Simply the best! Menin Gate and Chris Alford take out the Breeders Crown.
Not even the mighty Mark Purdon could bring Menin Gate’s marvellous run to an end, the Larry Eastman-trained Birchip-owned wonder horse taking out the three-year-old colts and geldings Group 1 Breeders Crown Final at Melton on Super Sunday.
All the money came for Follow The Stars to upstage Menin Gate today, the Purdon camp riding a wave of confidence after three Group 1 winners earlier in the day.
But it was the Victorian three-year-old, who now must be at the top of the pops for horse of the year, who got it done – Menin Gate drawing rapturous applause from the crowd post-race as driver Chris Alford and trainer Eastman celebrated a job well done.
“Not much went right early and had to do a little bit of work … but once he rolled to the front he was really strong," Alford said.
“I thought Kiwi Mate had him at the top of the straight but he fought on strongly and really lifted to get it done.
“He’s a brute of a horse. He hasn’t had a lot of racing so he only should get better.”
Eastman described the win as “his proudest moment”.
“I think all the Aussies wanted us to win one against the Kiwis," the beaming trainer said.
“It’s been a great rivalry with Follow The Stars but I think we’ve got it on him at the moment.”
Menin Gate rated 1:55.4 to beat Follow The Stars by 2.5 metres, with My Kiwi Mate running a mighty race in third for Jodi Quinlan and Craig Demmler after sitting in the breeze for the last 1200 metres.
Menin Gate is by Somebeachsomewhere out of Dreams Of Heaven.
