Space Star has dominated the staying ranks despite a tendency to come from midfield in his races so now he is jumping in front, how are they going to beat him?
That is the question keen judges were pondering after the Robert Britton-trained, Michael Ivers-owned and bred son of Bekim Bale and Tonto Tears led throughout for a nine length win in the Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup on Saturday night.
After being first out before settling in second place and beating Sweet It Is in his heat, Space Star (pictured) “pinged’’ the lids and led throughout in Saturday’s final.
His time, 42.01, compared well with Dyna Willow’s race record of 41.74 established last year and was a top effort considering the damp state of Saturday’s track.
The great racing will continue next Saturday night, with the Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet final shaping up as among the most open on record.
Zipping Abby was slowest heat winner but produced a phenomenal effort to get up and win after being unsuited from box one.
“But her box manners continue to worry me and I have tried every trick I have learned in the past 60 years’ training to try and get her to begin better but I can’t get through to her," Zipping Abby's trainer Ron Seymour said after the race.
Queen Esther was caught on the line by Elfen Bale in her heat but trainer Noelene Holloway believes she will strip fitter in the final.
“Because of all the rain I had not been able to do much with her, Queen Esther just sat around at home all week,’’ Holloway said on Saturday.
“And box five in the final should not be a problem Because she is a good beginner and runs straight from the boxes to the first turn.’’
Box draw, in order, for the Ladies Bracelet is: 1. Elfen Bale 2. Uno Suzie 3. Spring Leaf 4. Dyna Nico 5. Queen Esther 6. Zipping Abby 7. Pearl Blonde 8. Star Torana Reserves: 9. Rue De Kahn 10. Senorita Selena.
In other results, La Grand Logie will be set for early June’s Group 1 Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic after his all-the-way win in Saturday night’s third and fourth grade 400 Plateau Stakes.
La Grande Logie, the baby of the field at 25 months of age, easily accounted for Let It Develop and Group 1 winner Awesome Project in 29.97.
“It was great to win tonight Because it is my wife Carole’s birthday,’’ owner-trainer Jeff Eaton said later.
“I was a bit concerned when the rain came tumbling down during La Grand Logie’s race Because previously he has struggled a bit at the end of 520m on a heavy track.’’
Trainer Mark Gatt said before Saturday night’s final event that he expected Wentworth Park debutante More In Store to become a successful middle distance performer.
More In Store, bred to stay being a daughter of former top class long distance bitch Lady Arko, stormed home to win by nine lengths in a handy 30.15.
But it was her sensational run home figures of 11.72 which had the fans agog.
See you next week!
