THE margin wasn’t great, but the win certainly was.
Comeback star Bling It On made it three wins from as many starts this campaign, but had to show a different side to land his latest win at Menangle last Saturday night,
And he did so in a blazing 1min50.8sec mile.
Luke McCarthy dragged him back from an outside draw as the leaders blazed a 25.8sec opening quarter.
With nobody making a move, McCarthy had to swoop around the field himself from the 650m on Bling It On and he looked in stride halfway down the home straight.
He pulled out everything to grab Eh Ef El, then had to stave-off a late dive from talented sit-sprinter Charlaval to win by a nose.
Bling It On now heads to the Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst on Boxing night before McCarthy and co-trainer Craig Cross finalise plans towards the Hunter Cup.
“It could include the Ballarat Cup, but we’re not sure yet,” McCarthy said.
It was a big night for McCarthy with four driving wins. The others came with the emerging Admiral Bronski as well as speedy Birdy Mach and trotter War Dan Destroyer.
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THE “find” of the Perth Inter Dominion, Vultan Tin, franked the form with an impressive Gloucester Park win last Friday night.
Just seven days after an eye-catching and luckless fourth to Lazarus in the Inter Dominion final, Vultan Tin proved too strong for a good field despite sitting parked in a 1min56.1sec mile rate for 2130m.
It’s been a hell of a ride for trainer Phil Costello and driver Chris Voak with the locally-bred gelding.
“He thrived through the Inter Dominion and did us proud in the final,” Voak said. “It was such a great couple of weeks to be part of.”
The form from Inter Dominion final night proved the key across the whole Gloucester Park meeting last Friday, including wins from stablemates Rock Diamonds and Vampiro, who both contested the Group 1 Golden Nugget won by Ultimate Machete.
The Skye Bond-trained Rock Diamonds dominantly won race eight in a 1min58.2sec mile rate for 2130m, while Vampiro narrowly but impressively won a stirring battle with Runrunjimmydunn in the second event.
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FORMER glamour Kiwi filly Our Golden Goddess kick-started the chapter of her career in stunning fashion.
Back from six months out and now with Kerryn Manning, Our Golden Goddess won by almost 15m and smashed the Ballarat 2200m track record with a scorching 1min54.4sec mile rate last Friday night.
It was her first start since running way below her best when 10th to The Orange Agent in the Angelique Club Cup at Melton on May 12.
She’s now raced 19 times for nine wins, seven placings and almost $300,000 in earnings for Merv and Meg Butterworth.
Manning now has the luxury of working Our Golden Goddess through her classes before targeting the lead-up races for the Ladyship Mile at Menangle in February/March.
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THE wait is almost over.
Australia’s most exciting young pacer, the unbeaten Lumineer, is headed back to the races.
Trainer Ange McDowall made the call after Lumineer won his second trial back by 35.5m in a 1min58sec mile rate at Melton last Tuesday.
Lumineer hasn’t raced since winning the Australian Gold final in effortless style at Menangle in April.
“He’s tightened-up since the trial. He’s ready to go now,” McDowall said. “I entered him for a Geelong race, but it didn’t stand-up.
“I’m hoping he gets a run at Maryborough this Friday and he’ll run at Ballarat on Boxing night as well.”
Lumineer’s first major target is the Victoria Derby which fans hope will mean a mouth-watering showdown with the All Stars’ unbeaten three-year-old Chase Auckland.
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FORMER Kiwi pacer Moonrock just keeps getting better in Australia.
Trainer Sonya Smith has done a fantastic job since taking over the gelding and he produced a new high with his breathtaking Melton last Saturday night.
While hot favorite Major Secret dictated terms in front, Moonrock somehow unleashed a withering sprint around the field from near last to snatch the win.
He was clocked to run his last half in a staggering 54.8, including a 26.9sec final quarter.
The mile rate was a slick 1min54.6sec for 2240m.
In 11 starts for Smith and Anthony Butt, Moonrock has posted seven wins, three seconds and a sixth.
The result wasn’t as good for Butt and his brother Tim with buzz former Kiwi trotter Gentleman Sir later in the night.
Sent out a $1.80 favourite, Gentleman Sir made and early mistake and lost all chance in the race won by in-form mare Sky Petite.
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HUSBAND and wife Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs have serious three-year-old on their hands in Little Peanut.
The son of Blissfull Hall showed plenty at two, but has come back looking bigger and better judging by his two wins from as many starts.
The latest came when he won as he liked in a 1min54.9sec mile rate over 1730m in the 3YO final at Melton last night (Saturday).
The bar is set high with the likes of Chase Auckland and Lumineer headlining this three-year-old crop, but Little Peanut is headed in the right direction to be a Derby player.
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WHAT an inspired move it was by KerryAnn Turner and Robbie Morris to take stable star Aztec Bromac for a Queensland raid.
His three starts netted two wins and a third with the big win coming in last Saturday night’s $60,540 Group 2 Queensland Cup (2138m).
Most expected amazing local veteran Avonnova to lead and win from gate two.
He led and went extremely well, but was unable to stave-off the big finish of Aztec Bromac from midfield in a 1min54.2sec mile rate.
The night capped a fantastic Queensland raid for Turner and Morris, who snared a treble with Mojo Major and Come Cullect also saluting.
Adam Hamilton