Junior takes Gardys Legacy to an emotional victory

Top reinsman Gary Hall Jun. piloted Gardys Legacy to an emotional all-the-way win in Friday night’s $50,000 Pearl Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park. Aside from delivering an emotional moment for trainer Justin Prentice, owner Jacqueline Bowden and the Gardiner family, Hall also recorded his sixth consecutive win. Hall had won with Rakasinc in his final drive at Tuesday night’s Gloucester Park meeting and drove Friday’s first five winners, including outsider Just Rockon Bye. His winning run was broken when he finished third with Always An Honour in the Direct Trades Supply Pace (2536m). Bowden, a sister of Gardiner’s widow Kirsty and the sole owner of the three-year-old, is also Prentice’s fiancee. Post-race, Prentice declared the gelding would be prepared in order to keep the momentum rolling. “He came through extra well,” Prentice said. “He’ll now have a few days off before we give him one or two races leading up to the Westbred Classic in June.” Earlier in the night, Lord Rosco’s impressive regional form came to an abrupt halt at pacing headquarters, after he fell away when finishing 10th to Balcatherine in the Tabtouch Pace (1730m). On the back of three consecutive wins at Donaldson Park, Stephen Reed’s five-year-old was among the pre-race fancies and for three quarters of the journey, he was in striking distance of making it four. However when Hall Jun. boldly sent Balcatherine five-wide along the Optus Stadium side of the course during the bell lap, it was over for Lord Rosco, who was unable to match her pace when the heat was turned up. Hall Jun. and Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo, who was guiding Just Barney, proceeded to break away from the field, however the mare had too much toe in the closing stages and got home by 4.2m. De Campo did not leave the track empty handed however, after piloting Delightfulreaction to a tight win over Queen Shenandoah in the Etch Coatings Fillies and Mares Pace (2130m). After sitting in a beautiful position for the majority of the journey, De Campo turned the screws halfway down the back straight, with a searing sprint from the mare giving the field plenty to ponder as they turned for home. In the straight, Delightfulreaction got to the front and despite a persistent Queen Shenandoah following close behind, managed to stay there. Harvey-born and raised reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green also got into the winners’ circle, after claiming line honours with Bletchley Park in the Simmonds Steel Pace (2130m). The short-priced favourite began very wide, although his class allowed him to wing his way into contention very early and he went on to claim line honours. A surprise from the trip was De Campo’s four-year-old Bettor Be Oscar, who finished fifth after being restrained at the start. Entering with three wins from his last four, the gelding was unable to replicate his notable pace.