Harness
Ken Casellas Harness Highlights 13 October 2025
It was a weekend that showcased the depth, resilience and excitement of Western Australian harness racing, from historic wins and rising stars to veteran comebacks and promising prospects.
Copy Cat Queen made history at Gloucester Park, becoming the first mare to win the $50,000 Taste of WA Four-Year-Old Championship in the race's 16-year history. Trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, the WA-bred mare now has her sights set on the $200,000 Golden Nugget on November 7, a race only two mares have ever won.
"She had never led all the way before," said De Campo. "But from barrier one I thought I should have a crack, and she handled it all right. Probably not at her brilliant best, but she beat a good group of boys, which is hard to do as a four-year-old mare."
De Campo is chasing unfinished business after falling just short in last year's Nugget with Sorridere. "She's come along in leaps and bounds this prep. She beat all the four-year-olds tonight, so why shouldn't we go again in the Nugget?"
Minstrel, the Bond stable's seasoned star, reminded everyone of his class with a dazzling win in the Book Into Beau Rivage For Fireworks Night Pace. The eight-year-old, driven assertively by Deni Roberts, coasted to a two-length victory in just his second start back from a four-month break.
"He felt awesome, and he was really relaxed which was good for him," said Roberts. "To reel off a 26.7sec. final quarter was great. Everyone thinks he's tough, but he is also quite fast."
Mrs Bond is bullish about Minstrel's chances of defending his title in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12. "He is good enough to win another Pacing Cup," she said. "I have an affinity with him, and I know him inside out. We won't race him week-in and week-out. He keeps fit with beach work and cantering behind the motorbike."
Minstrel's record speaks for itself: 28 wins, 25 placings and over $1.6 million in stakes, including victories in the Golden Nugget, Fremantle Cup, and placings in both Nullarbor slot races.
When In Vegas also made headlines with his first metro-class win, earning an automatic start in the WA Derby. Bred by the Bond stable, the gelding is by American Ideal and out of Hit It Rich, a mare who won four of her first five WA starts in 2017.
"He's a great little Westbred that we've bred," said Mrs Bond. "Our best Derby hopes are Bettor Fortune and Troubadour. On their work at home there's not a lot between them, but Bettor Fortune has more high speed."
Burghley Shard, a seasoned campaigner in his sixth season, ended a 19-month drought and a 15-race losing streak with a thrilling last-stride win in the Book Your Christmas Party Pace. Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, the seven-year-old showed his trademark grit.
"Halfway down the straight I thought I had The Wand Waver, but she kept kicking and Burghley Shard didn't want to find the line," said Suvaljko. "So, I just coaxed him over the line just in time."
Abbey Vidovich, just 19, continued her rise with a smart drive aboard Goodtime Louis, then backed it up with a double at Narrogin. She now leads the concession drivers' premiership and sits sixth overall in the State standings.
Franco Sheriff, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, impressed with a commanding win in the Taste Of WA Pace. Despite showing signs of nerves in the preliminary, the lightly raced four-year-old settled, led, and powered home to win by three lengths.
"He was throwing his head around, so I removed the nearside pole pricker," said Williams. "Thankfully he didn't hang down during the race."
Williams is now considering the Golden Nugget preludes. "He's very lightly raced and is starting to get used to our style of racing. After the way he went tonight, we might have a look at running in the preludes."
Franco Sheriff is raced by a syndicate of 18 owners. "A friend in New Zealand recommended him, and he wasn't overly expensive. It's great to have so many people involved in harness racing."
And to round out the night, Gary Hall Jnr delivered a treble with Sweet Coco, The Iron Duke and Princess Katie, continuing his elite strike rate at Gloucester Park.
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