The clash between two of the state’s most popular horses, Bulletproof Boy and Triple Eight, provided one of the highlights of Saturday night at Melton.
Heading into Saturday night’s Free For All, the two 11-year-olds had a combined 426 race starts for 85 wins.
Sent out the $1.80 favourite, Bulletproof Boy settled towards the rear of the field before James Herbertson sooled the ‘people’s champion’ to the lead with 1600 metres to travel.
Triple Eight was eased out three wide by Jordan Leedham with 500 metres to travel, and the son of American Ideal loomed up ominously around the home turn as Bulletproof Boy tried to steal a winning break.
Bulletproof Boy was unable to withstand the trademark finishing burst of Triple Eight ($26), who surged away over the concluding stages to score by four metres in a mile rate of 1:53.9.
Leedham admitted he was happy when Bulletproof Boy ran to the lead, ensuring a genuine tempo.
“When Herbie took off and injected a bit of speed into it, I was sort of giggling to myself knowing that would bring us into it a lot more,” Leedham said.
“He was absolutely jogging at the 600 (metres) and I tried to wait as long as I could, but he was travelling that well and as soon as I let him rip, he never felt like getting beaten,” he said.
The Jess Tubbs-trained Triple Eight is nearing the $1m mark in prizemoney, having amassed more than $972,000 after Saturday night’s win.
The John Tormey-trained four-year-old Karbine made amends for his narrow defeat at Melton a fortnight ago when he outstayed his rivals in the Vicbred Voucher Trot.
Jack Laugher wasn’t happy with the leisurely tempo and sent Karbine forward from last to sit parked outside the leader Distant Sun shortly after the start.
Karbine ($8) forged to the lead around the home turn before scoring by three metres from Centurion Dream and Distant Sun.
Laugher said he needed to make a forward move early in the race.
“There wasn’t as much speed out of the gate as I thought there was going to be, so I had to put him in the race. We had no hope from back there,” Laugher said.
