Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Newley-crowned Australian drivers’ champion Gary Hall is planning an all-the-way success with Spicey Major in the $30,000 Warwick Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night after the former Victorian pacer drew the coveted No. 1 barrier.
“I’d like to think Spicey Major will not get crossed at the 2130m start,” said Hall, who trains the five-year-old. “Last Friday night he began from the inside barrier and was crossed at the start (by Soho Santorini in a 2536m event).
“And once he got crossed, he was in all sorts of bother when he pulled hard (when trailing the leader and then when being shuffled back to three back on the pegs before running home gamely to finish fifth behind Ventura).
“This week I think he should hold up and then make every post a winner. At his first start in WA (over 2130m on November 15) Spicey Major began from barrier six and crossed to the front, beating out Rockandrollartist, who began from barrier one and is one of the fastest beginners in the State.”
Spicey Major overraced in the lead before winning by three lengths from Rockandrollartist, rating 1.55.4. Spicey Major has led at each of his four wins from seven starts in WA after leading at four of his six wins in Victoria.
Spicey Major is owned by prominent Riverina (New South Wales) businessman Mick Boots, who also races the Lindsay Harper-trained and driven Chivalry, who is favourably drawn at the No. 2 barrier in Friday night’s race.
Boots, who races more than one hundred pacers and trotters in Australia and New Zealand, is the proud owner of Betterzippit, who won the inaugural $1 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park in April 2023.
He also owns four other runners who should be prominent on Friday night, Blaze On (race one), Unlucky (race two), Dalvey Robyn (race five) and the outstanding square gaiter Hold That Gold (race seven).
Hold That Gold, driven by Deni Roberts for Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop, has won at his past five starts and looks outstanding from barrier three in the You’ve Got The Touch With Mobile Trot.
Roberts will drive consistent five-year-old Gully Gum from barrier six in Friday night’s Warwick Pace. Gully Gum had a tough run in the breeze when a fighting third behind Spicey Major and Torpedo Rock over 1684m at Pinjarra on Tuesday of last week. That followed convincing wins at Bunbury at his two previous appearances.
Holy Hecka and Insta Gator have drawn out wide but are capable of figuring in the finish. Holy Hecka, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed, will start from the No. 8 barrier, with the Jocelyn Young-trained and driven Insta Gator on the outside at No. 9.
The lightly raced Holy Hecka resumed after a spell last Friday night when he began from barrier nine in a 2130m event. He was tenth and last at the bell before running home solidly to finish fourth behind Navy Street.
“I wasn’t disappointed with his run last week, and he will only improve,” said Reed. “Holy Hecka will be driven the same way again. He will go back early before running home, and he will improve on last week’s performance.”
Insta Gator has been freshened up since he raced without cover and finished fourth behind Golden Lode over 2130m four Fridays ago. That followed three excellent runs in November, a win over The Beaudster, and seconds to Waverider and Penny Black.
Benji, trained by Nathan Turvey, is the only runner on the back line. He reappeared after a spell at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when he set a solid pace before wilting to finish ninth behind veteran pacer Rock Me Over over 2536m.
Benji will be driven by Emily Suvaljko, and Turvey said that the six-year-old should appreciate being driven with a sit and should perform well over 2130m.