Rebecca Bartley and San Carlo cruise to an easy win at Tabcorp Park Melton.
On a night dominated by close finishes it was the blow-out margin in the last tonight at Tabcorp Park Melton that had many pundits salivating.
San Carlo (Mach Three/Bridge Player) mightn’t have beaten a field glistening with stars, but he did it in style taking out the Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Country Series A Final and remains unbeaten in four trips to the races.
Reinswoman Bec Bartley alluded before the score-up on Sky Racing to the fact she and trainer Stephen O’Donoghue rated the Kialla four-year-old.
“We’ll just keep pushing forward," she said, then suggesting the fans would know more about what the gelding was capable of post-race.
San Carlo ambled away from barrier six at the 2240-metre start and Bartley kept him clear of harm’s way out wide before trekking forward.
Once San Carlo was in front the $1.20 he started with the bookies looked about right. And, after a first half of 62.4secs in-the-run odds makers would have shut up shop.
Quickening up through the third stanza (28.6secs) San Carlo slipped into another gear and put his rivals to the sword.
Importantly, however, while tonight’s rivals were clearly not in the same league as the winner, San Carlo basically cruised to the line hard held.
His fourth quarter was 28.9secs and he romped clear to win by 32.8 metres, but Bartley didn’t budge a muscle and caller Dan Mielicki even suggested the mercy rule be enacted.
San Carlo rated 1:59.4.
The winner’s dam Bridge Player (by Classic Garry) ran second in the 1997 Sires final at Moonee Valley at two (beaten narrowly by Belinda) and all four of her progeny which have made it to the track have won races.
