Darren Billinger steers Come On Frank to an emotional Vicbred Super Series success at Melton's Tabcorp Park
Come On Frank ($16.50) returned to form in the Group 1 Empire Stallions Vicbred four-year-old final for colts and geldings on Friday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The gelding won under emotional circumstances for the Billinger family who lost their teenage daughter Kelly last year in a car accident. Come On Frank was one of her favourite horses and he has repaid the Billingers’ faith time and time again in big races taking his prizemoney to over $170,000. After winning the speed battle early trainer/driver Darren Billinger decided to hand up to Jadahson ($2.30fav).
The race favourite was under pressure as they went off the back the final time and when they straightened Billinger eased the Blissful Hall gelding into the sprint lane and that was the end of the penny section.
Second favourite Abettorpunt ($3) ended up four back on the pegs and never found any room in the run home and went to the line remaining relatively untested.
Smythes Creek pacer Guaranteed ($1.70fav) kicked off a vintage night for the Emma Stewart stable after the Artsplace colt took his unbeaten streak to five in the Group 2 Tatlow Stakes final.
Driver Chris Alford worked to the lead with 1200 metres to go and from there the two-year-old was never in doubt, going on to win by seven metres from Keayang Starzzz ($9.30) and Lennytheshark ($7.10). He is now likely to be set for the Breeders Crown meeting in August.
Beauty Secret ($3.10fav) took advantage of a hot speed in the second of two semi-finals of the Empire Stallions Super Series for three-year-old fillies.
Reinsmen Daryl Douglas elected to join the three-wide line with just over a lap to go and as they left the back straight on the last lap he let the Armbro Operative filly stride four deep and shot to the front. Stablemate Hexham Heartbeat ($3.40) rattled home along the inside once clear, beaten just over a metre; she will have revenge in her sights for next week’s final.
The Stewart trained Shake It Mama ($2.30fav) took her winning tally to double figures after a decisive front-running win in the first semi-final. The Good Times ($10) ran home well for fourth and will join all three of her stable companions in what could be a whitewash for the team.
The Geoff Webster trained Tear It All Way ($9.70) sprint-laned to win the Melton Pacing Cup. The gelding began well to lead early however the second of three Webster runners, Lets Slash An Burn ($12.60), circled the field from the backmark of 20 metres to take up the running midway through the race.
Race favourite Heza Trick ($2.70) followed Lets Slash An Burn into the race but neither could sprint with Tear It All Away in the straight. Outsider Dominus Vobiscum ($38.30) also sprinted sharply along the inside to land second over Lets Slash An Burn who fought on bravely for third.
Make Mine Cullen ($1.70) capped off the night with a win in the Group 3 Ladyship Cup. TABSportsbet bet as much as $2.80 about the seven-year-old mare early in the week but after working into it from the second-row punters didn’t have a worry in the world as she controlled the race from the death.
Make Mine Cullen made it an astonishing 23 wins at Tabcorp Park Melton and looks on track for her 24th in next week’s Group 1 Nevele R Stud Queen Of The Pacific.