The APG Vicbred (3YO Colts & Geldings) Final has changed complexion after Saturday night’s semi-finals at Melton.
Punters were dealt an early blow after the $2.20 favourite Soho Charmer galloped at the start before finishing eighth and failing to qualify for the Final in the opening event.
Meanwhile, the Emma Stewart-trained Most Exciting ($8) defied a betting drift to take out the first semi-final after charging through along the sprint lane to defeat Major Blitz and Enjoy Life.
Champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning said the son of Always B Miki was always travelling like a winner behind the leader.
“He’s a lovely horse and certainly lives up to expectations, he travelled pretty strong and was pretty keen in the run and on the bend took just a little bit to accelerate but on the line, he was pretty strong,” Manning said.
The second semi-final too threw up an upset result after the Matt Craven-trained Le Cardinal ($19) and Mount Barker Boy ($101) fought out the finish while the $2.10 favourite Neptunite capitulated to finish second last after over-racing in the lead.
Driver Amy Day admitted she was apprehensive prior to the race after being allocated an outside front-row draw.
“It’s a lot of relief to have him in the Final, I was a little bit nervous about this race tonight because while I had so much faith in this horse, we had so many good horses in the race we could have easily missed the final from draw,” Day said.
The first semi-final of the 3YO Fillies division went according to script after the Emma Stewart-trained fillies Bettor Beach ($2.15) and the $2 favourite Pre Eminant provided the quinella.
Bettor Beach eased out of the one-one trail around the home turn before producing a withering sprint to score running away by 10 metres and reeling off a 26.8 last 400 metres.
Driver Mark Pitt said he was able to secure a trail despite his extreme barrier (12).
“It was only a moderate tempo early so I thought that I would put her into the race and hopefully we got some cover and we did, she was very fast and I think she will be better again next week,” Pitt said.
The Joe Pace-prepared filly Sweet Irish Loch ($3) prevailed in the second semi-final after getting the verdict in a thrilling three-way photo from Rachels Legacy and Keayang Passion with Adrian Pace in the sulky.
It was a career highlight for the 25-year-old Pace.
“It’s right up there, I won a free-for-all last year and this is on par,” Pace said.
“It didn’t go to plan with what we had in mind but the one-one was good and it worked out perfect,” he said.
The $2.60 favourite Quatro Moth weakened noticeably in the home straight to finish last after leading and is on her last chance to race truly.
The Emma Stewart-trained colts Cardigan Sniper ($1.20 fav) and Some High ($4) engaged in a two-horse war in the second semi-final of the 2YO Colts & Geldings division.
Some High appeared to head off Cardigan Sniper by a couple of metres halfway down the straight, however, the favourite refused to yield and rallied over the concluding stages to get the verdict by a head.
Driver Mark Pitt said the son of Ultimate Sniper possesses a healthy will to win.
“He’s got no quit in him, this guy, I know he looked beaten 150 (metres) from home but he just keeps fighting,” Pitt said.
Despite locking wheels in the home straight, the Jess Tubbs-trained Lake Como outsprinted his rivals in the first semi-final after settling towards the rear of the field from its second-row draw.
Driver James Herbertson believes there is further improvement in the winner leading into next week’s Final.
“We got a nice trip and cart into it and I think he had a bit left, he just floated once he hit the front,” Herbertson said.
Next week’s 2YO Fillies Final appears a match race between Kahula and Ideal Frankie after both fillies outclassed their rivals in their respective semi-finals.
Sent out a prohibitive $1.12 favourite, the Allan McDonough-trained Ideal Frankie demolished the opposition, scoring by 17 metres with plenty in reserve to provide Mark Pitt with his fourth win of the night.
“It’s great to sit behind this filly, she’s done a big job to date and Allan has done a great job with her,” Pitt said.
“When it was time to go, she really went although she got a little bit lost out on her own, it will be better when she has a bit of competition up alongside her,” he said.
IMAGES: STU MCCORMICK
