Brent Lilley keeps raising the bar.
The former Kiwi horseman enjoyed one of most rewarding 26 hours of his career with a treble across two countries over the weekend.
It started when he rejuvenated veteran Kyvalley Blur opened his NZ raid with a “drive-by” win at Alexandra Park enroute to the free-for-all and Dominion at Addington in Cup Week.
Then came a double when Lilley’s two stable stars, Keystone Del and Messini, won at Melton last night (Saturday).
Keystone Del, now a nine-year-old, returned from a spell and showed he still had plenty of zip with an easy win in the True Roman Trot (2240m).
Anthony Butt has was to settle him off the speed with stablemate Maori Time in front and the classy but underdone Glenferrie Typhoon sitting outside the leader.
Keystone Del had the race won a long way out and did it easily in a 1min57.9sec mile rate and 56.7sec closing half.
Despite the win, Lilley said it was unlikely Keystone Del would join Kyvalley Blur and Messini at NZ Cup Week.
“I’ll chat with Patrick and Michael (Hall, the owners), but I’d prefer to stay here. There are some nice races for him at home, including the Bill Collins (November 12),” Lilley said.
It is a different story with Messini after his fast-finishing win in the VHRSC Classic (2240m) at Melton.
Now a six-year-old, Messini took a few runs to regain form and fitness this campaign but has won his past two free-for-alls at Melton in good style.
In the VHRSC Classic he made the most of the one-one trail and a superb Anthony Butt drive to out-ping a good field in a farcically run race.
The leaders – Stunning Grin in front and Ohoka Punter outside him – walked through a 49.1sec lead time and very steady 61.3sec first half of the last mile.
They ran home in a staggering 54.4sec and Ohoka Punter, the $1.30 favourite, got past Stunning Grin, but couldn’t stave-off Messini and Flaming Flutter, who used the sprint lane for third.
Lilley said Messini will back-up in next Saturday night’s Swan Hill Cup – probably against the likes of Hectorjayjay and Yankee Rockstar – before heading to NZ.
“He will go to the Kaikoura Cup and then into the NZ Cup,” he said.
Adam Hamilton