by Michael Howard
The Trots Country Cups Championship has been blown open with Milly Perez scorching the Mildura straight to remain within reach of the $25,000 crown.
Larry Eastman’s mighty mare mowed down Major Crocker (second) and Brallos Pass (third) to win the Park Douglas Printing Mildura Pacing Cup, moving within three points of the season-long championship with two cups to run.
Im Corzin Terror, Milly Perez and Cardon Merger are among the likely starters for Saturday night’s Renown Silverware Ararat Pacing Cup, with the Group 3 $30,000 showdown further fuelled by the championship implications.
Cranbourne Cup winner Im Corzin Terror holds a three-point lead from Milly Perez (Mildura and Charlton cups) and Cardon Merger (Boort and St Arnaud cups), with four points gifted to a win, two points to second and one point to third in each of the season’s 25 country cups.
Saturday night’s Ararat feature precedes Sunday’s Warragul Bowl Pacing Cup, the last of the country cups season.
Eastman said his six-year-old Four Starzzz Shark mare was well positioned for Ararat, having pulled up “fine” from Mildura, where she followed a second placing in last Tuesday’s heat with victory in Saturday’s final.
“She’s is full steam ahead for Ararat,” Eastman said, adding the championship prizemoney offered for the first time was a big lure. Of the $25,000, $15,000 will be awarded to the winning horse’s owner and $10,000 to the trainer.
Milly Perez’s career earnings blew past the $300,000 mark for owner Frank McGrath with Saturday night’s triumph, having been driven a treat by John Caldow, who placed her from gate nine on Murranji Track’s back in the outside line.
Major Crocker advanced from last to join Brallos Pass and create a talented front line, which stretched the field with a 27.6 third quarter that dissolved any attempts to create a third row.
Caldow waited until the approach to the final bend to guide Milly Perez three wide and come the straight he gradually wore down the leaders to win by a neck from Major Crocker with Brallos Pass 1.8m back in third.
“It was a good race and a great carnival,” Eastman said. “The 800m tracks always make for more exciting racing. I was a Mallee boy and it was good to go back and win this one. She showed again that she is among the top mares in this country.”
After Saturday night’s Ararat Cup Milly Perez will get a chance to further prove her standing against the nation’s leading mares in the $100,000 Queen Of The Pacific on May 20, when she will attempt to better last year’s second placing to Nike Franco.
“She’s right there, right in the top bunch of mares and her high speed is what does it for her, it’s what sets her apart.”
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