Tim McLean and Exciteusinthecity winning the Alabar Captain Sandy Free for All last night at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Last night at Tabcorp Park Melton Terang once again proved a town rich in trots horsepower.
Trainer Darren Cole, based in the western Victorian town, produced classy seven-year-old Exciteusinthecity first-up to win the Alabar Captain Sandy Free-for-All over 1720 metres.
Rated perfectly by driver Tim McLean, Exciteusinthecity punched through from the pole gate to hold out fast starter Maximan early, withstood a challenge from It Is Billy at the bell and went on to score a gritty win by a metre in a mile rate of 1:55.7.
Exciteusinthecity joins guns such as Lennytheshark (2015) and Smoken Up (2009) on the Captain Sandy FFA honour roll.
Not giving much away in his post-race interview, reinsman McLean said leading was the key to unlocking success for the gelding by Metropolitan out of Safely Kept mare Excite.
“He loves getting to the front. He fought well to hold them off (tonight),” he said.
When asked what was next for the 2014 Casey Classic and Gammalite winner, McLean borrowed a line from an old coaching manual. “We’ll just take it one race at a time.”
Exciteusinthecity has now won 20 races, his stakemoney exceeding a quarter of a million dollars.
VIDEO: EXCITEUSINTHECITY WINS THE ALABAR CAPTAIN SANDY FFA
McLean has piloted the pacer to eight city victories.
It Is Billy finished second to Exciteusinthecity, his vocal fan club appreciative of the Michael Barby-trained pacer’s efforts – cheering him hard with a lap to run and giving him another cheer post-race, while Metro Mike ran third.
Dalvui Raceway Terang will host a seven-race program on Tuesday night, featuring the running of the 2016 Terang Guineas.
McLean will be chasing another feature victory in that race aboard The Big Show, but Im Wrongly Accused from the Terang stable of Matthew Craven, exciting Sebastopol-trained King Of Rocknroll and Group 1 winning local Jilliby Jitterbug – one of five Marg Lee Terang-trained runners on the program – will all draw support from punters.
Media enquiries:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
