Brisbane Lions premiership player Darcy Gardiner’s sporting success has continued in recent weeks with his pacer Code Bailey who completed back-to-back wins at Melton in the Hip Pocket Free For All.
Jason Lee was able to slot Code Bailey ($12) in behind the leader Oliver Dan and the rising 11-year-old produced a stout finale to grab the leader in the straight and score by two metres in a slick mile rate of 1:50.5.
Code Bailey is no stranger to running fast time as he contested the 2020 Miracle Mile finishing sixth behind King Of Swing.
“Everyone at the stable absolutely loves him and I’ve got a real soft spot for him, it’s a great credit to Marg and Paddy (Lee) and all the team at home to be able to get him back and win a couple of free for alls,” Lee said.
Punters were left reeling after the $41 chance Looks Like Diamonds led from start to finish in the Hygain Victory Pace with the $1.22 favorite Petracca missing a place.
The four-year-old mare won consecutive races at Melton before two unplaced efforts leading into Saturday night however trainer driver David Miles indicated there were excuses for the defeats.
“In one of them it was my drive and in the other one she was in season, so on her previous two wins she was probably a $5 or $6 chance,” Miles said.
The John Newberry prepared seven-year-old Diamond Eclipse passed $200,000 in stake earnings when outsprinted his rivals in the Hertz Melton Pace.
Given the run of the race in the one out one back trail by James Herbertson, Diamond Eclipse chalked up his 19th career win from 136 race starts.
