Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred colt Hes Never Been Beta looks set to develop into one of the State’s best three-year-olds this season, following his impressive first-up victory in the 2130m Aaron Bain Ownership Opportunities Available Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Produced in fine fettle by champion trainer Gary Hall Snr for his first-up run after a four-month absence, Hes Never Been Beta, the $1.30 favourite, started from barrier four, took the lead after 150m and went on to win by a half-length from stablemate Star Lavra ($5.50), rating 1.58.3 after final 400m sections of 28.1sec. and 28.2sec.
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr said that Hes Never Been Beta was capable of considerable improvement. “He is lazy but has got a bit of everything — good gate speed and good speed,” he said. “He had a good look around out there.”
Star Lavra, reappearing after being off the scene for eight months, also impressed with his strong finishing effort for Stuart McDonald after racing in third place in the Indian file affair.
“Star Lavra is a big lump of a horse, but he has a very good motor,” said Hall. “He is coming along in leaps and bounds, and I think that he and Hes Never Been Beta, along with Ima Black Flash will develop into good WA Derby prospects late this year.
“So, our stable should be able to make a pretty strong attack on the Derby (on November 3). And we have got a new three-year-old in Mister Smartee, who arrived from New Zealand about six weeks ago.”
Hall said he would probably face a difficult decision regarding his choice of three-year-old in the Derby, considering that he drove the Justin Prentice-trained Never Ending six times last year as a two-year-old for six wins, including three Group 1 features, the Pearl, the Westbred Classic and the Golden Slipper.