Favourite backers who were heading to the payout window did an about turn as the runners hit the line in the IRT Ian Daff Memorial Pace at Melton on Saturday night.
Uniquely Ideal, the $1.60 favourite, had made a sweeping run from the 800-metre mark to join Le Belle Bijoux in the home straight and appeared set for victory when she suddenly galloped 50 metres from the winning post.
Meanwhile, Le Belle Bijoux ($3.40) raised another effort and came again to grab victory by a metre from the leader Delightful Charm, with Uniquely Ideal beaten into seventh place.
Successful driver Ellen Tormey said the race panned out well in the early stages for Le Belle Bijoux when Uniquely Ideal was posted three wide.
“Early I was happy when Michelle (Wight) decided to leave the favourite out wide and I thought it was good because we could stay in front of them,” Tormey said.
“But when I pulled out and saw the favourite on my back, I thought that I was probably running for second,” she said.
However, Tormey knew Le Belle Bijoux wouldn’t give in without a fight in the straight.
“The one thing about her is that she looks gone on the turn but she keeps kicking again up the straight,” she said.
“I thought we might get close but didn’t think that we were going to win and then the favourite put in the funny one and we got all the luck.
She just tries so hard and I’m very happy for Kari and Paul (Males).”
Talented young reinsman Ryan Sanderson shared the driving honours on the night with Chris Alford after landing a double on Big Bad Ossie and Good Tobe Locksley.
First up after a short spell, Big Bad Ossie ($2.10 fav) settled midfield before Sanderson made a three-wide run with 600 metres to travel and the popular elect surged clear in the straight, scoring by four metres from King Saint in a mile rate of 1:54.9.
Sanderson said the seven-year-old usually comes to hand quickly after a freshen-up.
“He’s generally pretty forward in his preparation, he felt nice and sharp and I thought he’d be close to his best,” Sanderson said.
“He had to go three wide down the back and sustain it so he’s going well.”
Big Bad Ossie is trained by Steve O’Donoghue, who recalls the pacer sustaining an injury three years ago.
“He did a tendon so he was off the scene for about 18 months, we probably gave him more time off than he needed but he is still racing now,” O’Donoghue said.
“He’s always been a nice horse, more of a speed horse than a stayer but we’re hoping he will measure up to being a good metropolitan horse or even one of the smaller country cups type,” he said.
The John Nissen-prepared five-year-old Good Tobe Locksley provided Sanderson with the second leg of his double in the Nutrien Equine Pace.
Good Tobe Locksley began quickly from the pole and Sanderson elected to take the sit behind the $2.60 favourite Timbimboo, who crossed to the lead from his outside front row draw.
Sanderson made full use of the sprint lane in the home straight and Good Tobe Locksley ($9.50) dashed through on the inside to score by half a head from Galaxy Lass, which was tightened for room in the shadows of the post.
“He got out really good tonight and we had the right trip on the favourite,” he said.
“I was a bit worried that the leader might have gone a bit too slow with that 32 first quarter but he got rolling after that which suited this fellow and he was good.”
Son Of Mac returned to the winner’s circle with a strong performance in the Hip Pocket Castlemaine Pace.
After navigating off the fence in the early stages, the Kyle Marshall-trained and driven pacer charged home late to score, showing he is back to something like his best after missing all of last season with issues.
Marshall said it was a special result for the team.
“He was beautiful tonight. He felt enormous. It was a team effort to get this horse back racing and in the winner’s circle. It means a lot to us.”
