The first big pacing event was on May 7 at Tabcorp Park, when classy mare Broadways Best secured victory in the $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final (2240m). Starting as the $2.30 favourite Broadways Best went on to defeat $59.70 outsider Shez Ryleymak by 4.5m with Elixir ($17.70) in third.

The other major race kicking off the month that night was the $50,000 Group 2 Sony Centre Champagne Classic (2130m) for two-year-olds at Fremantle’s Gloucester Park, where Scot Bay ($2) narrowly missed out on maintaining his unbeaten record when Bettors Ace ($5.40) defeated him by a neck. Long-priced roughie Trunkey Galileo ($99.40) finished off the trifecta.

The following night, Queensland’s Albion Park was the place to be when the esteemed course hosted the four Group 2 Qbred Triad Finals. The first was the $75,000 four-year-old mares final won by the John McCarthy-trained and driven Forever After; next Bay Of Eagles took out the $85,000 three-year-old colts and geldings final ahead of the odds-on favourite Karter Brown; the $85,000 three-year-old fillies final saw the brilliant Abbey Tiara secure victory by a neck over Torque In Motion; the final Qbred final of the night was the $75,000 entires and geldings where $63.30 outsider Hez Hellbound secured an upset victory.

Another elite level pacing feature followed on Friday May 14, with Gloucester Park hosting the $150,000 Group 1 Gannons WA Oaks. This year the odds-on favourite Millwood Meg ($1.90) reigned supreme, the Mach Three filly scoring a decisive 7.5m victory ahead of Arctic Fire ($3.70).

Top racing then continued on Friday May 21 at Tabcorp Park Victoria, the meeting headlined by the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series Final (2240m) for four-year-old entires and geldings, taken out by the flawless Bonavista Bay.

Other drawcards on the night included Devilish Smile’s 12.3m win in the $50,000 Group 2 Tatlow Stakes Final (2240m), and the $30,000 Group 3 Harness Breeders VIC Ladyship Cup (1720m) where Broadways’ Best secured another impressive victory following her Group 1 Vicbred Super Series success earlier in the month.

Saturday night May 22 was another cracker with two Group 1 finals at Brisbane’s premier pacing venue, Albion Park. First up two-year-old filly Aussie Made Lombo took out the $150,000 Group 1 Kay Seymour Nursery Pace Final (2138m) before Sushi Sushi claimed the male equivalent in the $150,000 Group 1 Kevin Seymour Nursery Pace Final (2138m).

Four more group pacing features finished off the month, the first being the highly anticipated $100,000 Group 1 Queen of the Pacific at Tabcorp Park on Friday 28 won by four-year-old mare Ananz. The night also saw impressive filly Rocknrolla take out the $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 3YO Fillies Final (2240m) and Lively Moth win the $50,000 Group 2 Victaulic Tatlow Stakes (2240m).

The final group pacing race in May was on the same night over in WA’s Gloucester Park, the $35,000 Gorup 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes (1730m) where hot $1.90 favourite Little Big Sister sizzled to victory.

Stay tuned for the preview of June’s pacing features.

Leading online bookmaker IASbet had the best odds for all of the excellent pacing features in May, so visit them for your next harness racing bet to get access to the most comprehensive range of wagers, competitive odds and generous bonuses!

Starting from the front row barrier four as the $2.50 favourite, the Queensland trained Washaki beat home the Gary Hall-trained Im Themightyquinn ($4.70) by 1.2m with Our Malabar ($41.70) the surprise third placegetter an extra four metres back.

It was a rough and tumble affair with many of the top elects finding themselves restrained after the start and unable to get a clear run including Has The Answers ($5.60) who came in fifth behind Alzona ($40.40) the roughie who had a great run for fourth, and sixth placegetter Bonavista Bay ($6.50).

The eventual winner was four deep into the first turn after showing great gate speed and then found himself caught three wide early on. Washakie continued to have a tough run but pressed forward to get up and make his move on the outside of the leader, crossing Indian Giver to lead the way into the back straight.

Inside the 650m local hero Im Themightyquinn raced up to Washakie and gave it everything he had, the two racing head to head before Im Themightyquinn snatched the lead for a few metres. But it was Washakie who took home the title after pulling out a final burst of acceleration to pull away from his fast finishing rival to take the title by just over a metre.

Early leader Indian Giver lost pace and ran out of charge, stopping to a walk in the final stretch and eventually finishing a distant ninth.

