Racing WA Harness

Matt Young’s rolled out the good jacket for a cool night at Gloucester Park.

Catch all of tonight’s pre‑race interviews over on our X account 🎥

Boy Blue lines up this week again for the Chris Voak yard looking for back-to-back victories in the Book Into Steelo's Tonight Pace on Friday night.

The son of Rock N Roll Heaven has won five and placed three times from twelve career outings and is currently quoted at $1.90 with TABtouch.

With 10 events on the card including the running of the Ray Duffy Memorial and the Harry Capararo Westbred 4&5yo Pace - let us entertain you this Friday night!

📸: PacePix |

Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo enhanced his reputation as one of the State’s best trainers of juvenile pacers when he landed the quinella in a thrilling finish to the $50,000 Team Bond Pearl Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He made a wise decision to drive American Machine ahead of stablemate Amalfi Knight, with American Machine justifying his confidence by winning the group 3 classic by a head from Amalfi Knight, who had won narrowly from American Machine in a qualifying heat.

“Amalfi Knight (driven by Dylan Egerton-Green) was huge, and he probably deserved to win,” said de Campo.

American Machine was the $1.60 favourite from the No. 3 barrier, with Amalfi Knight, starting from barrier five, the $2.50 second fancy.

Deni Roberts foiled de Campo’s plans of setting the pace by getting $11 chance Chugach away to a flying start from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and bursting straight to the lead.

This left Amalfi Knight in the breeze, with American Machine enjoying a perfect sit in the one-out, one-back position. After a fast lead time of 35.1sec. and opening quarters of 29.6sec. and 30.5sec. the final 400m sections were run in 29sec. and 28.4sec., with American Machine rating 1.55.3 which was a race record, lowering the 1.55.5 rate set by Theo Aviator in 2019.

de Campo became the first driver to win the classic twice, following his victory with Seaside Magic 12 months earlier when that pacer beat Captain Stirling, driven by Egerton-Green.

Amalfi Knight took a narrow lead with about 120m to travel, and he fought on grimly to lose by a head from American Machine.

“I was a bit concerned when Chugach burst to the front,” admitted de Campo. “American Machine went quite rough into the first bend, and he had to pick himself back up. He is still raw and learning how to race, and he can rip and tear at times. But he has a heap of high speed and has a huge engine.”

American Machine is out of American Ideal and is the second foal out of unraced Art Major mare Majors Gem, an older sister of one of de Campo’s stable stars Menemsha, who has raced 51 times for nine wins, 19 placings and $383,938 in prizemoney.

American Machine, bred and owned by Craig Lynn, has earned $71,530 from three wins and four placings from 12 starts.

Ken Casellas

“This is my first metro win, and it’s very exciting,” exclaimed Busselton trainer Katie Howlett after Chris Voak had driven the inexperienced five-year-old Brought To Light to an easy victory in the Westral Meshlock Security Doors And Screens Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Howlett has revived Bought To Light’s career this year after gelding was off the scene for 30 months after finishing second in the group 1 Golden Slipper in September 2023.

“He had a rushed preparation as a two-year-old when I had issues with him,” said Howlett. “And then after getting him back in work after a spell he kept going rough and galloping all the time.

“We couldn’t diagnose what was causing the trouble, and it was discovered that he had bone chips in a leg, and they were removed.

“But he still was not right. I worked it out that the problem was with his feet, and finally I used flip flops on him this preparation, and they have worked. I wish I had tried them on him earlier.”

Brought To Light was having his sixth start in his comeback campaign when he was the $3.40 favourite on Friday night. Voak got him away quickly from the No. 3 barrier and he dashed go the front after 150m when Aiden de Campo was content to take the sit with $6 chance Up And Alive.

Brought To Light sprinted over the final 800m in 55.8sec. and coasted to a 7m victory over the $3.80 second fancy Spitfire, who fought on gamely after working without cover all the way. Up And Alive finished a close-up third, with the winner rating 1.55.2.

Voak praised Brought To Light, saying: “There is no doubt he has the ability to step up to Free-For-Alls, providing his body holds up. He is strong and versatile, and patience and passion pays off.”

“I had an idea Brought To Light could win the Bunbury Horse of the Year award this season, but with this city win he might have limited opportunities to race at Bunbury (where he has had four starts this season for two wins, one third and one fourth placing),” said Howlett.

“I have 20 horses in training and the staff we have are great.”

Brought To Light is a nuggetty, well-muscled little pacer who now has raced 16 times for four wins, seven placings and $75,210 in prizemoney. He is a typical dark brown Bettors Delight gelding, who is the ninth foal out of the Dream Away mare Exposay, who produced former star pacer El Jacko.

El Jacko earned $620,010 from 41 wins and 48 placings from 183 starts. He had seven starts in New Zealand for two wins as a three-year-old before winning 21 times in Western Australia and being sent to the United States where he won another 19 times.

El Jacko is well remembered for his second to Rocknroll Lincoln in the WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park in January 2019 before he reversed the placings with his win in the Pinjarra Cup two months later.

Ken Casellas

IT'S RACE DAY!!

First Race : 11:58Am
Last Race: 4:50pm

FREE ENTRY
Gates and tote open at 11.00am

Restaurant Open - Book your table by calling 9531 1941
Happy Hour 4.30pm - close

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors, who make this race day possible. A Special thank you to BWC Civil & Contracting, Auto One Pinjarra, Signcraft, Mandurah Flooring, Alcoa, Dwyer Engineering, Stanbee Stockfeeds, Westside Auto Wholesale, Bendigo Bank & Gumnut Catering.

There will be our Lucky Losing Ticket Draw after Race 5. Win a $10.00 Tabtouch Voucher. Meat tray raffle throughout the day.

Our Members
Before Race 1 - Members draw for your chance to win a FREE Lunch
After Race 3 - Members free drink draw
After Race 9 - Members draw jackpot draw.

This week's jackpot is $100 in betting vouchers. If it isn't claimed after Race 9 there will be a bonus draw after the last race.

For all patrons, we also have Chase the Ace after the last race and Happy Hour from 4.30pm to close.

See you at the Trots.

American Machine and Amalfi Knight out out the finish for Four Diamonds Pacing in the Team Bond 3yo Pearl Classic; but it was American Machine who took the $50,000 prize!

| 📸: PacePix

American Machine will line up in tonight's Team Bond 3yo Colts & Geldings Pearl Classic Final as favourite for Aiden De Campo and Four Diamonds Pacing.

After qualifying second behind stable-mate Amalfi Knight in the slick time of 1:55.1, the son of American Ideal has landed barrier three in the $50,000 Group 3 final.

It's one of ten bumper fields with FREE ENTRY in the heart of Perth's premiere sporting district; East Perth.

📸: PacePix