Aussie Made Lombo had to settle for second in her Breeders Crown repechage on Thursday
Champion reinsman Chris Alford experienced mixed emotions at Thursday’s Australasian Breeders Crown repechage round for the three-year-olds at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
Classy colt Mustang Mach emphatically announced he was still a player in the boys’ section with a dominant win in his 2240-metre qualifier, but not before Aussie Made Lombo was beaten as an odds-on favourite for the second time in the series.
The reigning 2YO Filly of the Year, who finished third in last year’s Breeders Crown final, had to settle for a 2.2-metre second to the Mark Purdon-trained-and-driven Tatijana Bromac in the latter fillies’ last-chance qualifier.
The $1.80 favourite, who was beaten at $1.30 by Livia Degerolstein in her heat last week, did the work outside leader Rhodium Castle but was under pressure before straightening and had no answer for the powerful sprint of Tatijana Bromac in a 26.7secs final quarter.
Even though she was beaten, the daughter of Bettors Delight progresses to the August 12 semi-final round with the first seven home in each of Thursday’s qualifiers allowed to keep their Breeders Crown dream alive.
It took just 35 minutes for a smile to return to Alford’s face with Mustang Mach justifying his $1.20 quote to crush his rivals in the first of two repechages for the colts and geldings
The Dean Braun-trained youngster, one of the hapless rivals left in Sushi Sushi’s wake in last week’s heat round, always had the race in control after cruising to the front from barrier two.
The son of Mach Three ambled through the first half of the last mile in 62.5secs, increased the tempo to 28.6secs for the third quarter before seemingly coasting through a slick 27secs final split for a 5.2m win over Major Command and Astronaut.
Alford’s other key drive in the three-year-old boys’ section, Suave Stuey Lombo, also booked his spot at Tabcorp Park on August 12 with a third placing in the other repechage.
The Jayne Davies-trained son of Bettors Delight was involved in a blanket finish after scooting home along the sprint lane, clocking in third.
The Emma Stewart-trained Mister Sheedy ($7.60) scored a game half-head win over Caribbean Blaster ($10), who was a head in advance of the $2.90 favourite.
Thursday’s other repechage was for the fillies and saw an explosive sprint lane win to the Shayne Cramp-trained-and-driven Maastricht.
The daughter of Blissfull Hall cut down Rainbow Dasher late with Vicbred Super Series heroine Bellas Delight ($1.60 fav) running into third after being imprisoned three-back the pegs for much of the event.
