Lennytheshark and Chris Alford.
A million-dollar winning six-year-old from north of the border has again proven Lennytheshark’s kryptonite after Luke McCarthy guided Bling It On to a second consecutive win over the reigning Inter Dominion champion.
Having clipped Lennytheshark at Tabcorp Park Melton in the Smoken Up Sprint, the John McCarthy-trained six-year-old was able to sit cold from a good draw and when David Aiken’s hope loomed at the final bend it was Bling It On who slotted through a gap and used his famed sprint.
“He needs the right run and he got that run tonight and that’s how we drive him, if he can get a bit of luck we know that he will be right there in the finish,” Luke McCarthy said post-race.
“He didn’t a lot in the two weeks leading into the (first) heat, so that run would have done him good and he was still finding condition tonight so that run should have topped him off again.”
Bling It On won the sixth Perth Inter Dominion heat by 2.7m from John Of Arc, who impressed again after sitting parked, while Waylade finished sharply from leader’s back to fill the placings, with Lennytheshark next best at Bunbury.
The champion Four Starzzz Shark entire was set a lofty task, with driver Chris Alford keeping him at the rear of the field from the second row draw and waiting until the final 700m before inserting Lennytheshark into the race.
After a 30.4 first quarter the pace quickened, with the final 1200m run in 1:23.2 culminating in a 27.3 final quarter that would put a Lennytheshark come-from-behind win out of the picture.
With those times and the difficult draw front of mind, there was no panic in team Aiken post-race.
“(Chris) was happy with his run, he just got a little too far back,” trainer David Aiken said. “He just thought if he would have made (an earlier move) he would have got parked out there three-wide.”
Most importantly, the champ returned to his stable in good order and will be ready to have another crack at them in Friday’s final heat leading into the December 9 final.
“He came back and pulled up very good. His heart rate was good, so he should be fine for Friday,” Aiken said. “He seems to love Gloucester Park. He gets up on the bit and travels good, so it’s all good, I said ‘he’s still good’ and Chris said, ‘yeah, he’s good’.”
Media enquiries:
Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
t: 03 8378 0286 | e: mhoward@hrv.org.au | tw: @MichaelRHoward
