By Adam Hamilton
Champion trainer Gary Hall Sr thinks former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee is his next superstar.
Hall Sr was moved to declare the lightly raced five-year-old second-only to the amazing Im Themightyquinn as the best horse he has trained after Mister Smartee’s win in last night’s $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.
Having just his 22nd start, Mister Smartee took advantage of a stalking run behind the two big guns – Minstrel and Swayzee – and gunned them down late to post his 17th and by far biggest win.
“He’s really good, this horse and he’s still learning and getting better,” Hall Sr said. “I love him. I didn’t know if I’d get another really top horse at this stage of my career (75 years old), so he’s special.”
Hall Sr now has a decision to make about the Brisbane Inter Dominion starting on July 5.
“I said he needed to win this to seriously consider taking him so I have to now,” he said. “It’s just such a long trip and to have to run into Leap To Fame, who is the greatest horse I’ve seen.
“I’ll get through next week and then weigh it all up.”
Next week is the $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup which will be basically a repeat of the Nullarbor but over the marathon 2936m trip, compared to last night’s 2536m.
Hall Sr said last night’s win was one of the best and most satisfying of his career.
It’s a huge call from the 75-year-old given he has won a staggering 13 WA Pacing Cup, 10 Fremantle Cups and three Inter Dominion finals.
“That’s right up there with anything, seriously,” he said. “The build-up to the race was enormous, there was a real us against them thing with the eastern states horses, especially Swayzee.
“I felt there was a bit of a lack of respect and understanding of our horses and how this (Gloucester Park) track races … yes, we had a point to prove.
“As the race got closer, I grew in confidence. Just this week I thought we finally had him spot on.
Mister Smartee, a five-year-old former Kiwi pacer having just his 22nd start, sat in the one-one trail and stalked the two favourites Minstrel (leader) and Swayzee (outside leader) as they went to war up front.
Swayzee, one of the great stayers of the modern era, mauled favourite Minstrel through opening splits of the last mile in 29.4 and 27.8sec.
Minstrel looked to have Swayzee beaten before the final bend, but the swoopers, headed by Mister Smartee and Gee Heza Sport, were looming.
“Yes, we had the sit on them, but it still takes a huge effort to race one-off the pegs the whole way, chasing a pace like that, and pull out three-wide then run them down,” driver Gary Hall Jr said.
“He’s done a mighty job in a short period of time, this horse.
Mister Smartee’s 1min54.4sec mile rate for the long 2536m trip was just 0.4sec outside the track record.
The Kiwi flavour was strong with NZ-bred pacers filling the trifecta. Gee Heza Sport ran second with his Team Bond-trained stablemate, Minstrel, a close third.
Kiwi great Colin DeFilippi, who bred and previously trained Gee Heza Sport, was trackside and thrilled with his run.
“I wasn’t sure he’d be up to these horses, but Greg (Bond, co-trainer) certainly was. It looks like he’s going to do a great job over here, he said.
Dual NZ Cup winner Swayzee was struggling before the final bend, but kept digging deep as he always does to finish a close-up fourth.
Mister Smartee gave WA its first home state win in the three runnings of the Nullarbor.
“That’s a big part of the thrill. It’s really been eating away at me, especially this week in the build up … WA just needed to win our own big race,” Hall Jr said.
