A race after Mark Billinger was able to honour his father Val, older brother Darren took his opportunity to pay his respects with an all-the-way win on promising three-year-old Futurist.
Still wearing his black armband from the previous race in honour of his dad, Darren Billinger drove Futurist ($4.80) through from gate two to lead and ultimately win the Sky Racing Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Southern Cross heat three (2230m).
Futurist raced away in the home straight to score a 15 metre win from Presidentmach ($1.90 fav) with its stablemate Official Art ($4.60) a long head away third.
In a poignant comment, Billinger said on social media – “So proud to have been his son.”
On Saturday night, in the score up, Billinger timed the start to perfection driving through to hold out favourite Presidentmach which had been expected to lead.
Once in front the driver was able to control the race with 31.2 and 30.1 quarters before going for home along the back with 28.4 and 28.6 final quarters to win easily.
“He is an improving horse,” Billinger said.
“He worked with Rap Artist during the week and only finished three metres behind him, but still didn’t beat him.
“So I thought tonight if we could lead he could be hard to beat and my plan was to try and hold the lead and it worked out perfectly.”
Futurist will now progress to the semi-finals of the Sky Channel Southern Cross and on the win, with luck in the semis he can definitely make the final.
The three-year-old has won 10 races from 18 starts this season and really is making good progress.
On Saturday night’s win and the trackwork, Futurist cannot be discounted as a possible winner of the Southern Cross.
Trainer Jon Kingston-Mayne, who trains Presidentmach and Official Art, was a little disappointed his pair were beaten so comfortably.
“I was hoping they could finish a bit closer but I’m sure they will be competitive in the semi-finals.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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