THE BAD
Attempting to dip the toe in the big pond with his exciting pacer Manila Playboy, trainer Shane Fraser nominated his star five-year-old for last Friday’s Newcastle Mile.
Unfortunately for Fraser it was one of the strongest editions in recent years, as connections chased automatic qualification to the Miracle Mile.
That saw Manila Playboy balloted from the event, and instead of heading south from his Tweed base, Fraser instead headed north to Albion Park on Saturday night to tackle the Open pace.
Facing a second line gate, driver Angus Garrard had the gelding in a perfect position through the first 500 metres as Northview Hustler pounced on the lead and took the field through a 27.7 opening split.
However, Garrard made a move and sent Manila Playboy around to sit at the wheel of Northview Hustler for the final lap, getting around easily to the chair with 1000 metres to travel.
Through a 29.2 second split, the speed went on down the back with the tempo increasing to a 27.4 third section as Mach Da Vinci was sent three-wide to try to reel in the deficit.
Turning for home Northview Hustler was being urged by driver Brendan Barnes for the effort to shake free of the chasers, while Garrard was sitting quietly and slowly eating into the margin as Mach Da Vinci felt the pinch and started to yield ground.
Getting busy as they straightened for the run to the judge, Manila Playboy was able to grab victory right in the closing bound, finishing in 28.3 seconds for an overall rate of 1.52.4.
The win was the 15th career victory for Manila Playboy from 34 starts as his earnings passed $275,000, with seven of those wins when driven by Garrard and the winning time set a new career benchmark for the Group 1-winning pacer.
It may have been with some disappointment that he missed the Newcastle Mile, with Mach Dan claiming the Miracle Mile invite with his second successive victory in the race, however the gelding responded by graduating to open company in impressive fashion.
THE WILDCARD
It was a mixed night for Queensland trained horses campaigning at Menangle on Saturday, with four trainers chasing some southern spoils
The Shawn Grimsey-trained Teddy Disco was the first Queenslander to step out, eventually, after the meeting was finally able to go ahead after several time amendments owing to storms and lightning activity in the area.
In a race that featured several runners that missed a place in the Chariots Of Fire field, Teddy Disco finished down the line as Ripp showed his class with a dominant victory.
Race two saw last start winner Sumomentsomewhere looking to replicate his last start victory, this time with David Morris taking the reins for trainer Shannon Price.
Looming up strongly in the long Menangle stretch, the five-year-old could not quite see it out, finishing a neck astern of the winner.
The first of the New South Wales Oaks heats was up next and Queensland was represented by the Grant Dixon-trained Fraya, while Sky Blu trained by David Thorn is raced by Queensland based connections.
Sky Blu was able to progress through to the Final by finishing third, while Fraya also scraped through to this Saturday’s Final by finishing in sixth position.
Unfortunately, Dixon was unable to qualify his other filly through to the Oaks Final when Cheer Leader finished in eighth place.
Queensland was dually represented in the Keystone Del Trotters Stakes with Majestic Harry for Brittany Graham and Van Sank for Shannon Price.
Majestic Harry made an error as the mobile pulled away, galloping out but was able to reset quickly back into a trot as Credit Master worked to the front.
Turing for home, Van Sank was on the back of Majestic Harry and was able to angle to the outside and taking every step of the Menangle stretch was able to arrive right in time for the narrowest of victories.
Tims A Trooper was the last Queenslander to step out, taking his place in the Chariots Of Fire field, finishing down the line behind Catch A Wave.