Baby Bling wins the 2014 Angelique Club Cup
Part of a lyric featured in the Carly Simon hit song Nobody Does It Better from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, includes the words “Baby Your The Best”.
That certainly applies to the winner of last Friday’s $25,505 Angelique Club Cup (second leg of the mares Triple Crown Series) winner Baby Bling at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Bred by the late Kaye Kilgour and raced by a syndicate including Harvey Kaplan, Sammy Kilgour, P O’Shea, Z O’Shea, B McCarthy, A Fairley and the Kilgour estate, Baby Bling was superb in winning.
With non stop action over the 2240 metre journey from the outset, Maarstricht crossed Courageousnquick before handing over to Carpenters Daughter mid-race, with the position outside the leader changing several times as Born Again Sassy, Vansumic, Baby Bling and last week’s Make Mine Classy victor Forever Gold all took turns to face the breeze. Forever Gold racing parked for the final circuit.
Again looking the winner on the final bend, Forever Gold was nabbed by Baby Bling in a thrilling finish to score by 1.4 metres in a rate of 1-55.5 (last half 56.8 – quarter 28.6).
Lara trainer Dean Braun expected a better showing from the mare this week as he had increased her work load.
A six year old daughter of Western Terror from the Caprock mare Alldatglittersidgold, Baby Bling chalked up her 20th victory in 50 race appearances – the biggest being the 2013 Miracle Mile.
On a night filled with quality racing, highly promising Julius Caesar/Bronte Jones colt Mister Wickham was a strong winner of the $50,000 (Group 2) Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic for Two Year Old Colts & Geldings over 1720 metres.
Bred by Ross and Mary Conway, Mister Wickham purchased on behalf of a large syndicate of owners by Gippsland (Longwarry) trainer Lee Evison for a high sum several weeks back, wasn’t bustled at the start from gate six, with Andy Gath’s Ricimer leading from gate four.
Sent forward once balanced, Mister Wickham comfortably parked outside the pacemaker with a circuit to travel, with driver Greg Sugars having a tight grip of the reins.
Joining Ricimer on the final bend, Mister Wickham was very strong at the finish and although inclined to hang in, scored by 2.3 metres from Be Good Juddy along the sprint lane after trailing the leader, with Ricimer a further 1.5 metres away in third place after mixing his gait in the shadows of the post.
On returning to the all clear area, Kate Gath (Ricimer) lodged a protest against the winner for interference in the closing stages which was quickly dismissed.
Making only his second appearance for Lee Evison and fourth overall, Mister Wickham returned a mile rate of 1-57.4, running his last half in 57 seconds and final quarter in 29.1.
The $20,505 Mediatec Melton Pacing Cup for M0 or better class (Discretionary Handicapped) over 2760 metres went the way of Avenel trainer David Aiken’s war horse Smudge Bromac.
Driven by Nathan Jack, Smudge Bromac who mixes his racing between open class and claiming company settled well back in the field from the 10 metre mark, with speedy beginner Our White Knight jumping straight to the front from barrier four.
Sent forward three wide mid-race to shadow the leader Warragul Cup winner Hilltop Hustler which had taken over in the straight on the first occasion, Smudge Bromac then received cover from stablemate Wartime Sweetheart who then took a trail on Five Star Anvil.
Easing wide on straightening, Smudge Bromac finished full of running to overhaul Five Star Anvil over the closing stages by 1.7 metres in a mile rate of 2-01.2 (last half 57.9 – quarter 28.5). Composed (five back the markers) ran on late for third after a slow beginning.
A eight year old stallion by Falcon Seelster from Sabrina Bromac, Smudge Bromac has faced the starter 143 times for 27 wins and stakes in excess of $300,000.
Excitement machine Lennytheshark (Four Starzz Shark/Botswana) overpowered the opposition to register a massive victory in the $25,000 choicehotels.com.au Rising Stars Pace Final for M0 & M1 class over 2240 metres.
Trained by David Aiken and driven by champion reinsman Chris Alford, Lennytheshark (gate three) couldn’t lead as expected with Flaming Flutter (gate four) getting there first and after a number of moves, exploded away from his rivals halfway up the running to score by 10.7 metres in 1-55.7 over Narra Operative and Asoka.
Five year old Last Sunset/Maramas Invasion gelding Sunset Invasion trained and driven by Parwan’s Jodi Quinlan, led throughout from the pole to snare the $30,505 Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Trot Final for TMO & TM1 class over 2240 metres in a rate of 2-00.1, defeating Lord Liam along the sprint lane by a half neck after trailing and the favourite Brunelleschi which raced in the open from the bell.
Another huge meeting will take place at Melton next week featuring the $100,000 Queen Of The Pacific for the mares.
