Twelve months after his extraordinary domination of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series, picking up a Group 1 three-peat, Shelbourne trainer Larry Eastman says he could only dream of achieving similar this time around.
“It brings back a bit of deja vu but up until this time last year of course we’d only won the one Group 1 race, so we’re under no illusions. To be honest I was just happy we were a part of it last year,” Eastman said.
The horseman takes three horses into tomorrow night’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series semi-finals at Tabcorp Park Melton, in-form gelding Iceenothink and reigning Vicbred champs Morton Plains and Menin Gate.
Speaking firstly about last season’s star three-year-old and Victorian Horse of the Year, Menin Gate, Eastman is pleased with the recent progress of the classy son of Somebeachsomewhere/Dreams Of Heaven.
“All the signs are good. Everything’s gone to plan so far,” he said.
“I liken it to this time last year. He was a shade off his top, then into the semi, then at his top for the final.”
Menin Gate is $3 second-favourite with TAB.com.au for Race 7 at Melton tomorrow night, with Alan Tubbs-trained Tee Cee Bee Macray ($2.20 favourite) and Emma Stewart-trained Solarsonic ($3.50) also among the market’s top contenders.
Menin Gate, who at three won the Breeders Crown and Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series finals, the Queensland and Gold Coast derbies and the Victoria Derby, is usually an on-pace runner and he takes a power of beating when he finds the front.
Tomorrow night he’s drawn gate 10.
Quizzed for his view on tactics Eastman replied: “It’s all tempo-related, but I obviously just leave it up to Chris (Alford).”
At both his runs this time in Menin Gate has finished second, behind Solarsonic and then Ideal For Real last start.
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Eastman’s talented son of Art Major/Decethree Lombo, Iceenothink, will fly the stable flag in the male three-year-old division this year, drawing gate four for tomorrow night’s second semi-final (Race 5).
“He’s been a bit of an unassuming horse, just gradually progressing along. He’s a nice three-year-old and he’s shown the signs that he can go on to another level, too,” said Eastman.
“He’ll just keep on getting better and I think he’ll make a very handy four-year-old.”
Eastman’s other runner, Morton Plains (Bettors Delight/Dont Answer That), goes into her four-year-old mares’ first semi-final with just one run this time in under her belt. She finished third in her Super Series heat at Shepparton on June 17, 3.3m behind Vapar Grin.
“I was rapt with her run at Shepparton. She raced a bit fresh but was really strong to the line. It’s a big ask going into this with just the one run but she had trialled up before the first-up run and she’s on the way up.”
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