Prentice family on a roll with consecutive Cups
North Boyanup pacer Rocknroll Lincoln scored a brilliant all-the-way win for top reinsman Gary Hall Jr in Friday night’s $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup (2936m) at Gloucester Park.
The Justin Prentice-trained five-year-old delivered Hall his eighth WA Pacing Cup and broke a driving record he shared with Phil Coulson.
Rocknroll Lincoln, who rated 1:56.7, won by 1.3m from El Jacko while Maczaffair finished a close third and favourite My Field Marshal finished fourth.
Hall said all went according to plan, but he had a brief scare when El Jacko secured an inside run with 50m to travel and finished fast.
“Rocknroll Lincoln hung out near home and El Jacko got through,” Hall said. “But we had a safe margin when El Jacko charged along the pegs.
“I think Rocknroll Lincoln is still on the improve. He’s capable of emerging as a major winner on interstate tracks.”
Hall took Rocknroll Lincoln straight to the lead from gate two and Vampiro raced outside him.
Galactic Star held fourth position in the one-wide line and My Field Marshal trailed him.
My Field Marshal and Galactic Star then launched three-wide moves at the bell.
But Hall allowed Rocknroll Lincoln more rein near the 300m and he asserted superiority when drawing to a commanding lead.
The triumph gave North Boyanup-based Prentice, 30, his 12th Group 1 training success.
Rocknroll Lincoln’s victory provided the Prentice family with a second consecutive WA Pacing Cup. Justin’s father Kim drove Soho Tribeca to win last year.
Kim Prentice also trained and drove WA Pacing Cup winner Baltic Eagle. In addition, he drove champion Im Themightyquinn to a WA Pacing Cup victory.
Justin Prentice said plans would soon be made for Rocknroll Lincoln.
“We'll just enjoy the big night before making plans,” Justin Prentice said. “Gary reckons he’s up to winning in the East, but at this stage I’m undecided on his next races.”
Prentice has driven numerous feature event winners, but booked Hall for the cup drive.
“Gary won with Rocknroll Lincoln when I was under a suspension last year,” Prentice said. “He was impressed by the horse and wanted to keep driving him. They are a great team.”
The bay was bought in New Zealand last season by a syndicate of Prentice’s clients.
Rocknroll Lincoln’s emergence was timely for Hall after his star drive Chicago Bull was injured in New Zealand last October.
Chicago Bull, trained by Hall’s father Gary Sr, is spelling.
“I didn't think I had a cup winning hope when Chicago Bull needed to go out,” Hall said.
“But Rocknroll Lincoln showed big race potential in two recent wins.
“He was unlucky when checked and unplaced in the Fremantle Cup last week.
“The horse has kept getting better with racing and he was always travelling well tonight.
“All week I had toyed with the idea of taking a sit, but we decided to lead and he was never seriously threatened.”
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