Broadway Play booked herself a trip to the Gold Coast with her Terang Cup win
Broadway Play all but booked herself a trip north for next month’s Watpac Inter Dominion on the Gold Coast with her tenacious win in last night’s $25,000 Terang & District Co-Op Pacing Cup.
Trainer Shannon McLean has sheltered the six-year-old from the top level until now, but after seeing her back up last week’s Angelique Club Cup success with last night's victory he conceded he might have to reassess that philosophy.
“Tonight was always going to be the big test for her and we thought that if she won or run well we’d have to seriously consider it (the Inter Dominion),” he said.
“Seeing how well she went tonight, we’d probably be leaning towards going up there providing she pulls up all right.”
Broadway Play was the only mare in last night’s race, but it didn’t prevent the daughter of Safely Kept from outstaying her male rivals in a thrilling four-way drive to the line under the urgings of champion reinsman Chris Alford.
She looked beaten on the turn when she conceded ground to $3.20 favourite Make Waves, who she had raced outside from the 1600 metres, only to get going again in the final 100 metres.
Make Waves fought on gamely, while Bold Cruiser ($14) and Pay Me Christian ($8) came with booming runs from the second half of the field, but they were had no answer for Broadway Play’s courage.
She notched her 19th win at her 46th start when she edged out Bold Cruiser by a half-head with Make Waves hanging on for third just a further head away. Comeback pacer Pay Me Christian was less than a metre away in fourth spot.
The mile rate was two minutes flat, which included a slick 56.6-second last half.
McLean admitted to some anxious moments during the race, but said the one thing he knew he could rely on was Broadway Play’s fighting qualities.
“That’s her go, she just keeps finding and she doesn’t like any other horses getting past her,” he said. “It was great to see her get there.”
Completing a stellar half-an-hour for McLean was his Victoria Derby runner-up and Broadway Play’s half-sister Broadways Best, who cruised home by 11-1/4 metres as a $1.20 favourite in the three-year-old race that followed the Cup.
The main support event was the Barastoc Terang Trotters Cup, which saw Just Glorious ($11) revel in a return to standing start conditions after an unsuccessful Inter Dominion campaign with a dashing win.
