Racing WA Harness, 14 Hasler Road, Perth (2026)

07/09/2026

Emotions overflowed and some tears flowed at Gloucester Park on Friday night when 20-year-old Liam Elliott celebrated his first two group feature victories.

Elliott spent three months on the sidelines earlier in the year while he recovered from a fractured left wrist, suffered in a race accident on Friday March 13 when his horse Trittrittbangbang, a $126 outsider, met with severe interference, and he crashed on to the track.

“I spent 12 weeks out of action and when I got back to driving nothing was going right all the time, and it was getting to the stage when I thought about quitting the sport,” said Elliott after driving the $2 favourite Seaside Serenade to an all-the-way victory in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies.

This gave Elliott his first success in a group1 feature event just under two hours after his first win in a group 2 event, scored with $5.60 chance Lazi Days in the $100,000 Fly Like An Eagle Westbred Classic for four-year-old male pacers.

Both Elliott’s winners are prepared by 40-year-old Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell, who admitted that he has been the young driver’s harshest critic, but said he was delighted that Elliott had not made the decision to quit harness racing.

“This year has been really challenging for me, and it was getting to the stage that I considered getting out of the sport and thought I should get back to my apprenticeship as a chippy,” said Elliott.

Bell revealed that health issues had seriously affected horses in his stable, and he said: “Everything has been a bit of a struggle lately, and I have had the worst four months of my career. Things have been out of control, and we still have horses who are very sick.

“This viral problem starts with horses tieing up and then they don’t want to eat or drink. We have still got horses who have no life about them. They have been knocked for six.

“The health problem hasn’t helped Liam. It hasn’t helped him to have confidence in the stable horses he has been driving, and it has been hard for him to make the right decisions out on the track.

“I have been there as a driver, as well. I have been hard on Liam, but he has turned things around in the past couple of weeks. He puts in as much effort into the stable as I do, and as a driver he has very good hands.”

Bell revealed that Seaside Serenade was fortunate to be able to contest Friday night’s classic, saying: “She is a tired filly. She was here tonight on borrowed legs. I have been trying to keep her mentally bright after she copped a bit of the viral.

Having a good draw (barrier two) helped her, and I couldn’t be more proud of her and Liam. It was such a gruelling effort to get her here, and now I think the best thing will be to put her away and bring her back next year.”

Seaside Serenade failed to reach her reserve price of $30,000 at the 2025 Perth APG yearling sale before being sold for $35,000, with owners Albert and Julie Walmsley more than happy with the filly’s earnings of $212,409 from six wins and one third placing from eight starts, as well as many more thousands in bonus payments.

Seaside Serenade is by American sire Downbytheseaside and is the second foal out of Sportswriter mare Tenniele Erin, who raced 14 times for five wins, seven placings and $88,180.

Tenniele Erin’s wins included the Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in April 2017. Her first foal Lion Queen has earned $147,884 from nine wins and seven placings from 28 starts. Tenniele Erin’s American dam Lilianna Beauty had 134 starts for ten wins, 41 placings and $135,274.

On Friday night Seaside Serenade withstood an early challenge for the lead from the $3.50 second favourite Nevele Arma, who was forced to race without cover before fighting on gamely to finish a 2m second.

Seaside Serenade was able to coast through the lead time in a slow 38sec. before modest opening quarters of 31.2sec. and 29.5sec. A fast third quarter of 27.7sec. had life tough for her rivals and then she covered the final 400m in 29.1sec.

Earlier in the night Lazi Days set the pace before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.3sec. to win the group 2 event by a half-neck from $7 chance Major Disco, who trailed the frontrunner and was held in a pocket until the late stages, and then finished strongly.

Captain Stirling, the $3 favourite from the back line, raced in the breeze for much of the 2536m journey before wilting to finish seventh.

“The plan was to go into this race, first-up,” said Bell. “We are fortunate that he was one of the first ones to be affected by the viral problem, and the plan was to get him right going into this race, first-up, after I had given him a hard trial to get him top-notch for tonight’s event over the long trip.

“I wanted to sack him as a two-year-old because we couldn’t get him to stay in his gear and pace. Thankfully, Tiffany said there’s no chance of that because we bred him.

“Lazi Dais used to jump out of his gear for no reason, and we couldn’t stop him. Even when I brought him back as a three-year-old he was doing the same thing. So, I pulled up his hopples and tightened his head check --- and away he went.

