Special Moment, the baby sister to Saturday night's G1 Queensland Oaks prospect Bettorthanspecial broke through for her maiden victory at the harness racing meeting at Redcliffe Paceway today and completed a 2yo race double for trainer Shannon Price.
Taking full advantage of filly’s good barrier draw, driver Brad Cowen found the top early and Special Moment was not headed from start to finish, scoring in a three way drive to the line.
The daughter of Bettors Delight fought off a determined mid race challenge from the short-priced race favourite Steveejay (Peter Greig) and stole a winning break on the opposition on the final turn.
Steveejay was under heavy pressure to hold its position and yielded the second spot to Jazzy Artist (Danielle McMullen).
Special Moment held a 1.5 metre winning margin on that pair.
At five previous starts Special Moment had been winless but looked much more like a racehorse in this event rating 1.59.1 for the 1780 metre Redcliffe circuit.
The filly is the third foal of Specialagentcullen an unraced sister to Sydney Cup winner Secretagent Cullen ($337,606).
Special Moment’s 3yo sister Bettorthanspecial was victorious in the 2014 G2 2yo Triad Final and was runner up in May in the G1 3yo Triad Final won by its stablemate Bettor Promise.
Bettorthanspecial, the winner of her last two starts shoots for her first Group 1 victory in Saturday night’s Greg & Sharon Mitchell Queensland Oaks at Albion Park.
Price and Cowen also teamed up to win the first 2yo race at Redcliffe withRocknrollhighlight.
The filly by Rocknroll Hanover was having its fourth start and also broke through for its first race win.
Rocknrollhighlights came with a three wide run to score in a close finish by a neck over Frankie Rocks (Grant Dixon) rating 2.00.9. Buddy Babcock (Rob Gorman) finished third.
Timmo Time (Adam Sanderson) was very impressive in winning the third of the 2yo races at Redcliffe.
Settling at the tail of the field, Sanderson whipped around those in front of him and the race favourite exploded away for a commanding 19.3 metre victory in 2.00.7 rate for the 1780m distance.
The Western Edition gelding trained at Tamborine by Michelle Grimsey took its career record to three wins from 9 starts.
Ima Rock Princess (Peter Greig) and Irishtown Babe completed the minor placings.
David Aldred