Messini pictured winning the VHRSC Classic with Anthony Butt in the sulky.
Punting 101: Never rely solely on a horse’s figure form for an accurate reflection of its winning chances.
Messini’s last 12 starts going into today’s Greggs Electrical Ouyen Pacing Cup read: 887d46439006. But the classy two-time Vicbred Super Series champion (at three and four) captured the silverware in the 2423-metre, Group 3, $30,000 race.
Trained by Brent Lilley, Anthony Butt guided the six-year-old Art Major-Mesmerizing entire to the narrowest of wins after a stirring duel with Chris Alford’s Im Corzin Terror up the straight.
Messini notched a new track record, a 1:56.0 mile rate ensuing after runners jostled aggressively for position around the tight 769m circuit.
Early it was Egodan and Whenmechief who battled for the top with Egodan winning out. When Stormfortheboys came looking for a slice of the action mid-race Whenmechief kicked up to make him work, then Egodan also held him out.
With a kilometre to go Alford made his move aboard Im Corzin Terror, circling the field to rush to the front.
The bell had not long stopped ringing when Whenmechief put up the white flag and Lets Elope, who had looped to the breeze mid-race, was also in reverse.
The fresh horse on the scene was Messini, Butt timing his run to perfection.
Im Corzin Terror though is a tough horse to get past and he didn’t give up without one heck of a fight. But Messini’s head-down racing style saw him get the nod in the finish.
Today’s second placing saw Im Corzin Terror (11 points) go to the top in the 2016-17 Own the Moment Trots Country Cups Championship.
A $25,000 bonus awaits the Country Cups champion at season’s end, and Im Corzin Terror is in the box seat with Hectorjayjay (10 points and second) and Major Secret (nine points and third) not currently in action.
Messini’s win took him to four points from five starts in the series.
Shakahari for Rebecca Bartley finished third today, ahead of Egodan, whose effort was gutsy, and the same can be said for Stormfortheboys in fifth.
Whenmechief was beaten 42.9m and Lets Elope 68.1m in last place.
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Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
