Depth of competition was not a common thread at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but that will all change in seven days time when the Group One Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg gets underway.
Enigmatic sprinter Emo Appeal scored at bolter’s odds on the only top grade race on the 10-event card. The black dog - a winner at the Ultimo track in a fast 29.98 seconds just on six months back - had not won in 11 starts and defied his usual racing manners by quickly leading from box five to score in 30.46s.
His offering will have hardly made an impact on Easter Egg aspirants but the cracking effort by High Earner in the Group One Sky Racing Perth Cup at Cannington must have.
The Queenslander dominated from the front and went within .05s of Velocette’s 12 month-old track record in snaring the $140,000 to the winner feature.
The win came as a huge relief to trainer Dave Robartson: “It was just great to see him show what he is capable of doing,” the former WA-based mentor said.
Always a dominant favourite in betting, High Earner assumed control of the 530m sprint before the winning post the first time and dominated thereafter.
Earlier in the night, Drill ‘Em continued his rich vein of form to take the Group One Galaxy (715m) in similarly dominating fashion.
The Victorian outpaced Next Top Model in the run to the first turn and gave rivals no chance. He scored in a record breaking 41.34s and, like High Earner, will now head to Wentworth Park for the riches on offer at Easter.
Connections have but a few days to savour the moment.
Sydney beckons and Drill ‘Em will take no end of beating in the Group Two Easter Chase at WP.
High Earner is up with the best in the land and has won at Wentworth Park in a slick 29.82s.
He’s taken care of business at Cannington and, with it being his sixth Group One final, it was thoroughly deserved.
Only three weeks back he fell at the first turn in the Australian Cup final at The Meadows and, for a fleeting moment, Dave and Christine Robartson would have feared for the welfare of the son of Collision.
He, fortunately, came through the tumble unscathed and showed his tenacity in spades at Cannington.
Perth was a watershed moment, Wentworth Park represents a tilt at history and a record $250,000 winner's prize.
