Twoandahalf Tigers to make city debut
The oddly-named Twoandahalf Tigers will have a legion of harness racing supporters when he makes his Gloucester Park debut in the second heat of the X Factor Pure Steel Pace on Friday night.
Trained at Serpentine by Gary Hall sen., the New Zealand-bred four-year-old has made a big impression on West Australian country tracks on which he has had ten starts at Bunbury and Pinjarra for seven wins, two seconds and a third.
The Jeremes Jet gelding, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr, is awkwardly drawn at the No. 6 barrier over 2130m. He is the only M0-class pacer in the field of ten other M1-class performers. Seven of his rivals, including smart performers VC Manoeuvre, Naught Maravu, Soho Monza, Offtocullect and Ohoka Cooper, are recent winners with sound prospects.
“The draw is a bit tricky, but he should perform well,” said Hall sen.
Twoandahalf Tigers has been driven by Micheal Ferguson in all of his ten WA starts and he has impressed with his natural pace and versatility. He has been a revelation in this State after his 20 starts in New Zealand produced just one win (by a nose) and five placings.
However, he is bred to be a top-class pacer. He is closely related to several outstanding performers, including All Tiger (148 starts for 29 wins, 31 placings and $496,107), Tigerish (79 starts for 15 wins, 21 placings and $491,957) and Justa Tiger (37 starts for nine wins, 11 placings and $161,589).
Among the Hall stable’s 17 acceptors for the ten-event meeting are Runoneover, Slick Chapel, Norvic Nightowl and Mohegan Sun, who will clash in the $23,000 Channel Seven Pace over 1730m.
Runoneover and Norvic Nightowl will be resuming after a spell and will have many admirers. Gary Hall Jnr will drive Norvic Nightowl and Clint Hall will be in the sulky behind Runoneover.
Norvic Nightowl, a winner at 17 of his 59 starts, warmed up for his return to racing after a five-month absence with a seven-length win in a 2550m standing-start trial at Byford on Sunday morning when he dashed over the final three quarters in 28.5sec., 28.2sec. and 28.1sec.
Hall sen. said he expected Norvic Nightowl and Runoneover (who will be having his first start for four months) to be prominent.
Ken Casellas
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