“The Golden Nugget (a $200,000 event over 2536m on November 6) is the plan, and we will be concentrating on getting him ready for that big race. There are some impressive four-year-olds around at the moment, but I don’t think that he will be out of play.”

Elliott’s only previous drive behind Lazy Dais was at Pinjarra on March 2 this year when the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding rated 1.56.4 over 2185m and won by a half-neck from The Bettor Side.

Lazi Dais, who has earned $179,401 from eleven wins and five placings from 24 starts is the only foal out of Victorian-bred mare Moon Goddess, who raced 13 times in WA in 2019 and 2020 as a two and three-year-old for two wins, three placings and $36,025 in stakes.

Bell and Elliott did not rest on their laurels, and they went to Bunbury on Saturday night when Elliott landed a double, winning with the Bell-trained eight-year-old Hillview Bondi ($6.60) and the eight-year-old Michael Blakemore-trained gelding Local Resident ($2.80).

Watch Seaside Serenade's replay here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/6/GPM04092601

07/09/2026

Champion youngster Hez The Boss extended his winning sequence to eight when he proved the master of his rivals in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic for two-year-old c**ts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“The Golden Slipper (a $150,000 feature on September 25) is his next target,” said reinsman Gary Hall jnr after driving the Poster Boy gelding for a comfortable win in the 2130m group 1 classic.

Hez The Boss, the $1.60 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, began brilliantly and burst straight to the front and then relaxed and coasted through the lead time in 38.4sec. and the opening 400m sections in 31.6sec. and 30.2sec. before dashing over the final quarters in 28sec. and 28.4sec. to win by just over a length from the $2.20 second fancy Ignite The Furnace, who began from the prized No. 1 barrier and raced behind the pacemaker all the way.

“I knew Hez The Boss could begin that fast,” said Hall. “I wanted to make sure we crossed Ignite The Furnace, and this was the only time we really had to do it. Then it was the strongest he has ever travelled and it was one of his easiest wins.”

Ideal Whisper, a $6.50 chance, raced in the breeze and kept Ignite The Furnace in a water-tight pocket throughout before that gelding gained an inside passage in the final stages to finish second, a head in front of Ideal Whisper.

Hez The Boss, a $100,000 yearling and raced by Liam O’Connor and Trevor Lindsay, has shone under the care of veteran Banjup trainer Colin Brown, and has already amassed $356,978 in prizemoney from eight wins, with his only defeat was on debut when he was a $7 chance from the outside barrier in a six-horse field and raced in last position before surging home to finish second, a short half-head from the winner and $1.70 favourite Seaside Serenade.

It was a profitable evening for Lindsay, who bred and owns promising filly A Precious Gem, who caused a surprise when Maddison Brown drove the $20.40 chance to a narrow victory in the group 2 $100,000 Allwood Stud Farm For Your Breeding Requirements Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies.

Serpentine trainer Dylan Egerton-Green had two runners in the race, and he chose to handle the polemarker Sovereign Jewel, the $3.70 second fancy from the coveted No. 1 barrier, and he engaged his sister-in-law Brown to drive A Precious Gem.

Brown got A Precious Gem away smartly and the filly raced in the breeze for the first 200m before gaining a perfect trail in the one-out and one-back position after Chris Voak sent the $3.60 favourite Justasmooth Miki forward to race outside the pacemaker Sovereign Jewel.

Justasmooth Miki took a narrow lead about 15 metres from the post, and A Precious Gem, who went three wide on the home bend and was fourth with 100m to travel, got up to sn**ch victory by a head, with Sovereign Jewel a neck farther back in third place.

“This was a nice pick-up drive,” said a thankful Brown. “I didn’t attempt to get to an early lead and wasn’t keen on staying in the breeze. I was happy to get a sit only because A Precious Gem led and weakened to finish fourth in a qualifying heat.”

A Precious Gem is by American sire Captain Crunch and is the fourth foal out of Bettors Gem, who had 40 starts for 11 wins, 13 placings and $103,276.

A Precious Gem, who has earned $79,964 from three wins and two seconds from seven starts, with Bettors Gem’s first two foals Swingband and Atlantic Gem shining on the track.

Swingband amassed $434,194 from 14 wins and 14 placings from 48 starts. A highlight of his career was his third placing behind Catch A wave and Minstrel in the $1.25 Nullarbor slot race in April 2024.

Atlantic Gem has earned $113,761 from six wins and seven placings from 29 starts. She won the group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic in September 2024 before finishing second to Madam Publisher in the WA Oaks at her next appearance.

