Hokonui Ben moves to Cortopassi
WA Pacing Cup winner Hokonui Ben has been transferred to trainer Aldo Cortopassi in a shock move.
Queensland-based owner Jer-oen Nieuwenburg made the call less than three weeks after Hokonui Ben led all the way to win the WA Pacing Cup (2936m) for leading trainer Gary Hall.
"An Inter Dominion campaign is the next stop on the horizon for Hokonui Ben," Nieuwenburg said. "I saw Aldo as the best man to give him the best chance.
"I'm grateful for everything Gary has done for me and wish him all the best for the future."
Hokonui Ben, a winner at 17 of 51 starts, ran a half-head second to the Hall-trained Livingontheinterest in the Lord Mayors Cup (2130m) at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
The seven-year-old will arrive at Cortopassi's Darling Downs stables today.
He will tackle a $48,000 Inter Dominion qualifying heat (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Saturday week.
"I'm on a bit of a hiding to nothing with a Pacing Cup winner but it's an opportunity I will grab," Cortopassi said.
"He's a great horse and the Inters will be his No.1 target.
"We'll roll the dice and try to qualify for it."
The $750,000 Inter Dominion Final (3009m) will be run at Menangle on March 2.
Brilliant Fremantle Cup (2536m) winner Im Victorious is also an Inters candidate.
Cortopassi is likely to start Mohegan Sun in The Lewis Qualifying Heat (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He also has Pride Of Colorado set to resume on the same night. Cortopassi expects Raymon John to be hard to beat in Thursday's $30,000 Narrogin Retravision Pacing Cup (2662m).
·New Zealand pacer Bettors Off-er has been bought by trainers Greg and Skye Bond and is likely to be aimed at the $200,000 WA Derby (2536m) in April.
Bettors Offer won three of eight starts for trainer Barry Purdon and also ran second in the Group 1 NZ Sires Stakes (1950m).
