When you look at the pacing superstars West Australian harness racing trainer Gary Hall snr has trained, it’s obvious he’s a big fan of New Zealand and Southern Bred Southern Reared stock.
Running an eye over his list of top ten pacers, all ten are New Zealand bred and seven are SBSR.
The SBSR seven are Im Themightyquinn, Chicago Bull, Beaudiene Boaz, Jumpingjackmac, Deigo, Hokonui Ben and Wildwest.
Im Themightyquinn and Gary Hall jnr
“I’ve got his half-brother to Wild West here at the moment (Im Stealth). It won it’s first start the other day and went really well,” Hall said.
D Mac (Downbytheseaside)is also an SBSR horse.
D Mac (Bruce Stewart Photo)
“He’ll be racing next Friday night I hope. He’s got a few little tricks up his sleeve. He’s a colt and a bit of a handful, but he’s working pretty good.”
Another recent addition to the stable is Methuselah, (Bettor’s Wish) a qualified but unraced two year old bred by Macca Lodge.
“He’s nowhere near racing, I haven’t hoppled him yet.”
Hall has won over 3,200 races. Fifty have been Group One races and most of those with New Zealand bred horses.
“I think WA bred horses are going to start to get better now that we’re allowed to go to any stallions as long as the mare is domiciled here. The quality of WA bred horses is getting better, but I still think New Zealand is the place to go.”
Hall has been training since 1988 and has won the WA Trainers Premiership a number of times.
“Fred Kelsley was the leading trainer in WA for twenty five years. I took over from him. The reason for that was that I stopped concentrating on WA bred horses. I went outside the square and bought New Zealand horses.”
Hall’s enthusiasm for New Zealand stock was buoyed by two of his early purchases.
He purchased Abit Rich from John Vincent after he’d won seven races in New Zealand. He went on to win another seven for Hall. He also purchased The Falcon Strike, a nine start maiden which went on to win 41 races and bank over $1.2 million.
Two of Hall’s best horse both SBSR, Im Themightyquinn and Chicago Bull, still live on the property.
“Yep, they’re here. They look great. I’m a little bit worried they’re going to outlast me (laugher). I’m seventy six on Tuesday.”
Hall snr says his son is training a few more horses. Gary Hall jnr has held a license for a while but hasn’t concentrated on training, preferring to drive instead. He’s trained 53 winners to date.
He recently bought Bettathanlife from Oamaru trainer Matty Williamson. The three year old Captain Crunch filly had one start in NZ, finishing third. She won her debut in Pinjarra for Hall jnr last Monday by thirty three metres.
“A guy that rang up to give me a horse thought he was talking to me but was talking to Junior and he gave the horse to him (laughter). The horse was Miki Jet. It won a few races (6) and the bloke’s given him a couple more.”
Junior has also had success with Dalvey Robyn (3 wins) bred by Graeme Edgar, Bluto (1) and Dawson (4), all New Zealand bred. Bluto is jointly owned by Mick Boots and Mosgiel horseman Graeme Anderson.
Bluto (Bruce Stewart Photo)
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink