Chris Alford and Larry Eastman tonight.
Birchip will be the place to be tonight after Menin Gate’s stunning VHRSC Victoria Derby success.
The Larry Eastman trained son of Somebeachsomewhere out of Dreams Of Heaven won the early speed duel to find the lead in the 2240-metre race, driver Chris Alford spearing him to the pegs from gate six after pocket rocket Justbritell initially led.
Race favourite Follow The Stars with Mark Purdon in the cart followed Alford across and settled second, with Artistic Flite one-one and Justbritell happy to grab the leader’s back.
They stayed in that formation for the bulk of the race before Art Union commenced a run down the back straight.
But Art Union’s forward move was short lived when that horse and Artistic Flite locked wheels, which cost both runners any winning hope and also inconvenienced plenty of others.
Turning for home it was Menin Gate with a strong kick and Follow The Stars in hot pursuit.
The pair battled tooth and nail in the stretch but Alford was able to lift a bit more out of a gutsy Menin Gate, the Birchip crew absolutely ecstatic and roaring with excitement as they won by 2.7m. Follow The Stars was gutsy but no match for the winner, while Spare Me Days finished third and Justbritell was consistent as usual in fourth.
Menin Gate's mile rate was 1:56.2.
