All smiles . . . connections of Lady Chatto following her Gold Tiara heat win at Bathurst.
THE opening night of the 2017 Gold Crown Carnival on Wednesday honoured past champions in Lombo La Fe Fe, Rowleyalla and Honda Grattan, so it was appropriate that champion drivers came to the fore in those races and in the Gold Tiara heats.
Michael Formosa, successful in the Lombo La Fe Fe Vase with Rocknroll Emma, last year's Tiara Consolation winner, has an outstanding record in recent Crown carnivals, winning the Crown with Ultimate Art in 2012 (and backing up in the Chalice the following year) and with Shadow Runner in 2015.
Luke McCarthy scored a feature double, taking the Rowleyalla Sprint with Four Starz Stride before setting a new track record of 1:52.7 in the Hondo Grattan Sprint with Better Than Max. Luke collected the driver's trophy after Crown wins with All Black Stride in 2013 and Astride last year, when his family were the Gold Crown Honourees.
Heat One of the Tiara saw Daniel Jack, whose family were the Gold Crown Honourees in 2005, dictate from the front in 1:59 with Our Chateau Lafite, the Art Major full-sister to champion pacer and now sire For A Reason. Like him, she looks a real professional.
Amanda Turnbull, whose father Steve and grandfather Tony were Gold Crown Honourees in 2010 and 1994, was successful in the Tiara two years ago with Pixies Parlour, and she took out Heats Two and Three on Wednesday with Now Eye See and Quinzel.
Now Eye See, a Bettors half-sister to Group 1 juvenile Two Eye See, lowered the time to 1:58.2, and Quinzel, a Modern Art half to a Crown finalist and subsequent SA Derby winner in Lively Exit, rated a fraction slower, at 2:00.4 for the 1730 metres.
The final three heats produced superlative winning performances, and the promise of a memorable final on Saturday week.
Gavin Fitzpatrick, from a family inducted as Honourees in 2009 and whose Bathurst champions include the incomparable Lombo Pocket Watch in 2006, lowered the time standard to 1:57.8 (with a closing quarter in 27.7 seconds) with Prophesy, a Somebeach half to previous Tiara heat winners Sheezallattitude and Bamako Mali.
Anthony Butt, making only his second visit to Bathurst and his first to the new track, dictated terms with the highly-touted visitor Lady Chatto NZ in Heat Five, slipping home in 56.8 for the then-quickest win of 1:57.6.
The American Ideal daughter impressed everyone greatly, and her driver commented that this Tiara campaign has created plenty of interest back home.Will she join the legendary Master Musician (1990) and Another Party (1997) as Kiwi visitors to wear Bathurst gold?
And the best was saved to the last, Heat Six, when outstanding junior reinsman Chris Geary kept the series favourite My Sweetchillyphilly NZ back out of trouble early before working to the lead. Despite the casual beginning, the Betterthancheddar filly had the effrontery to rate 1:55.2, equalling her track record from a sensational debut three weeks ago.
In the closing event, the Haras Des Trotteurs Gold Coronet, Blake Fitzpatrick grabbed a Coronet to add to his 2007 Bracelet with Dance of Life, leading throughout with Pegasus Elegance. The win was fitting for a young trainer-driver who has excelled with trotters in recent seasons.
A night of champions, and a Tiara final that just might turn out to be one of the very best.
