Elixir saves Chris Alford from being tipped out of the cart of Broadways Best in their Breeders Crown heat
The banner match-up of this year’s Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown is on, but only after Chris Alford’s outstanding horsemanship allowed Broadways Best to keep her dream alive with a sensational heat win this afternoon.
Alford was almost tipped out of the sulky passing the winning post the first time in the 2240-metre qualifier, but miraculously regained his position before going on to score a comfortable win.
Ironically, the horse that nearly brought about the $1.04 favourite’s demise in the first heat was also her saviour.
Elixir galloped when being driven hard out of the gate, severely hampering Broadways Best, and it was only that Alford bounced off Elixir when being tipped from the cart that saved him from being acquainted with the Tabcorp Park track.
Fortunately for favourite punters, that was the only heartache they endured. Broadways Best then worked to the front and dictated the pace before scooting home in 28.4 seconds for a comfortable win over Queen Of Fire and Elixir in a 2:02.2 mile rate.
Favourite backers had much less cause for concern with Make Mine Cullen in the other mares’ heat.
The Ladyship Mile winner was patiently driven by Daryl Douglas early, but put her stamp on the race rounding the home turn before careering away for a 1:57.3 win over Cullens Angel and Miss Athens.
They will now meet in the $100,000 final, one of nine Group 1s to be run at Tabcorp Park as part of the $1.56 million raceday next Sunday, August 22.
Make Mine Cullen’s win completed a good day for the big names, following wins by Chariots Of Fire champion Villagem and defending Breeders Crown title-holder Let Me Thru.
Let Me Thru answered a stern challenge from Down Under Muscles to score a 2:01.4 win – which included a 57.4sec last 800m – in the 4YO Trotters Preview that was a dress rehearsal for next Sunday’s $50,000 final.
Villagem emphasised his status as the horse to beat in the four-year-old entires and geldings’ division with an effortless win in the first of three heats in that category.
The gelding wasn’t punished by trainer-driver Lisa Miles, but still pulled out a 55.2sec last half-mile to cost home almost seven metres clear of Christian Shadow, Goodtime Jasper and Garnet River in a 1:57.6 mile rate.
El Padrino confirmed his status as Villagem’s biggest threat in the $100,000 final with a soft win in the final heat, while the John Tapp-trained Jukebox Music pressed him claims with a sprint-lane win in the middle qualifier.
Bee And Jay, Jilliby Bartel and Cool And Casual rounded out the top four behind El Padrino to secure their final places, while Erics Legend, Make A Memory and Dominate Line were next home behind Jukebox Music.
