Rank Outsider Menemsha Triumphs – Gloucester Park Harness Racing

Ken Casellas | PACEPIX

Twenty-two-year-old Joey Suvaljko, the youngest driver in the $50,000 Channel 7 August Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night, combined with the youngest runner, four-year-old Menemsha, to cause a major upset by scoring a thrilling last-to-first victory.

The 2536m event, which was expected to develop into a test of strength between millionaire stars Magnificent Storm, the $2.20 favourite, and Mighty Ronaldo ($3.90), turned into a fierce battle between the two horses and the $5.50 third fancy Lusaka during the first lap and a half.

With both star pacers exerting themselves in spirited bids to get past the early leader Lusaka, Suvaljko was quite content to remain at the rear of the field with Menemsha, who was a rank outsider at $84.80 (and a $91 chance on the fixed odds market).

The victory in the Group 3 event gave Suvaljko his biggest success in harness racing, and it was his 60TH win this year, taking his career total to 109.

He gained the drive when Menemsha’s trainer Aiden De Campo remained as the regular reinsman for the Ray Williams-trained Magnificent Storm. Suvaljko’s only previous drive behind Menemsha was on April 11 this year when the four-year-old finished second to Justcallmemiki at Gloucester Park.

Friday night’s win was a triumph for De Campo, who produced Menemsha in wonderful condition for his first appearance for eleven weeks.

Deni Roberts sent Lusaka straight to the front from barrier two after the five-year-old was able to withstand an early challenge from $51 chance Hoppys Way.

Mighty Ronaldo, driven by Gary Hall Jnr from out wide at barrier No. 8, raced wide early to move quickly to the breeze, while De Campo did not bustle Magnificent Storm early after beginning from the outside (No. 9) on the front line.

It was after 650m that De Campo set Magnificent Storm alight, and the eight-year-old sprinted fast from last position to challenge the leaders. But Magnificent Storm was held out, three wide, as Mighty Ronaldo kicked up in the breeze position before he finally got to the front with about 1200m to travel, leaving Magnificent Storm in the breeze.

The opening quarter of the final mile had just been covered in 28.6sec., and after the fireworks, the final three 400m sections were run (off the front) in 30.2sec., 30sec. and 29sec., with Menemsha rating 1.57.3.

Menemsha, who began from the No. 3 barrier, settled down in the one-wide line in fourth position before Suvaljko restrained the gelding and angled him across to the inside to race five back on the pegs.

“I was looking for the fence, and a little voice in my head was saying to stay where I was (in the one-wide line),” said Suvaljko. Menemsha was shuffled back to last in the field of twelve, but Suvaljko was not concerned, saying: “I got a perfect run into it.”

Menemsha was still last when Suvaljko eased him off the inside 550m from home before the gelding sprinted strongly out four and five wide to burst to the front 40 metres from the post on his way to beating $31 chance Rolling Fire by a half-length after that pacer had come from 11TH in the middle stages and seventh (three wide) at the bell to take the lead on the home turn.

This was the third time that Rolling Fire’s driver Trent Wheeler had finished second to Menemsha in feature group events after Grevis was runner-up in the Pearl Classic and Westbred Classic for two-year-olds in 2023.

Magnificent Storm battled on manfully to finish a gallant fifth on Friday night, while Mighty Ronaldo wilted to finish last.

For De Campo the August Cup result was a bittersweet moment, being disappointed at Magnificent Storm’s unplaced run and preparing Menemsha for victory.

“It was a weird feeling,” explained De Campo. “Magnificent Storm’s performance was unreal. I thought we had to make our move when we did; they were going to back off, and Mighty Ronaldo had done some work. We needed to put Magnificent Storm into the race. He was super the way he hung on.”

Menemsha is by American sire Sunshine Beach and is the fifth foal out of Falcon Seelster mare Falcons Gem, who was retired after managing one third placing from three Pinjarra starts in 2011.

Falcons Gem’s claim to fame is that her half-brothers Rare Gem and Ebony Gem shone on the racetrack, with Rare Gem having 72 starts for 11 wins, 21 placings and $215,350, and Ebony Gem racing 43 times for 13 wins, 19 placings and $317,030. Ebony Gem’s wins included the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park in August 2008, while Rare Gem won the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Moonee Valley in February 2001.

Menemsha, who is raced by several of De Campo’s stable clients, was purchased by De Campo for $47,500 at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, and the gelding has now earned $337,910 from eight wins and 15 placings from 35 starts.

Menemsha will now be set for several rich feature events, including the $100,000 Westbred Classic next Friday week, the $50,000 Four-Year-Old Championship on October 10, the $125,000 Four-Year-Old Classic on October 24 and the $200,000 Golden Nugget in December.