Super Series racing continued throughout the week, with heats held at Shepparton on Wednesday, Geelong on Thursday and two Semi-Finals at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday.
Hopetoun Park trainer/driver Greg Sugars’ quality Bettors Delight/Machane filly La Machane was a comfortable winner of the 4th Heat for Three Year Old Fillies over 2190 metres at Shepparton on Wednesday.
Beaten for speed from gate three by a flying Kensington Palace outside her, La Machane enjoyed a cosy passage trailing the pacemaker, before using the sprint lane to gain the day in advance of Ymbro Toto (one/one) in a rate of 1-59.4, with Hexam Heartbeat a game third after racing in the open.
Keayang Steamer (Riverboat King/Alimar Star) landed the 2nd Heat for Three Year Old Colts & Geldings over 2100 metres at Geelong.
Trained at Terang by Marg Lee and driven by nephew Glen Craven, Keayang Steamer from the pole trailed the leader Barkers Hall (gate five), before making full use of the sprint lane to score from a most unlucky Mr Nickel (near last at bell), with Barkers Hall holding down third. The mile rate 2-00.1.
The two Semi-Finals at Melton for Four Year Old Entires and Geldings over 2240 metres were exciting affairs, the first going the way of the Alan Tubbs trained and Greg Sugars driven Melpark Maestro (Armbro Operative/Golden Forest), a half brother to former Victoria Cup winner Melpark Major by Iraklis.
Settling mid-field in the moving line, Melpark Maestro followed the hot favourite Abettorpunt home three wide from the bell, with the pair drawing away on straightening.
In a thrilling two horse war all the way up the running, Melpark Maestro prevailed by a half head in 1-56.6, with Keayang Cullen running home late for third.
Heat two was even more thrilling, with beautifully bred Falcon Seelster/Jadah Rose entire Jadahson scoring by a half head in a tricky finish over semi-stablemate Ronald George in 1-58.3.
Trained at Smythes Creek by Emma Stewart and driven by John Caldow, Jadahson from the extreme draw settled a “mile” off the leader Keayang Rustler, with the favourite Suave Stuey Lombo ahead of him.
Easing into the three wide line at the bell with Timeless Era leading up that division, both Jadahson and Suave Stuey Lombo were very wide approaching the home turn, with Keayang Rustler still at the head of affairs.
With runs coming from all directions on straightening, Ronald George after trailing the leader and using the sprint line appeared as though he was going to cause a major upset, while Jadahson sprouted wings down the outside fence to gain the judge’s nod on the wire in advance of Ronald George, Keayang Rustler, Cut For An Ace and Lombo Flashlight in a rate of 1-58.3. The margins being a half head, head, head and a half neck.
Unfortunately Suave Stuey Lombo failed to qualify for next week’s Final.
TATLOW TWO YEAR OLD CLASSIC
Heats of the time honoured Tatlow Stakes for Two Year Old Colts & Geldings over 2240 metres were held at Tabcorp Park Melton on Thursday – the winners being Guaranteed and Almost El Eagle.
Rochester owner/breeders Mark & Sue Thompson’s Artsplace/Jadah Rose colt Guaranteed made it four from four with an all of the way victory in Heat One.
Trained by Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin at Smythes Creek (Ballarat), Guaranteed from the pole with Chris Alford in the sulky was never out of second gear in accounting for Raid The Stakes (three back the markers) and All The Cards which trailed the winner. The mile rate 2-00.8.
Orrvale trainer Steven Duffy combined with Greg Sugars to capture Heat Two with Mcardle/Nuclearraccelerator gelding Almost El Eagle.
Given a lovely passage trailing the well supported pacemaker Keayang Starzzz after leading out from the pole, Sugars not wanting to use the sprint lane on turning, eased Almost El Eagle to the outside on straightening and he ran home best to score by a half neck from Keayang Starzzz in a rate of 1-59.7, with Lennytheshark third after being last at the bell.
