Hall Jr back as ban ends
Premier trainer Gary Hall has named his son Gary Jr to drive Hokonui Ben ahead of in-form stablemates in the $60,000 Retravision The Village Kid (1730m) at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
And if Hall Jr thought he would be eased back after serving a month's suspension, Hall Sr had other ideas.
Hall Sr said he was keen to see "Junior" among the winners at his first meeting back from the suspension.
"I've listed him to take drives from our stable in each of the 10 races on Friday," he said.
The trainer, to also start last Friday's winners Livingontheinterest and Toretto in the feature event, predicts Hokonui Ben will break a run of three seconds.
"I reckon Hokonui Ben will have enough early speed to lead from the pole," Hall Sr said.
"He ran a top race after drawing barrier eight last week.
"The horse is at peak form and will be hard to run down if he takes front running."
Hall Sr has scored 52 Gloucester Park wins in the harness racing season's first four months and leads the city trainers' premiership by 26.
Reinsman Kim Prentice, who landed five Hall-trained winners last Friday, retains the drive behind Livingontheinterest tom-orrow night and Shane Butcher is booked for Toretto. Hokonui Ben, Livingontheinterest and Toretto will be aimed at the $250,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup (2536m) on January 10 and the $400,000 Nepean Conveyors WA Pacing Cup (2936m) a week later.
Hall Sr said he had also nominated his son to drive Vapour, Famous Alchemist, Northview Punter, The Ragpickers Dream, Rowchester, Soho Highroller, Classic American, Prince Eddie and This Time Dylan tomorrow night.
Vapour, a winner at two of three starts since arriving from New Zealand, will clash with trainer-reinsman Colin Brown's promising four-year-old Erskine Range in the Retravision As Local As You Pace (2130m).
"Erskine Range has won three races lately and is favourably drawn," Hall said.
"Vapour will probably need luck to beat him. I'm more confident we can win the three year-old race with Classic American."
The Michael Brennan-trained In The Perfect Storm, to be driven by Justin Prentice, is expected to be prominent in the third heat in _The West Australian _ Nights of Thunder series.
Nine qualifiers will contest the $50,000 final over 1730m on January 3.
In The Perfect Storm has won six races and run 13 places in his past 21 starts.
