One Stop Shop Pace.

Novice driver Kylah Madden got the $2.20 favourite The Bettor Side away smartly from the No. 4 barrier, and the daughter of Downbytheseaside set a modest early pace before dashing over the final 400m sections in 28.7sec. and 28.6sec. and holding on grimly to beat $13 chance Zlato by a short half-head, with that pacer taking advantage of an inside run in the final stages.

The Bettor Side, the second foal out of Bettor Boa, who earned $119,061 from ten wins and 15 placings from 53 starts, has been a handy performer who has raced 44 times for five wins, 15 seconds and three thirds for stakes of $141,065 — a good return after been purchased for $70,000 at the 2023 Perth APG yearling sale.

 

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park