Mister Gandolfini is a gift horse, given to Willis a year ago by Sydney owner George Paltos. In the time she has owned Mister Gandolfini, the gelding has won five races and $25,859.

Mister Gandolfini started from barrier five and urged forward by Hall he quickly dashed to the front. "I didn't think we'd find the front from the start and I was just hoping to get to the one-wide line," Hall said. "Once in front he was always comfortable.

"About five runs ago he was not going all that well and Prue said ‘what do we do now?' I suggested putting him in claimers. They're not the strongest fields, but the way he won tonight he's going to win a couple more."

Willis gives Mister Gandolfini no trackwork and the gelding's preparation is restricted to saddle work in the bush at Port Kennedy. "Light works suits him and it helps to keep the weight on," she said.

Willis is now training three pacers, the others being Tealsby Karita and Falcons Dragon.

Tealsby Karita, now a ten-year-old, is on the comeback trail after being laid low by tendon injuries. He has earned $322,735 from his 25 wins and 23 placings from 79 starts. The Victorian-bred pacer has had 14 starts in WA for eight wins and two placings. He scored a magnificent victory over Flashing Red in the $250,000 WA Pacing Cup in March 2007.

Tealsby Karita last appeared when unplaced in the Mount Eden Sprint in October 2008 after winning at his two previous starts. Willis has had the gelding in work for five weeks and she reported that he is showing no problems with his troublesome nearside tendon.

The New Zealand-bred Falcons Dragon is the winner of eight races and $84,301 from 69 starts.

Hall completed a double when he was successful with 7/4 on favourite Tai Tara, who set the pace and beat Not Bad Johnnie and the fast-finishing Jayares Lad in the Hahn Super Dry Pace.

Ken CASELLAS