By Adam Hamilton
NEXT stop Perth for one of Australia’s most exciting pacers Philadelphia Man.
The injury-plagued Emma Stewart-trained entire underlined why he will be a major player in the Perth Inter Dominion series with another arrogant win at Melton last Friday night.
The six-year-old came from the back row to sit parked in the middle stages and zoomed away to win without being extended in the $60,505 Group 2 Breeders Crown Graduate free-for-all.
Philadelphia Man dashed home in 57.3 and 27.9sec to win by 6.3m from the classy and fast-finishing Flaming Flutter in a 1min56.4sec mile rate for 2240m.
Flaming Flutter ran second to Beautide in this year’s Sydney Inter Dominion final and also looks on target for Perth, albeit not to the same extent as Philadelphia Man.
Just as he did winning the Group 1 Queensland Championship last month, Philadelphia Man settled beautifully outside the leader showing the way he’s matured since last campaign.
“He felt fantastic in the run, just as he did in Queensland,” driver Gavin Lang said. “That’s really the difference with him this time in. He’s not getting as fired-up in his races.
“That cost him in the big races earlier this year and it had to change for him to take the next step.”
Trainer Emma Stewart said Philadelphia Man would have another brief let-up before returning for some lead-up racing at Melton ahead of going to Perth for the Inter Dominion, which starts on November 27.
Flaming Flutter worked around the field early to sit parked, was then shuffled back through the field before escaping a pocket at the top of the straight and finishing strongly for second.
DARLING trotting mare Claudys Princess won her 20th race from just 31 starts at Melton last Friday night.
The daughter of Bacardi Lindy had to dig really deep, but showed heaps of courage to rundown the fit and very much in-form Edge Hill in the $30,505 Group 2 Breeders Crown 4YO Trotting Mares’ Championship (2240m).
Trainer-driver Blake Fitzpatrick rated Edge Hill superbly in front, flew down the back straight in 27.7sec when Claudys Princess was trying to make ground from back in the field and challenge and did everything to upset the favourite.
But Claudys Princess kept finding for driver Gavin Lang and finished too strongly to score by 2.1m in a 2min0.3sec mile rate, including a 57sec flat last half.
They beat the rest by 50m in a stirring battle.
NO wonder Brent Lilley loves Breeders Crown time.
As well as winning two Crown finals over the past two years, Lilley added another two major Crown titles at Melton last Friday night.
The classy four-year-old Our Twentyten scored one of his best wins in the Crown 4YO Trotters’ Championship after sitting parked.
Driver Rodney Petroff went for home on the last bend, but had to survive a spirited late challenge from the improving Miracle to score by a half-head in a 2min1.6sec mile rate for 2240m.
It took Our Twentyten’s record to 15 wins and nine placings from just 30 starts and earnings of over $250,000.
Just 30 minutes later, Lilley teamed with his stable driver Anthony Butt to easily win the $35,505 Crown Graduate trotting free-for-all (2240m) with the exciting mare Maori Time.
At her previous run, Maori Time led and broke the track record when nabbed in the last two bounds by champion trotter Keystone Del at Melton.
Dropping back slightly in class and leading again, Maori Time dictated in front and zipped home in 57.1 and 28.8sec to win by 4.7m from the classy mare Vics Cheval with Andy Gath’s recent stable addition, Glenferrie Typhoon third.
“I really like this mare,” Lilley said. “I was thrilled when the owner (Fred Crews) sent her to us after Chris (Lang, Sr) retired.
“She’s always had loads of ability and been very fast and she’s still improving. She’ll be a player in all the big races for sure.”
EXCITING Western Australian pacer Bettors Fire has gone to another level at the right time.
The six-year-old ran three good races in defeat to start this campaign and has since posted two outstanding wins at Gloucester Park.
The latest came last Friday night when he posted his 26th win from just 61 starts when he stormed home to win he $35,000 August Cup (2536m) in a blistering 1min56.2sec mile rate.
Bettors Fire won by 5.7m over Tuxedo Tour with another 10m away to Rocket Reign in third.
At the same meeting, trainer Gary Hall Sr and his son, Clint, teamed with recent Kiwi import Norvic Nightowl to win the other feature, the Schrader final (2130m).
The five-year-old has proven an inspired purchase with his five WA starts netting four wins and a second so far.
Despite doing the work outside the leader, Norvic Nightowl was too strong for a brigade of Greg Bond-trained runners filling the next four spots – Ohoka Squire (second), Jungle Jewel (third), Phoenix Warrior (fourth) and Condrieu (fifth).
The mile rate was a slick 1min56.2sec.
OLD marvel Destreos is still turning heads,
The rising 12-year-old smashed the clock winning an Albion Park free-for-all in a scorching 1min51.9sec mile rate for 1660m last Tuesday.
It was only 1.5sec outside Im Themightyquinn’s track record.
And Destreos did this at his 377th – yes 377th – race start.
The Kiwi-bred son of Astreos has won 81 races, been placed another 115 times and earned $662,749.
The more you think about that, the more amazing it is.
It’s also a huge credit to trainer Ken Rattray’s job of keeping the gelding sound and keen on racing.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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