Watch the replay here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/7/GPM04092602

07/09/2026

Brilliant pacer Fakenit was reappearing after an eleven-week absence when she was a hot $1.10 favourite for the $100,000 Celebrating Harness Owner Liam O’Connor Westbred Classic for four-year-old mares at Park on Friday night.

And she sent her supporters and star reinsman Gary Hall jnr into shock when she broke moments before the mobile barrier sent the field of eleven on its way.

However, Fakenit, trained by Gary Hall snr, quickly regained her pacing gait and dashed straight to the front before travelling smoothly in front and winning easily by almost two lengths from $31 chance Up And Alive, rating 1.59.8 over the 2536m journey.

“She went into a full-stretch gallop and I nearly lost her,” said Hall jnr. “I was lucky it was 50 metres before the start. I panicked and it was more a case of good luck rather than good management. She has never been a great pacer, but I don’t know why she broke.

“After that early scare, she travelled really well and the only concern was that she was first-up. However, she was quite strong and had her own way which was a good thing.”

Fakenit has been most impressive in earning $304,449 from eight wins and eight placings from 19 starts and is poised to make her presence felt in the rich feature events for mares later in the year.

Fakenit was the first leg of a driving treble for Hall, who was successful later in the program with wins with Ideal Beach and Hez The Boss. He kept up the good work with a double at the Bunbury meeting on Saturday night when he scored with the Justin Prentice-trained three-year-old filly Perfect Miki, a $2.90 chance, and with Bob Mellsop’s pacer Turbo Jay, a $5.50 chance.

Prentice prepared Ideal Beach for his stylish victory in the group 2 $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old c**ts and geldings over 2130m.

Ideal Beach, making his third appearance in his current campaign, was the third favourite at $3.70, with El Mystro the $2.80 favourite and Wheelsofortune the $3.40 second fancy.

American Machine, a $41 outsider from the No. 9 barrier, veered sideways in the mobile score-up, bumped into the outside fence and broke into a gallop, losing 60 metres. Chugach ($31) zoomed to the front from barrier five, with El Mystro settling down in fifth place, one-out and one-back.

About 550m after the start Mitch Miller dashed $31 chance Wake Up Geoff forward with a three-wide burst, and soon after that Robbie Williams eased El Mystro out three wide to surge forward and move to the breeze with 1200m to travel.

Ideal Beach began from the No. 6 barrier and settled down in ninth position before Hall made a pre-emptive strike by setting the c**t alight with a sizzling burst 900m from home. Ideal Beach took the lead 570m from, home and went on to win by just under a length from El Mystro, with Wheelsofortune 10m farther back in third place after trailing the frontrunning Chugach.

“I wasn’t planning that move with Ideal Beach, but it worked out,” said Hall. “The WA Derby is on the cards.”

A delighted Prentice said that this was the race he had pencilled in for Ideal Beach. “He went super and has got a good motor, and he proved that tonight,” he said. “He is really fast and has a good turn of foot. He will be set for the Derby (a $200,000 classic over 2536m on October 30).”

Ideal Beach was purchased by Prentice for $130,000 at the 2024 APG Perth yearling sale and is raced by a big syndicate of owners. The American Ideal c**t has earned $333,115 from seven wins and three placings from 13 starts.

Watch the replay here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/2/GPM04092605

06/09/2026

One final chance to secure your place in the TABtouch Western Trilogy.

Expressions of Interest for the 2027 editions of The Quokka, The Nullarbor and The Sandgroper close at 9am tomorrow.

From the $5 million Quokka to the $1.25 million Nullarbor and $600,000 Sandgroper, the opportunity to compete in WA's richest races won't wait.

EOI Deadline: 9am tomorrow.

Visit racingwa.com.au/westerntrilogy

04/09/2026

It's a big night of harness racing! Let's take a closer look at the two Group 1 fields!

04/09/2026

A homebred, home-trained and West Australian-bred success story is chasing Group 1 glory at Gloucester Park.

Ignite The Furnace heads into Friday night’s 2YO Westbred Colts & Geldings Classic Final as one of the leading chances, giving Bunbury trainer Sarah Wall the opportunity to achieve a lifelong dream with a horse she bred and trained by her own stallion, Wesley.

