There looks to be little that can stop Emma Stewart's gun four-year-old Mach Dan.
The son of Mach Three set a new 1609m track record in winning the Geelong Rocket first-up in February, and was again a sectional star during his gutsy victory at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.
Driver James Herbertson drifted back early from his barrier six draw but then went three-wide to find a spot outside the leader before the bell. Approaching the home turn, Reactor Now slipped away under the urgings of Josh Aiken and looked to have Mach Dan beaten, but the latter rallied and wore down the front-runner in the shadows of the post to score victory by a neck.
Stewart's charge recorded the quickest last mile (1:52.38min) and last 800m (54.16sec) of the meeting, as well as the third fastest final 400m (27.20sec) of the night.
"He really should have been burnt off off the back with the 26.9sec, but to be honest it only felt like we were going about 28sec," Herbertson said.
"He's a lovely little horse and he's got a very big future.
"He's already done enough in his career to say he's very good, but I think he's pretty good.”
Herbertson was excited by the Group 1-winning gelding’s potential.
"The world's his oyster really," he said.
"He's a four-year-old, he's only had the two runs this time in and he's been able to sit parked there against some pretty decent free-for-all (horses).
"He's got his five and six-year-old careers as well and I'm sure he'll only get tougher and better, so he's got a big future."
Owner Danny Zavitsanos said the National APG 4YO Series was the main aim with the winner of 11 races and nearly $230,000 in prizemoney.
WATCH MACH DAN'S RUN FROM MELTON BELOW
THE NUMBERS
MACH DAN
TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE (2240m) - 1st
LEAD TIME: 48.62sec
LAST MILE: 1:52.38min
LAST 800m: 54.16sec
LAST 400m: 27.20sec
FASTEST FIVE
MELTON, MARCH 10
LAST 400m
WRITTEN COURAGE 27.11sec - 2nd GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND 3YO PACE
HOOK EYE JOH 27.36sec - 4th TICKETBLASTER PACE
NOTNEGOTIABLE 27.49sec - 1st GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND 3YO PACE
SHAWAMI LASS 27.54sec - 9th TICKETBLASTER PACE
TRAVLININSTYLE 27.59sec - last TICKETBLASTER PACE
LAST 800m
WRITTEN COURAGE 56.03sec - 2nd GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND 3YO PACE
HARD ROCK SHANNON 56.08sec - 4th TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
MUSZTANG 56.11sec - 5th TICKETBLASTER PACE
SHAWAMI LASS 56.12s - 9th TICKETBLASTER PACE
REACTOR FACTOR 56.18sec - 1st TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SECTIONALS FOR EVERY RUNNER AT MELTON
MELTON, MARCH 13
LAST 400m
I CAST NO SHADOW 27.03sec - 3rd TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
ORCHID STRIDE 27.16sec - 5th ALABAR 3YO PACE
MACH DAN 27.20sec - 1st TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
LOPEZ 27.26sec - 3rd ALABAR 3YO PACE
SEACHANGE 27.30sec - 1st ALABAR 3YO PACE
LAST 800m
MACH DAN 54.16sec - 1st TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
JILLIBY LORENZO 54.22sec - 4th HERO CLAIMING PACE
I CAST NO SHADOW 54.38sec - 3rd TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
REACTOR NOW 54.45sec - 2nd TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE
BULLETPROOF BOY 54.71sec - 6th TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE