Glory: Kiwi colt The More The Better proves successful in the Queensland Derby at Albion Park Photo by Dan Costello
The 2017 Brisbane winter carnival at Albion Park finished with a bang last night (Saturday).
During the month of July, the metropolitan venue has played host to number of special events featuring some of the best stables in the southern hemisphere and that culminated with the running of the Gr.1 $200,000 UBET Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship plus the Gr.1 $100,000 QBRED Triad 2yo Finals.
Millionaire pacer Hectorjayjay made a clean sweep of the open class features, fresh from his triumph last week in the Garrards Sunshine Sprint when leading throughout, the David and Josh Aiken pacer sailed down the outside to complete his unique double by winning the Blacks A Fake on a rain soaked track.
Hectorjayjay proved too good defeating the New Zealand trained My Field Marshal and race favourite Tiger Tara in a thrilling finish in the 2680m feature rating 1:56.1.
During the past decade, only Blacks A Fake and Im Themightyquinn had completed the Sunshine State open class double.
Last year, Hectorjayjay was the beaten favourite in the Blacks A Fake behind Ohoka Punter.
In the Triad Final for colts and geldings, local ace Colt Thirty One stamped himself as the best rookie pacer in the state with a thumping victory in the $100,000 feature defeating Only One Promise and Ark Patrol.
The Mach Three colt rated 1:53.9 for the 1660m event and remains unbeaten on local soil, his only two defeats coming earlier this season at TABCORP Park, Menangle.
Prepared by leading horseman Grant Dixon, Colt Thirty One has won 6 of his 8 starts to date and is eligible for the Australasian Breeders Crown in Melbourne next month.
Inter Dominion winning horseman James Rattray claimed the fillies feature when race favourite Arts Treasure led throughout defeating Fame Assured and Well Disguised in a time of 1:56.0.
It’s the second juvenile Gr.1 feature victory for Rattray this season following his success last month with Ignatius in the Breeders Challenge Final at Menangle in an Australian record time of 1:51.3.
Interestingly, both Arts Treasure and Ignatius are progeny of emerging sire Roll With Joe.
The victory of Arts Treasure also provided Rattray with his maiden feature race triumph in Queensland.
The Gr.2 $75,000 AQWA Constructions Queensland Derby was taken out by New Zealand colt The More The Better who proved too strong for game fillies Shartin and My Casino Belle in a driving finish.
Prepared by master horseman Mark Purdon, the Bettors Delight colt made a clean sweep of his three start Brisbane campaign winning the Premiers Cup, Provincial Derby and last night’s blue riband classic.
It was the second Queensland Derby triumph for Purdon after preparing Best Deal Yet back in 2012.
Albion Park Club Chairman David Fowler was naturally delighted with the night’s racing.
“This is our premier meeting of the year and it delivered on all levels, the racing was fantastic while the public interest was also at a very high level which is very pleasing. The club and staff have done a wonderful job.” Fowler stated.
Racing continues on Tuesday afternoon.