The John McCarthy-trained and driven Washakie peeled off sensational quarter sectionals to run a record breaking mile rate of 1:56.3, beating Our Sir Vancelot’s previous race mile rate record of 1:57.3 set in 1998.  The $250 000 first place prizemoney raised his earnings to an impressive $699 945 from his 24 career wins.

Now a triple Group 1 winner, Washakie will move on to the $400 000 BIG6 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 6, for which he has now been penalised 10m.

The victory also saw Washakie elevate to third on the overall Barastoc Grand Circuit leaderboard with four races to go in the series. Washakie sits on 11 points, four behind the leader Monkey King.

2010 WA Pacing Cup Results:

The WA Cup is shaping up to be a sensational race with an elite field full of Group 1 winning champions eager to claim the lucrative prize and secure another prestigious victory.

Prolific trainer Gary Hall Snr. has four of his top pacers engaged in the final. Indian Giver has drawn ideally with barrier one, but Hall’s other more fancied horses Talk To Me Courage (br.7), Im Themightquinn (br.10) and Alzona (br.12) have all drawn wide.

Hall’s strong contingent will face some truly tough opposition from the likes of the Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers and Bonavista Bay, trained and driven by Mark Reed.

Has The Answers last victory was in the Group 1 Australian Pacing Championship a fortnight ago and the seven-year-old gelding will start from barrier nine on Friday night. He is also the most experienced pacer of the bunch having had 104 career starts.

Has The Answers will be driven by Chris Lewis, the chief reinsman competing in his 28^th WA Pacing Cup. Lewis has won the race a total of five times, the second highest number of wins in the event behind Phil Coulson with seven WA Cup victories.

Bonavista Bay is coming off a last start victory in the McInerney Ford Classic and has drawn barrier six in the WA Cup.

Also drawn well in the race and not to be overlooked is the winner of the 2009 Australian Pacing Championship Washakie. The John McCarthy trained and driven six-year-old is set to jump from barrier four and has a 50% strike rate at Gloucester Park, having won 7 of his 14 starts at the track.

Washakie is looking to atone for his unlucky seventh in the WA Pacing Cup last year.

The other highlight race of the meeting will be the WA Pacing Cup Consolation (race six).

The WA Pacing Cup final is scheduled as race seven on the night’s great 10-race programme and is set to start at 8:55pm (WA time).

2010 WA Pacing Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

The favourite at $3.10, four-year-old Bonavista Bay defeated Son Of Fergie ($18.70) by 2.4m with Crown Bromac ($18.80) just over a metre back in third.

The winning son of Rustler Hanover clocked a mile rate of 1:56.8, giving trainer Mike Reed his second McInerney Ford Classic victory.

It was a sensational comeback for the Golden Nugget Championship winner who following his victory on November 27 failed to fire in his next three starts at Gloucester Park.

His record now stands at an impressive 15 wins from 23 starts for over $390 000 in earnings.

Second favourite at $3.50, Ima Rocket Star could only manage fourth place with the other fancied pacer, Truckers Ruffnut ($4.70) finishing a distant 10^th.

Pacemaker Truckers Ruffnut started well from barrier one and led throughout the first stages of the race before Bonavista Bay, driven by Mark Reed, overtook on the outside with 500m to go.

A vet’s examination after the race found nothing wrong with the Murray Hansen trained horse, but Hansen made the decision to spell Truckers Ruffnut due to a cough.

Mark Reed also had success in the McInerney Ford 4YO Classic Consolation (2130m) with Hi Tensile. Reed trained and drove the odds-on favourite to a 4m victory.

Bonavista Bay will now back up with a run in the $400 000 WA Perth Cup this Friday night as the only four-year-old contesting the race.

2010 McInerney Ford Classic Results:

Trainer Mike Reed is attempting his first McInerney Ford Classic victory since Manageable in 1988. Tonight he has Group 1 Golden Nugget Championship winner Bonavista Bay engaged in the 2130m staying event, drawing ideally with barrier two.

Bonavista Bay is sure to face some stiff competition from the quality field including Truckers Ruffnut on his inside in barrier one. Truckers Ruffnut is coming off a sensational three straight victories and is looking to make it four in a row tonight.

Two mares feature in the race tonight including Smoking Again in barrier eight and Country Change driven by consistent reinsman Gary Hall Jnr.

Tonight’s winner will find their name on the McInerney Ford Classic honour role alongside some of the world’s best pacing superstars including Lombo Pocket Watch, Village Kid and Im Themightquinn.

