Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Seven-year-old Dalvey Robyn caused an upset when he was a $15.20 chance who sprinted home fast to get up and snatch a head victory over the $1.75 favourite Swingband in the $31,000 Media Cup over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a victory which surprised his trainer and driver Gary Hall Jnr, who had been contemplating sending the New Zealand-bred gelding for a spell a couple of weeks ago.
“He had lightened off and had lost a fair bit of weight, and I thought he looked like he needed a bit of a break,” said Hall. But he was persuaded by his father, Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr, to keep racing him. This turned out to be sound advice.
“What I liked about Dalvey Robyn tonight was that he really stuck it out and had to dig deep,” said Hall Jnr.
Pinny Tiger, the $2.90 second favourite, began speedily from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and got to a three-quarter of a length lead over Swingband, who began fast from barrier eight and was able to deny Pinny Tiger the lead.
With the early speed (a lead time of 35.9sec.) Chris Voak was able to quickly angle Pinny Tiger across to trail the frontrunning Swingband, who steadied and went through the opening 400m sections in comfortable times of 31.1sec. and 30.2sec.
Dalvey Robyn was enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and two-back, in sixth position before Hall switched him three wide with 700m to travel. The gelding sustained his spirited burst and got up in the final stride.
Dalvey Robyn is by Washington VC and is the first foal out of unraced New Zealand mare Casey Robyn. He won twice in New Zealand, twice in New South Wales and five times in Victoria before arriving in WA where he now has had eight starts for two wins and three placings.
The win gave Hall the third leg of a driving quartet, with his other winners being Blaze On, Illawong Mustang and Jaxs Ideal.