Im Stealthy is all class winning WA Derby

Top three year old Im Stealthy (Downbytheseaside) showed his class with an outstanding harness racing win in this year’s edition of the Group 1 $200,000 Garrards WA Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.

In an action packed event Im Stealthy who was backed into a firm favourite didn’t show a great deal of early speed as the former New Zealander Kotare Rimu held the early lead fighting off a spirited early challenge from D Mac. Second favourite Havetimeformiki was sent back to the rear early while the Victorian trained Soho Trump was in the second half of the field on settling down.

However Gary Hall Jnr on Im Stealthy made a run three wide with over two laps left to travel to face the breeze. Despite having done a decent amount of work, Im Stealthy always seemed to have the measure of Kotare Rimu and Hall Jnr went for broke as he ran his third quarter in a sizzling 26.7 seconds. That quarter left his rivals standing and Im Stealthy was well clear as Hall Jnr gave a triumphant flourish of the whip as he cruised to the finishing line seven metres ahead of the fast finishing American Machine who edged out Kotare Rimu who who held on for third.

IM STEALTHY 30 OCT REPLAY

Through running his third quarter of 26.7 seconds and then a final quarter of 28.3 seconds, Im Stealthy made it well nigh impossible for those trying to make up group and make a race of it.

Ideal Beach battled on for fourth after having a reasonable run throughout and the run of Havetimeformiki is best forgotten as he was never in contention having to give such a big start to the leaders.

Hall Jnr paid tribute to the owners who were on course and explained his whip flourish.

It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but with the group of guys that we got involved in this horse they’re all win, lose, or draw, they come back down to the stables and see you after every run, and they’re always smiles. Steve’s obviously come over from New Zealand tonight. Sharpie he’s from Queensland and he’s brought a big crew here, and they’re great supporters of harness racing. Sharpie and I have been schoolmates, and he said to me today he was that nervous. He made me nervous. I had to hang up on him. But the emotion got the better of me up the straight because that’s something that we wouldn’t have even dreamed about as kids him owning a horse that I drove in a race like that. So as many big races as I’ve won, that was pretty special.

Im Stealthy now has the imposing record of 13 starts for 10 wins (including his last five in succession at Gloucester Park) and one placing and overall stake money of $226,271.

 

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink