It is a massive weekend on the Australian pacing calendar, which kicks off on Friday night at Gloucester Park with two group features, the $50 000 Group 2 WA Nights of Thunder Final (1730m) followed by the prestigious $125 000 Group 1 Find Thirty Everyday Australian Pacing Championship (2130m).
Master trainer Gary Hall Snr. has four of his pacers and a fifth as the second emergency engaged in the esteemed event on Friday night. Of the group, Alzona and hot favourite Im Themightyquinn both drew ideally with barriers one and four respectively. Hall’s son Gary is set to drive five-year-old New Zealand bred Im Themightyquinn as the father son training duo, the most successful in the race’s history, attempt their sixth win in eight years.
Hall’s other runners are Indian Giver (br.8), Talk to Me Courage (br.10) and Spirit Of Shard (Em.2/br.14).
The Hall contingent are sure to see some strong competition from the in-form Schinzig Buller in barrier six, the Ryan Bell-trained runner wining three and placing second twice in their past five starts. Another strong contender is the Greg Bond-trained Report For Duty, ideally drawn in barrier two.
But it is seven-year-old Has The Answers (br.5) who will bring the strongest challenge, due to be driven by top reinsman Chris Lewis following trainer Tony Svilichich’s decision to replace the outstanding young driver Morgan Woodley with Lewis for Friday night.
The WA Nights of Thunder Final is scheduled as race six (8:17pm) on the bumper 10-race card for Friday night, followed by the headline event, the Australian Pacing Championship (race seven at 8:47pm).
Gloucester Park Race Programme – Friday Night January 8:
Race # |
Race Name |
Prizemoney |
Distance |
Class |
Time |
| 1 | FIND NEW ENERGY CLAIMING PACE | $8 000 | 1730m | - | 5:50pm |
| 2 | FIND BETTER HEALTH 3YO MS PACE | $16 000 | 1730m | 3C0 or Better | 6:20pm |
| 3 | FIND NEW FRIENDS MS PACE | $16 500 | 2130m | M0 Only | 6:50pm |
| 4 | FIND THIRTY AND FEEL GREAT F&M MS PACE | $16 500 | 2130m | M0 – M2 F&M | 7:20pm |
| 5 | WA NIGHTS OF THUNDER CONSOLATION | $16 500 | 1730m | M0 – M3 | 7:50pm |
| 6 | WA NIGHTS OF THUNDER FINAL | $50 000 | 1730m | M0 – M3 | 8:17pm |
| 7 | AUSTRALIAN PACING CHAMPIONSHIP | $125 000 | 2130m | - | 8:47pm |
| 8 | AUSTRALIAN PACING CHAMPIONSHIP CONS. | $20 500 | 2130m | - | 9:17pm |
| 9 | TABFORM CONDITIONED SS PACE | $16 500 | 2503m | M0 or Better | 9:47pm |
| 10 | FIND A BETTER YOU CONDITIONED SS PACE | $16 500 | 2503m | M0 or Better | 10:17pm |
2010 Australian Pacing Championship Final Field & Barrier Draw:
# |
Form |
Horse |
Trainer |
Other Engagement |
Driver |
Class |
| 1 | 43251 |
ALZONA |
G E Hall Snr. | - | Shayne Cramp | C15 M6 |
| 2 | 32032 |
REPORT FOR DUTY (NZ) |
G F J Bond | - | Colin Brown | C12 M7 |
| 3 | 3s162 |
HY ROYALE |
K Schreyvogel | - | Chris Brew | C13 M6 |
| 4 | s2161 |
IM THEMIGHTYQUINN (NZ) |
G E Hall Snr. | - | Gary Hall Jnr. | C16 M11 |
| 5 | 11312 |
HAS THE ANSWERS |
T Svilicich | - | Chris Lewis | C23 M9 |
| 6 | 12121 |
SCHINZIG BULLER |
R P Bell | - | Ryan Bell | C9 M3 |
| 7 | 40443 |
SNEAKYN DOWN UNDER (NZ) |
D W Duffy | - | Greg Kersley | C17 M10 |
| 8 | 51974 |
INDIAN GIVER (NZ) |
G E Hall Snr. | - | Justin Prentice | C15 M8 |
| 9 | 23251 |
OUR MALABAR (NZ) |
R J Mellsop | - | Bob Mellsop | C15 M9 |
| Second Row: | ||||||
| 10 | 266s2 |
TALK TO ME COURAGE (NZ) |
G E Hall Snr. | - | Kim Prentice | C15 M6 |
| 11 | 15s32 |
TEE PEE VILLAGE (NZ) |
J R Graham | - | Kade Howson | C17 M10 |
| 12 | 16169 |
BONAVISTA BAY |
M G Reed | - | Mark Reed | C11 M5 |
| 13 | 16214 |
MISTER VEEJAYS FELLA (NZ) Em.1 |
S A Bond | Gloucester Park 8/1/10 | - | C15 M4 |
| 14 | 028s4 |
SPIRIT OF SHARD (NZ) Em.2 |
G E Hall Snr. | Gloucester Park 8/1/10 | - | C21 M9 |