After last Friday night at Gloucester Park was dominated by favourites, last night was significantly harder for the punters elect’s to salute.
There were 10 different trainers take out the 10 races, while Chris Lewis was the only driver on the evening to record a winning double.
The first of Lewis’ winners came in the $7 Pints At JP’s Pace (1730m) with six-year-old mare The Spinster, before he completed his double with Heez About To Rock in the final event of the evening.
The shortest price favourite of the evening was the Gary Hall Snr-trained Speed Man, who was looking to make it five wins from seven starts to begin his campaign in the Steelo’s Midweek Meals Pace (2536m).
Driver Gary Hall Jnr made his move to the front past the winning post with two laps to go and from there was never in danger of being beaten.
Hall Snr has identified the Group 1 Golden Nugget over the summer period as a target for Speed Man.
Hall Jnr said Speed Man still had plenty of improvement left in him prior to the feature races in the coming months.
“He’s ticking along really nicely,” he said.
“He’s maturing every time and he’s quite a nice horse.
“He’s got a few strings to his bow, he’s got depth, he’s got speed and he’s starting to put it all together.”
Meanwhile, the Michael Brennan-trained Whenmechief has ended his time in Perth on a high, taking out the GP’s Bridge Bar Pace (2536m).
Whenmechief joined Brennan’s stable in March and has won two races from 20 starts since the move.
The eight-year-old held the lead from barrier one for Michael Grantham, before he held off a late charge from Trustytrev.
The gelding will now head back to Melbourne, where the owners will plan out a campaign for him.
Meanwhile, the Justin Prentice-trained and driven Im Stylish took out the Vale Phil Bonser Mares Pace (2130m), the other of the feature events on the night.
Tim Walker