Read the full story: racingwa.com.au/news/2026/09/03/ignite-the-furnace-fires-up-for-westbred-honour

03/09/2026

Talented horseman Dylan Egerton-Green has bright prospects of creating history at Gloucester Park on Friday night by becoming the first trainer to win the Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies for the second time in the 33-year history of the group 1 feature event.

He prepares four of the 12 runners in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic over 2130m, and he has given punters a vital lead by choosing to drive Nevele Arma, who is handily drawn at barrier No. 3.

The 33-year-old Egerton-Green trained and drove Zephyra when she was an odds-on favourite from the No. 3 barrier in the Westbred Classic in 2022 when she dashed to the front after 250m and set the pace before winning by a length from the polemarker Cabsav.

Nevele Arma has an outstanding record of four wins and two seconds from six starts. She is by American sire Huntsville and is the sixth foal out of Arma Xpress, who was a champion youngster who retired after 12 wins, one second placing and $279,890 in prizemoney from 18 starts.

Arma Xpress has developed into a wonderful brood mare and her fifth foal Xceptional Arma won the Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies in 2023 when she was prepared by ace trainer Colin Brown and driven by his daughter Maddison when she won the rich feature after starting from the inside of the back line and racing three back on the pegs before beating I Cross My Heart by two lengths.

Nevele Arma is following in the footsteps of Xceptional Arma, who has amassed $345,762 in stakes from 13 wins and 17 placings from 54 starts.

Nevele Arma was driven by Trent Wheeler when she began from barrier three in a qualifying heat on Tuesday of last week and led for the first 100 metres before Scandaleyes, trained and driven by Egerton-Green, charged to the front and gave a bold frontrunning performance before Nevele Arma finished with a powerful burst to get up to beat her stablemate by a head.

Scandaleyes has been driven by Egerton-Green at her four starts for two wins (including a two-length victory over Nevele Arma two months ago). She will be driven on Friday night by Wheeler from the inside of the back line.

Egerton-Green’s other runners in the race are the polemarker Some Dancer (Mitch Miller) and Ursulas Wish (Aiden de Campo; barrier six). Some Dancer has managed one placing from five starts, and Ursulas Wish has raced five times for two wins and two placings.

“Some Dancer has improved heaps since finishing fourth in a heat when she was held up,” said Egerton-Green. “Scandaleyes has a good turn of foot, and Nevele Arma is tough and fast.”

Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond will be pinning their faith on Art Major filly Ilikeitlikethat, who will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line, with Deni Roberts in the sulky.

Roberts, who will drive in eight of the ten events on Friday night, declared that Ilikeitlikethat was her best winning chance on the program. It is not a bad draw, and I’m very happy with her, and she should figure in the finish,” she said.

Ilikeitlikethat, who has had seven starts for two wins and four placings, is a daughter of former star pacer Dodolicious, who was raced and trained by the Bonds. A highlight of her splendid career was her victory in the 2015 Westbred Classic for two-year- fillies.

One of the main chances in Friday night’s race is the Ryan Bell-trained Seaside Serenade, a noted frontrunner and a winner at five of her seven starts, who is favourably drawn at barrier two and will be driven by Liam Elliott.

Seaside Serenade warmed up for this week’s assignment in fine style when she raced wide early from barrier six before setting the pace and winning a qualifying heat easily from Ursulas Wish and Expressing.

View the field here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/6/GPM04092601

03/09/2026

Sarah Wall joins Racing WA TV ahead of Friday night where Ignite The Fire races in the
G1 Westbred 2yr Colts & Geldings Classic!

03/09/2026

Outstanding Collie reinsman Trent Wheeler is aiming to take full advantage of the perfect draw at barrier No. 1 by attempting an all-the-way victory with the speedy Ignite The Furnace in the $215,000 Allwood Stud Farm Westbred Classic for two-year-old c**ts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He proved it in the Pearl Classic that he has above average ability when he came from a long way back to run third,” said Wheeler.

Ignite The Furnace, who is prepared by Bunbury trainer Sarah Wall, was a $34 chance in the final of the Pearl when he began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and settled down in tenth position before starting a three-wide move approaching the bell to finish third behind the pacemaker Hez The Boss and Ideal Whisper.

Hez The Boss, trained by Colin Brown and driven by Gary Hall jnr, began from the prized No. 1 barrier and had an easy time in front with a slow lead time of 38sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.1sec. and 29.5sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 28.5sec.

“This time we have the draw advantage over Hez The Boss, so hopefully we will be able to benefit from that,” said Wheeler. “Ignite The Furnace will get out smartly and hopefully we will be in front.”