The McInerney Ford Classic is set to run as race six on the night’s elite ten-event card, jumping at 8:20pm.

2010 McInerney Ford Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw:

It was a sensational and very lucrative night for the superior Perth trainer, Hall claiming the trifecta as two of his other four entries filled the placings, becoming the first trainer to land the trifecta in the race’s 80-year history.

The favourite at $3.20 Im Themightyquinn, driven by Hall’s son Gary Jnr., defeated Alzona ($14.70) by 2.7m with outsider Dartmoor ($69.40) a close third.

The five-year-old winner made a stylish and speedy comeback after placing eighth at trial last week and overcame his 10m handicap with ease to take the lead at the mile marker. Im Themightyquinn held on to cross the line first giving the Hall stable its third win in the event after their former pacing star The Falcon Strike claimed victory in 2002 and 2004.

The only thing that marred the celebrations was Gary Hall Jnr.’s 12-day suspension for forcing Indian Giver four wide 1000m after jumping.

It was a disappointing race for the Golden Nugget winner Bonavista Bay, the $3.20 favourite finishing a distant sixth after meeting early interference and being forced to race without cover into the breeze.

Son of Washington VC, Im Themightyquinn will now be aimed at the $125 000 Find 30 Australian Pacing Championship on January 8 followed up with the $400 000 Find 30 WA Cup on January 22.  If he pulls up well enough after his sensational victory however, the gelding’s next start will be this Friday night in the $60 000 Celebrity Sprint.

2009 Stallion Station Fremantle Pacing Cup Result:

Trainer Gary Hall has entered a record five horses in the event, Alzona (1), Dartmoor (3), Ohoka Rebel (5), Im Themightyquinn (8) and Indian Giver (9), with Hall naming five-year-old Im Themightyquinn the one to beat despite his disappointing eight length defeat at trial last weekend.

The Emma Stewart-trained Bonavista Bay, winner of last week’s Golden Nugget, will start from barrier seven. If successful on Friday night, the four-year-old will be the first Golden Nugget champion to win the Fremantle Cup.

Stewart is the second female trainer to have a runner entered in the Fremantle Cup on Friday. The other is Skye Bond, making history by pairing up with her husband and fellow trainer Greg who also has horses in the race. They are the first husband and wife to each have runners starting in the same Fremantle Cup.

Skye has entered Mister Veejays Fella, coming off a win at the track last week, due to start from barrier four.

The Fremantle Cup is scheduled as race six at Gloucester Park on Friday night and is due to start at 8:35 pm (WA time).

2009 Group 1 Stallion Station Fremantle Pacing Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

The four-year-old stallion Bonavista Bay driven by the controversial and talented reinsmen Mark Reed, defeated Captain Joy by 2.7m with Kiwi pacer Ima Rocket Star 6.9m back from the winner for third in the Group 1 four-year-olds’ classic.

Bonavista Bay ran a blistering 3:07.7 (mile rate 1:59.1) over the 2536m event. He showed sensational speed from the inside gate but it was eventual third placegetter Ima Rocket Star beside Bonavista Bay in barrier two who got the early lead by a half-length. After Bonavista Bay rediscovered his superstar pace and retrieved the lead he ran a strong all-the-way victory.

It was Reed’s second success in the Golden Nugget, having previously won with Tricky Vic in 2002, but Friday’s victory nearly didn’t eventuate. Reed, 29, announced his temporary retirement as a reinsman on Thursday but was called in by owner Bob Proberts on Friday afternoon to drive Bonavista Bay after his regular reinsman Chris Alford could not make it to the meeting.

The victory was Bonavista Bay’s 14^th from 19 career starts the impressive pacer now having earned over $307 000 in prizemoney.

His next big start will be in the $250 000 Stallion Station Fremantle Cup (2902m) at Gloucester Park next Friday night.

2009 XXXX Gold Golden Nugget Championship Results:

Scratched:

SMOKING AGAIN
LIQUID RADAR

Showcasing four topliners, Gloucester Park will be buzzing with excitement tonight as some of Australia’s best pacers take to the track including racing superstar Bonavista Bay along with Ima Rocket Star and Stunin Cullen.

With a total of twelve contestants on the field and an additional two emergencies, punters are having a difficult time deciding which horse will win over the 2536m course.

Gloucester Park Form Guide

xxxx Gold Golden Nugget Championship Form Guide

Second Row