Northview Punter ploughs through rain to victory
New Zealand import Northview Punter earned a summer carnival feature events campaign when he ploughed through rain-affected conditions to win tonight's $35,000 Curtin FM August Cup (2536m) at Gloucester Park.
The Gary Hall-trained four-year-old, starting at $2.40, never looked in danger after leading from gate one and he finished 11m clear of runner-up Ima Rocket Star ($40.30).
Our Arlington ($16.20) ran third while $2.10 favourite David Hercules felt effects of racing outside Northview Punter and faded to seventh position.
David Hercules will almost certainly be spelled, but it's full steam ahead for Northview Punter.
He will contest a series of spring races before being aimed for the $400,000 WA Pacing Cup and $250,000 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park's summer carnival.
"Northview Punter is exceptional when leading," Hall said. "He'll be hard to beat if drawing to take up front running in the cups.
"I was very confident of winning tonight when he drew gate one. He'll be kept racing in selected events and then can have a short break before his cups preparation."
Northview Punter, driven tonight by Hall's son Gary Jar, gave the trainer his sixth August Cup victory.
Gary Hall Sir predicted a bright future for Machtu on the strength of his first-up win at$1.30 in tonight's Glengarry Spectacles 3YO Pace (2130m).
Machtu, also driven by Hall Jar, was unextended in beating Khun Ratha ($79.30) by 7.3m.
"It was a big effort by Machtu to win despite having raced three-wide," the trainer said. "His mission is the Nugget."
The $175,000 Golden Nugget will be run at Gloucester Park in December.
Dashing Christian ($4.50), driven by Robbie Williams in the Bio Flow Pace (2130m), also won for the Hall stable tonight.
Co-trainers Greg and Skye Bond landed a double tonight, which was highlighted by Tuapeka Kahu ($2.80 favourite) winning the $25,000 Kings Park Fashions The Schrader Final (2130m).
He defeated Say It Now ($10.90) by 2.2m.
"Tuapeka Kahu should win a lot more races," Greg Bond said. "We set him specifically for the Schrader Final. He'll continue his campaign in the immediate future."
Reinsman Ryan Warwick, who drove Tuapeka Kahu, won earlier for the Bonds with False Promise.
He started at $13.90 in the Boomer Bounce Pace (2503m) and produced a bold front running performance.
Trainer Mike Reed's brilliant bay Libertybelle Midfrew ($1.40 favourite) raced outside the leader and strode away to win tonight's Casey Australia Tours 3YO Fillies Pace (1730m) by 10m.