The Pearl was run four weeks ago, and then Ignite The Furnace began from the outside in a field of seven in a qualifying heat of the Westbred Classic on Tuesday of last week when he was restrained back to last before Wheeler urged him forward after 350m.

He sprinted fast to take the lead 200m later and was not extended before dashing over the final 400m in 27.8sec. and winning by just over a length from the fast-finishing Asteri Adelphos.

Hez The Boss will be attempting to extend his winning sequence to seven after finishing a half-head second to Seaside Serenade on debut, over 1684m at Pinjarra on January 26.

Brown will be looking for his second success in this feature event for two-year-old c**ts and geldings. He drove the Noel Keiley-trained Western Apache to victory in 2003 when the event was known as the State Sires series.

Hall has won the event twice --- with Never Ending (2022) and Ideal Beach (2025) --- with both youngsters being trained by Justin Prentice, who also trained and drove Major Martini when he won the race in 2019.

Prentice has two runners in this year’s race --- Asteri Adelphos (barrier six; Dylan Egerton-Green) and Ideal Whisper (barrier seven; Deni Roberts).

Asteri Adelphos has raced four times and has finished second at his past three appearance. He impressed in a qualifying heat when he raced three back on the pegs before finishing strongly to finish a length behind the winner, Ignite The Furnace.

Ideal Whisper notched his third win from six starts when he began from barrier three and set the pace before scoring comfortably from Jetpack in a heat. “Lucky he is tough,” said Roberts in reference to Ideal Whisper’s awkward barrier.

Aiden de Campo, who is heading the State trainers’ premiership table this year, will have 17 runners from his stable in action on Friday night. He will drive Rock The Tour from the No. 2 barrier in the Westbred Classic for two-year-old c**ts and geldings.

He has trained and driven the winner of this event twice, scoring with Rock On Top in 2021 and Menemsha in 2023. “It is a good field, and I like Rock The Tour,” he said. “Hopefully, he can run in the top four or five.”

de Campo’s other runners, Jimmys Rainbow (barrier three; Ryan Warwick) and Themarasshadow (barrier five; Kylah Madden) will be among the outsiders and face difficult assignments.

View the field here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/7/GPM04092602

03/09/2026

Henley Brook trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams has his promising gelding El Mystro fit and firing and ready for a strong performance in the $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old c**ts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

El Mystro will start from the No. 4 barrier at his third outing after an eleven-month absence, with Williams saying: “While there is a lot of depth in the field, I can’t fault El Mystro, whose fast work this morning (Tuesday) was very good.”

El Mystro has had only ten starts for four wins and two placings, mainly because of a problem in January this year.

“We then had him ready to race, but he got a lung infection, and we had no choice but to spell him,” said Williams. “He resumed in a race at Gloucester Park three weeks ago, and I expected him to run a really big race. But he copped a nasty check in the score-up which affected his confidence.”

He finished sixth, just over two lengths behind the winner D Mac, and ten days later he was a brilliant winner at Pinjarra, rating 1.55.5 over 2185m after final quarters of 28.3sec. and 27.2sec.

“He was very good at Pinjarra when I didn’t have to knock him around too much,” said Williams. “He finished strongly and did it very easily.”

El Mystro will need to be at his best on Friday night when he clashes with several highly promising three-year-olds, including Wheelsofortune, Ideal Beach, Wake Up Geoff, He Is Talking, Chugach and Bettor Behave.

Wheelsofortune, a winner at four of his 17 starts, has excellent winning prospects, according to his trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo.

“He finally has a good draw (barrier one),” said de Campo. “And I will try to take advantage of that and lead. His run in a qualifying heat (a close third behind Wake Up Geoff and Chugach at Pinjarra) was very good and he will be improved by the run.

“Wheelsofortune is a natural frontrunner and every time he has led, he has won. So, hopefully, that is a recipe for a win on Friday night.”

Ideal Beach, to be driven by Gary Hall jnr for trainer Justin Prentice, is richly talented and has won at six of his 12 starts for earnings of $275,695, and he has the ability to overcome the awkward draw at barrier six.

“Ideal Beach’s run in a heat at Pinjarra (when he raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning from Bettor Behave) was super and he is a big chance,” said Hall.

View the field here: racingwa.com.au/rwa/meetings/harness/2026-09-04/GLOUCESTER%20PARK/GP040926/race/4/GPM04092604

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