Bellas Delight confirmed her favouritism for the 4YO Mares division of this year's Breeders Crown with an easy heat win at Melton on Sunday
Further heats of the Blue Chip Farms Breeders Crown Series for Four Year old Mares, Entires & Geldings, plus Trotters continued at Tabcorp Park Melton on Sunday August 12, with the all important barrier draws for next Sunday’s Grand Final Day also taking place throughout the afternoon.
The first heat for trotters opened proceedings, with victory going to Sundon/Stoned At Midnight gelding Stoned I Am.
Trained at Pearcedale by Bill Walker and driven by daughter Simone, Stoned At Midnight (gate four) was able to cross and lead when Class Of Her Own (gate two) galloped leading into the first turn and once there, dictated terms to suit, scoring by 5.1 metres in advance of Lillingstonelovell which trailed and a death-seating Miss Southern Land in a mile rate of 2-00.9.
Heat two as expected went the way of the long odds-on favourite Elegant Image for Long Forest husband and wife Andy & Kate Gath. Having little difficulty in leading from gate three, Elegant Image (S J’s Photo/Whitney Grace) coasted throughout, accounting for Aleppo Midas (three wide last lap from last) and Lucky Twenty Three which trailed the winner in a rate of 2-03.1.
It looked a matter of only going round for almost unbackable favourite Bellas Delight in the first heat for mares, but those who had anchored her in all their multiple wagers had heart flutters when she was crossed from the pole by Bettor Abs next door, who then surrendered to Dream Verdict (gate three).
With the field strung out, reinsman Greg Sugars was able to ease away from the markers shortly after the start and assume control; with Bellas Delight (Bettors Delight/Bella Aurora) winning unextended over Dream Verdict and Bettor Abs in a rate of 1-57.4.
Sydneysider Tiger Tina snared the second of the mares heats in a rate of 1-58.6 for Pheasants Nest trainer/driver Darren Hancock.
Trapped wide from gate five, Hancock let rip heading into back straight on the first occasion to take over from the polemarker Ignorance Is Bliss, electing to hand over to the favourite Miss Moonlight racing for the bell.
Moving away from the inside approaching the home turn, Tiger Tina Presidential Ball/Tiger Turner) outstayed her rivals to defeat Miss Moonlite, with Sheez The Barmaid third.
Kiwi mare Victors Delight (Bettors Delight/Victor Supreme) under the care of caretaker trainer by Adam Kelly at Coimadai and driven by Gavin Lang was strong in her Heat three victory.
Trapped wide from gate five, Gavin didn’t bustle her in the early stages, before giving her full rein in the straight on the first occasion to cross the poleline leader Aussie Made Lombo.
Although tackled strongly by Beach Melody approaching the home turn which had moved into the open mid-race, Victors Delight safely held her rivals at bay to score from Aussie Made Lombo along the sprint lane and Little Red Cloud in a rate of 2-00.7.
Ever reliable Christian Cullen/Inasafeplace gelding Keayang Cullen was the victor of the first Entires & Geldings Heat, leading throughout over the 2240 metre journey to defeat a game Abettorpunt which raced outside him in a rate of 1-56.9, with the roughie Pinevale Willpower third.
Heat two of the Entires and Geldings was a shock result when Excel Stride labelled by many as unbeatable, could finish only third, but certainly was not disgraced – the winner being Mach Three/Soonenuff gelding Mustang Mach for Lara trainer Dean Braun and regular reinsman Chris Alford in a rate of 1-56.
Slow to score up with many under the impression that it would be a false start, Excel Stride was a “mile” off the Tasmanian leader Beautide which safely held the inside running from the pole, with the in-form Hall Of Famer pressurising him and eventually taking over.
While all this was happening, Excel Stride was working three wide to the breeze and Mustang Mach was enjoying a sweet trip three back in the moving lane.
Kicking clear on the final bend, Hall Of Famer was grabbed in the shadows of the post by Mustang Mach (three wide home turn) in a rate of 1-56, with Excel Stride third.
Long odds-on favourite Caribbean Blaster (Bettors Delight/Kalypso) snared the third heat in 1-55.1 to give Andy & Kate Gath a short priced double for the day.
Crossed by Bettor Bet Black (gate four), Kate Gath immediately eased away from the inside to take over and Caribbean Blaster then proceeded to lead for the rest of the journey to score from Bettor Bet Black which moved to the outside on straightening, with Savesomtimetodream running home late for third.
The series culminates on SUPER SUNDAY at Melton this week.
