Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Heavenly Gipsy, the only mare in the $31,000 Vale Chris Garrard Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, proved too speedy for her male rivals, including millionaire superstar Magnificent Storm.
Gary Hall Jnr set a cracking pace with the $2.65 second fancy Heavenly Gipsy after a solid 36.8sec. lead time and an opening 30sec. quarter before the mare sprinted over the final three 400m sections in 28.6sec., 27.7sec. and 28.7sec. and rated a smart 1.54.7.
Magnificent Storm, reappearing after a 16-week absence, was the $2.25 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Heavenly Gipsy dashed straight to the front from the No. 1 barrier, while Magnificent Storm settled down in ninth position before Deni Roberts switched him three wide after 420m to move to the breeze after a lap.
Magnificent Storm got to within a neck of Heavenly Gipsy with 225m to travel and then moved almost on terms with Heavenly Gipsy 100m from the post. He fought on determinedly to finish third, just a head behind the second placegetter, the $126 outsider Arma Einstein, who raced three back on the pegs before flashing home to finish 2m from the winner.
“Heavenly Gipsy probably will never beat Magnificent Storm again,” said the mare’s trainer Michael Young. “It looked for a fleeting moment that magnificent Storm had her, but she dug in and kicked, which is not always easy for a mare to do.
“Heavenly Gipsy will now go for a little break and will come back for the rich feature events for mares later in the year. And I would say that if she draws to lead in any of those races, she will be awfully hard to beat.”
Seven-year-old Heavenly Gipsy has raced superbly in WA with her six starts in the State resulting in four wins and a second placing, improving her record to 51 starts for 13 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $148,389.