RARELY are major race meetings as favourite-unfriendly as Sunday afternoon’s Len Smith Mile/Breeders Challenge card at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
After race one, the scene was set for class to win the day as Empire Bay claimed the Breeders Challenge Final for two-year-old trotters as a red-figure favourite.
But then all hell broke loose for punters and popular elects.
The remaining squaregaiting finals were claimed by Victoria Trotters Oaks runner-up Red Hot Tooth and Iona Grinner as clear second-elects.
Soon after Stormont Czar claimed the final Rising Stars heat via protest at $8 before Sapphire Stride ($39) and Shezallapples ($46) played Quaddie killers in the 2YO Fillies and 4YO Mares finals.
Things straightened out to a degree when Conviction impressively won the Breeders Challenge final for freshman males at just $3.
But surprises once again proved the order of the day as Charlaval came down the centre of the track to win the 3YO boys’ decider before Rockmemama upset Heavens Trend in the 3YO fillies’ final.
Superstar Lennytheshark was the penultimate popular elect to go under in the Len Smith Mile before Mouse In The House ended the programme and the pain for favourite punters.
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IMAGINE driving both Vicbred Super Series semi-final winners in the 3YO Colts and Geldings division then having to choose between them in their final eight days later.
That’s the position champion reinsman, Chris Alford, finds himself in following Friday night’s exceptional programme of Super Series qualifiers at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
In the first race of the night, Alford activated his natural aggression to secure the mid-race lead and ultimately victory with well-travelled on-pace specialist Soho Tribeca.
Then two hours later the rapidly improving Iceenothink showed all sorts of ticker to lead the three wide line home and still resist his rivals.
Both were outstandingly impressive in their own way and both have drawn well for Saturday night’s $115,000 decider with Soho Tribeca in three and Iceenothink in four.
Further muddying the waters for the man they call The Puppet is his long, rich and emotional attachment to the trainers of both horses in question; Larry Eastman and Jayne Davies.
Only last year fans were flooded with scenes of Alford winning three Super Series finals in partnership with Eastman, a man he’s known since childhood and who now trains Iceenothink.
But his association with Davies and her partner Noel Alexander, who prepare Soho Tribeca, defined the first half of his career and it was for them he won the 1995 Inter Dominion with Golden Reign.
While Alford is yet to commit, early rumours would suggest he’s more likely to stick with Soho Tribeca in what looms as the most competitive of Saturday night’s six Super Series finals.
Joining Iceenothink and Soho Tribeca in the prestigious 3YO males’ decider are Dont Hold Back, Brallos Pass, Spiritwriter and Senor Macray.
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FUTURITY Series’ have a happy knack of inspiring fans to elevate horses wildly above their station on the basis of one or two giant performances against inferior opposition.
Occasionally however, the plaudits and platitudes are thoroughly, unarguably deserved.
Such has been the case with two majestic 4YO’s who have, by winning their respective semi-finals, set-up a mouth-watering clash on Saturday night at Melton.
Ideal For Real was a known commodity before this series started courtesy of his outstanding NSW Derby success over Hug The Wind approximately 16 months ago.
But as big as that victory was, he has looked even more foreboding this campaign as his improved tractability around turns has sharpened the edge on his awesome closing sprints.
Tee Cee Bee Macray however, was an exhilarating but red-raw commodity that had impressed in the minor leagues without ever being tested against his generation’s best.
After Friday night’s performances, where both treated quality rivals with abject contempt, they both seem destined for Grand Circuit success.
But as for this weekend, that’s anyone’s guess.
Courtesy of his much better draw (five) and Have Faith In Me-like semi-final triumph, Ideal For Real is a short priced favourite while Tee Cee Bee Macray is third elect after drawing gate 13.
Splitting them is defending Australian Horse of the Year, Menin Gate.
Extraordinarily, in all of his three Victorian Group 1 wins, Larry Eastman’s ‘Birchip Bull’ has started second elect and two of those three times he’d drawn inside popular elect, Follow The Stars.
With history on his side and a gate three draw to boot, Eastman is far from conceding the Super Series title which Menin Gate will defend this weekend.
“I’m pretty happy, I’m happy with everything really, it’s all going beautifully to plan,” Eastman said of Menin Gate’s faultless preparation.
“The early burn is obviously a query but we win when we do things our way so not much will be changing there. He’s had two good hit-outs so now we’re ready to put the foot to the floor.
“If the fave (Ideal For Real) can sit outside us running all the way then he’s just too good and same goes for the swoopers but we’ve got a recipe and it has served us well.”
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STILL on Friday night’s Super Series semi-finals and while there was no shortage of equine stars, there were plenty of human ones as well.
For the umpteenth week in succession Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin again took centre stage, winning five semi-finals and qualifying a record 14 pacers for Saturday night’s Super Series finals.
Rocknroll Magic, Whirily School, Ideal For Real, Stay And Play and Delight Me all saluted for the green and gold army.
They broke their previous record of 12 from four years ago in the process.
Victoria’s most dominant training team weren’t the only ones to shine on all-star night of racing however.
Victoria’s three leading reinsmen all came to the party with Gavin Lang driving three winners while Chris Alford and Greg Sugars both landed two.
Young Ballarat horseman, Mick Stanley, also had a night to remember, qualifying all six of his runners for the big dance and winning one semi-final with smart freshman filly, Petacular.
Indeed he will now play a powerful role in two Group 1 finals this weekend.
Alessa, Ideal Lifestyle and Soho Tokyo have done well to qualify and if any finish placed that will be a big achievement.
But Petacular and Soho Angel are both serious players in the 2YO Fillies’ division of the series and Spiritwriter is in the 3YO males’ category up to his ears after drawing barrier one.
“Petacular probably looks a bit more brilliant than Soho Angel, who oi sonly a little filly but there isn’t a stack between them,” Stanley said of his two baby fillies.
“As for Spiritwriter, I reckon I’d have won if I’d pulled out in front of Iceenothink on the weekend and from the draw our early intention is to try and lead all of the way.”
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SOME of the Super Series semi-final winners not yet touched upon include juvenile male victors Jilliby Kung Fu and Tingira Beach.
Jilliby Kung Fu wasn’t as dominated as many expected but his improvement through this term has been something to behold.
Tingira Beach was much more authoritative in his qualifier and will now stars favourite for next weekend’s final.
“He was really switched on tonight,” Tingira Beach’s trainer Shane Tritton said.
“He’s never gotten an easy run like that and he just proved what he can too when a few things go his way.”
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CHRISTEN Me’s chances of picking up the Picket Fence bonuses trainer Cran Dalgety was hoping for in Queensland are over after he finished third in Saturday night’s Group 3 Wondais Mate Pace.
The rot began when the Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup and Victoria Cup winner drew inside the second line at his first ever run at Albion Park.
World Champion reinsman, Dexter Dunn, negated that issue to some degree by easing off the pegs after 100m but over a mile his task was still significant.
Driven quietly beyond midfield for most of the event, Christen Me went three wide at the half-mile and four wide from before the quarter and loomed as the winner with 100m to go.
Amazingly however, it was not just the leader, former Great Northern Derby winner, Ideal Scott, who defeated Christen Me, but also Glenferrie Hood who peeled off his back.
Given the fact they finished off in 55.8-secs and Christen Me spotted the leader around 20m when he took off, the run was full of merit.
But with Hectorjayjay on his way to Brisbane, the champ will still want to improve ahead of the Sunshine Sprint this weekend and then the Blacks A Fake.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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