Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Master trainer Gary Hall Snr holds a strong hand in next Friday night’s Group 3 Four And Five-Year-Old Championship after Im The Black Flash and Skylou resumed racing in grand fashion in the Retravision For All the Electrical Stuff You Love Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Im The Black Flash, racing first-up after an absence of 14 weeks, overcame the 50m back mark to score an easy victory, while Skylou, racing first-up for 15 weeks and sharing the back mark, gave an outstanding performance to finish third.
Im The Black Flash, driven by Stuart McDonald, was a $5 chance, with Skylou (Gary Hall Jnr) sharing favouritism at $4 with frontmarker Chilli Punter (Kyle Symington), and last-start winner Ideal Muscle (Aiden De Campo and off the 20m mark) well supported at $4.20.
Skylou paced roughly at the start and lost several lengths as he settled down a distant last. Im The Black Flash raced at the rear while Chilli Punter was setting a brisk pace, with Acushla Machree ($8.50) working hard in the breeze.
McDonald began a three-wide move approaching the bell and Im The Black Flash sustained a spirited burst to get to the front 100m from the post on his way to winning by two lengths from Chilli Punter, with Skylou charging home from last at the bell to finish third.
The winner rated 1.57.5 in notching his twelfth win from 32 starts and taking his earnings to $207,294. The Hall stable is expected to nominate Im The Black Flash, Skylou, Mister Smartee and Alta Tribute for next Friday night’s $50,000 event. Alta Tribute has won at six of his nine starts and resumed after a spell last month with two starts for two wins at Pinjarra.