Old warrior Washakie will miss big battle
First emergency Famous Alchemist has secured a start in tomorrow night's $400,000 Nepean Conveyors WA Pacing Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park after lameness forced Washakie's scratching.
Trainer Gary Hall booked reinsman Chris Voak to take his first drive behind five-year-old New Zealand import Famous Alchemist, a winner of 11 races.
"Famous Alchemist appears to have a tough task from gate seven," Hall said yesterday.
"But the unexpected often happens in big races and she's capable of surprising."
Hall, who has trained a record seven WA Pacing Cup winners, will also start Hokonui Ben, Toretto and Livingontheinterest tomorrow night.
Washakie's managing-owner Kevin Jeavons said the 10-year-old, a winner of 53 races, appeared to have injured a suspensory ligament.
"He'll go for a lengthy spell and we won't hesitate to retire him if the problem is worse than first thought," Jeavons said.
Meanwhile, the Ross Olivieri-trained Hez The Bart Man is thriving and looks set to handle a class rise in tomorrow night's cup.
He jumped up the rankings and earned a cup start when he won last Friday's Fremantle Cup Consolation (2536m).
Olivieri said Hez The Bart Man was named after cartoon character Bart Simpson, rather than 12-times Melbourne Cup- winning trainer Bart Cummings.
"His original owners registered him in New Zealand," Olivieri said. "Do The Bartman is a rap dance inspired by the Simpsons.
"Hez The Bart Man looked a cups horse when arriving in WA, but then lost his way. He's back on target at the right time."
