The brilliant five-year-old form of Down Under Muscles continued in the George Gath Memorial at Tabcorp Park
While most of the media spotlight centred on Villagem’s track-record breaking feats in the evening’s feature race, two of his fellow five-year-olds continued to stamp their imprimatur on the sport with dominant, prophetic victories on Friday night at Tabcorp Park.
In the $20,000 Group 3 Dometic Group – The George Gath, superstar squaregaiter Down Under Muscles once again displayed his brutal, devastating speed, taking full advantage of a three wide cart into the race to win in fabulous fashion.
Driven superbly by gun reinsman Chris Alford – who also handles the horse – Down Under Muscles settled toward the rear of the field from his 20-metre handicap in the 2760-metre stand start affair as he looked to record a hat-trick of wins to open his latest campaign.
With speedy starter Gentle Image lamplighting the field through a lead-time and first half of 94.4 and 61.6-seconds respectively, Alford’s strapping son of Muscles Yankee was left to smoke his pipe in preparation for the late ambush for which he’s becoming synonymous.
Unmoved prior to a third split of 29.5-seconds when finally latching onto La Mosca for a ride into the race, Alford and Down Under Muscles peeled four and five wide upon entering the lane, and anyone who has seen his previous two triumphs knew the race was well in hand.
With the normally animated Alford doing his best impression of a statue through a closing cut of 28.6 to tie up a 2:03.9 mile rate, Down Under Muscles cruised to the line 4.8 metres clear of a very brave Gentle Image, who only broke when crossing the line, with the unlucky Millburn Michael a further three metres astern in third.
Later in the night, stunning Strathfieldsaye mare Make Mine Cullen made a one-act affair of her return to gender restricted racing in the $20,000 Harness Breeders Vic Melton Mares Championship.
In scenes eerily illustrative of the powers of intimidation Glenn Douglas’ great mare now has over her female rivals, Make Mine Cullen found the front in the 2240-metre support race after just 400 metres – from barrier 11.
From there the race was a procession. Loafing through a lead time of 46.1 seconds and first half of 62.3, the dominant daughter of Christian Cullen only released the shackles late.
Sprinting hard and fast in a brilliant 55.6-second last half to complete a 1:57.9 mile rate and topple the super impressive Strangeasitsounds by 3.9 metres, top driver Daryl Douglas looked to give his great mare the blowout she needed ahead of what looms as her biggest task to date in three weeks time.
While Miracle Mile invitations have only been extended to Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood to date, it is hoped and expected that both Make Mine Cullen and Villagem will receive the call they’ve been waiting for following Tuesday’s New Zealand Cup.
