Talented mare Sahara Breeze topped $300,000 in stake earnings on the way to pouring cold water on Yambukian’s love affair with Melton when she outsprinted that horse in the Logical Staffing Solutions Free For All on Saturday night.
Fresh from a successful hit and run visit to Menangle a fortnight ago, Sahara Breeze ($2.25 fav) was well backed to deprive Yambukian of a sixth consecutive win at Melton.
Chris Alford opted to take a sit behind the leader Oliver Dan while Yambukian assumed his customary role sitting parked over the 1720 metre sprint trip.
Yambukian proved relentless in the home straight and was being declared the winner when Sahara Breeze darted through along the sprint lane to get up and score by half a head.
Alford conceded he thought it best to conserve early race energy on the daughter of Captaintreacherous.
“Oliver Dan got out pretty quick and I saw Yambukian punching through so I thought it would be best to let him cop the pressure,” Alford said.
“She’s racing well and doing a great job at the moment, its hard work in these free for alls as they just run as you can see with a 53. 8 last half,” he said.
The winner at 15 of her 35 career starts, Sahara Breeze is competitive with the best of her sex according to Alford.
“Eye Keep Smiling is probably the benchmark but she wouldn’t be far away from her with the right run,” he said.