THE arguments are over – Menin Gate is simply a better horse than Follow The Stars.
Not only does he hold a 4-0 advantage from their four clashes, but Follow The Stars couldn’t get near him after a much easier run in the Breeders Crown 3YO colts and geldings final at Melton.
It was a rare blip on a day Mark Purdon largely made his own.
And it reminded us all there is hope for the battler.
Menin Gate, known as the Birchip Bull to his growing legion of fans, is owned by a pack of battlers in the outback Victorian town of Birchip.
And he’s trained by Larry Eastman, a salt-of-the-earth bush trainer who had not trained a Group 1 winner until Menin Gate won the Victoria Derby earlier this year.
The Crown was Menin Gate’s fourth Group 1. The others being the Vicbred final and the Queensland Derby.
He’s beaten Follow The Stars at three of his Group 1 wins.
“I’m just a country bumpkin from the sticks, this is a dream come true,” Eastman said.
“Winning the first Group 1 in the Victoria Derby is as good as it gets, but this is close. It’s the Grand Final at the end of the season and we were the outsider … again.
“It’s just unreal.”
Driver Chris Alford, who muscled his way to the lead from Follow The Stars after 600m, fought back tears.
“This ride, this season with Larry has been so special,” he said. “Larry’s trained for 30 years then along comes this horse.
“Larry worked for my Dad (the late Barry Alford) when I was still a kid at school. To share this special time with him is amazing.”
Menin Gate goes for a brief break before coming back and heading to Perth for a string of four-year-old features, headed by the Golden Nugget, during the Inter Dominion carnival at Gloucester Park later this year.
“It fits well,” Eastman said. “He can go to Perth, come home and have a good spell, then come back for the Chariots Of Fire next year.”
Follow The Stars worked to find the lead, took the trail and had every chance to run down Menin Gate, He had to settle for third.
The exciting My Kiwi Mate was easily the second best run in the race after making a midrace move to sit parked and really threatening Menin Gate down the straight.
“I thought My Kiwi Mate had me on the bend, but Menin Gate can have a flat patch then always find. He just kept giving for me,” Alford said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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