Six-year-old Courage Under Fire/Alegria mare Glenferrie Alexis was victorious in taking the $25,000 Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Gold Cup for M0 or better over 2690 metres at Maryborough on Monday.
Prepared at Parwan by the partnership of Craig Demmler and Jodi Quinlan, Glenferrie Alexis bred by Greg Brodie and raced by Peter Chambers stepped safely from barrier four to settle on the back of the pacemaker Vito Vito and although inclined to over race at times, enjoyed a cosy passage.
With the position outside the leader changing several times shortly after the start, Daryl Douglas sent Jaccka Clive forward from midfield to park in the open after travelling a lap, with Chris Alford and Composed coming out ahead of him to join the leader, then ease for the coveted one/one position.
When Ti Vogliobene eased wide from five back in the moving line racing for the bell, the three wide train formed with Pacific Playgirl and Johnorama following.
Challenged strongly by Jaccka Clive on straightening, with Composed angling into the clear and Pacific Playgirl five wide, Vito Vito was a spent force with Jaccka Clive gaining the upper hand and Composed in hot pursuit.
Glenferrie Alexis then burst along the sprint lane to race clear over the concluding stages with the major prize in her keeping in advance of Composed, with Jaccka Clive a game third just ahead of Thats Mister Ali and Pacific Playgirl in a rate of 2:01.2 (last half mile 56.8 – quarter 28.8).
Making only her 52nd race appearance, Glenferrie Alexis has recorded 17 wins and 9 placings.
Earlier in the day, beautifully bred 6YO Muscles Yankee/Fionas Flair entire Down Under Muscles was a brilliant winner of the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Trotters Cup for TM0 or better over 2690 metres.
Trained and driven by Bolinda’s Chris Alford for Kilmore breeder/owners Kevin & Faye Waller, Down Under Muscles was making his first appearance at the races since March 11 and after starting from a 30 metre equal backmark of 30 metres, settled at the tail of the field with Retained and Lance Justice deputising for brother John setting a solid tempo from barrier two.
Held up for one final dash at the leaders, Down Under Muscles was accommodated by Aleppo Sunrise moving three wide at the bell, with the other backmarker I Didnt Do It weaving inside runners in the final circuit to actually come out under the winner approaching the home turn.
Asked for a supreme effort on straightening, Down Under Muscles out very wide, gained the upper hand in the shadows of the post to score by 3.2 metres in a rate of 2:02.5 (last half 59.3 – quarter 30.2) over I Didnt Do It which was the 'drive of the day' by Jodi Quinlan, with Retained running the race of his life for third 10.8 metres in arrears of the winner.
With a record of 17 wins and 9 placings from 36 starts, Down Under Muscles will be highly competitive in any race he contests.
