Pressure builds diamonds and such was the case with Mark Billinger’s drive on Rap Artist to take off the
$60,000 Sky Racing Southern Cross final (2230m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
A barrier draw of 10 meant Billinger was going to need a top drive with his main opposition Jumping Jolt ($3.30) and Futurist ($4.30) coming from gates two and five off the front row.
However, from the time the starter said go, Rap Artist ($2.20 fav), came away beautifully and Billinger had him one out, two back and ideally placed.
Official Art ($13.80) led from gate four but then handed up to Jumping Jolt with Darren Billinger taking Futurist to sit parked and with 30.0 and 30.2 first quarters, a good tempo was set.
Mark Billinger came wide on Rap Artist going into the back and let him sprint strongly to join the leaders past the 400m mark with a 29.1 third quarter, then dash to the front.
Angela Chapman on Manonthemoon ($113.40) trailed the favourite into the race and made a dash rounding the home turn but Rap Artist was too good and drew clear to win by 9-1/2 metres coming home in 29.3 for a mile rate of 1:58.0.
Such was the ease of the win, Billinger was able to wave his whip skyward close to the line to acknowledge his father Val who passed away two weeks earlier.
Chapman was just as pleased to finish second on Manonthemoon with The Big Show ($28.10) also running home well to be 4-1/2 metres away third.
The emotion of the win was obvious when Billinger and his mum Marlene had a prolonged hug prior to the trophy presentation.
Billinger admitted pre-race he had thought the draw was a big obstacle with good horses off the front but as the race developed it provided a perfect run.
“I’ve always said I believed he would be better with a sit and tonight he proved it,” Billinger said.
The win was Billinger’s fourth driving success in the Southern Cross three-year-old colts and geldings series having scored on Pacific Wonder (1991), Law (2000) and Hes A Corka (2003).
For the family of the Billinger family’s foundation broodmare Uncork, it was the third win for the family with Hes A Corka and Come On Frank (2011) being other victors.
The driver also trains Rap Artist, something he did in partnership with his ‘best friend’, his dad Val, and with his passing spoke to part-owner Richard Miller about selling the three-year-old.
“Richard, mum and myself had a good talk last week and decided we would not sell but instead, I will take him to Sydney later in the year for a campaign at Menangle.
“He can go for a break and I will take a holiday then when I get home will get him right and take him to Sydney for a campaign. Because he is the only horse I have in work and I have no other commitments it is possible to go away for a while.
“Let’s see just how he measures up against top opposition.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
