Our Bettor Joy wins her Breeders Crown semi-final for Gavin Lang and Cran Dalgety.
So long the plaything of Emma Stewart’s stable this season the two-year-old fillies’ class was turned on its ear at Bendigo in the Race To Royalty.
Despite an enormous performance, Nostra Villa’s unbeaten streak was broken by Cran Dalgety’s Our Bettor Joy, while Queensland’s Red Charmer stunned all comers in the second semi-final when saluting at $71.
Pivotally, fancied My Sweetchilliphilly, Nostra Beach and Molly Kelly all qualified for the final amid a wall of competitors hitting the line, only to have their chances hindered at the barrier draw for Super Sunday’s $285,000 Always B Miki Breeders Crown final.
While Kiwis Our Bettor Joy and Our Angel Of Harlem drew gates two and three respectively, Stewart’s trio were assigned gates 11 (Molly Kelly), 12 (Nostra Beach) and 13 (Nostra Villa), just outside Shane Tritton’s previously unbeaten Mysweetchilliphilly (gate 10).
It’s clearly advantage Our Bettor Joy and driver Gavin Lang said Dalgety’s visitor was up to the task.
“To get over a filly (Nostra Villa) that’s won seven from seven is no mean feat,” Lang said post-race.
“At Shepparton in her heat she sat behind the leader, was too quick in the straight. Tonight she was back last, come wide with a trail, but still had to add another string to her bow and just prove that she’s pretty versatile. It’s very positive for her going forward.”
Saturday night’s semi-final was Lang’s first time seated behind the Bettors Delight filly, but there was plenty of familiarity in reuniting with Dalgety and it has thus far proven a fortuitous fit.
“Cran Dalgety, I’ve been associated with him for a lot of years, one thing I’ve always learned with Cran – his horses are generally well mannered and this one’s no different,” Lang said.
“(It’s a) long way for them to come to race in this season, I know it costs a lot of money, but they have still got to be a horse of some repute to come this far. Cran’s been here before, had a lot of success here before and knows what it takes. I wouldn’t discount her chances.”
The draw didn’t do any harm to Red Charmer’s assault on the Breeders Crown, with the Queenslander taking advantage of the front runners hefty early pace to pounce late for trainer-driver Grant Dixon.
“I’m glad we got a winner and was really pleased with the run,” Dixon said, having earlier guided favourite Colt Thirty One to second place in the night’s first semi-final. “You never know until you get down here and race. We have been happy with her all season, just some runs have been better than others. We knew she was a neat little filly.”
Nicole Molander's Passions Delight finished a close second and drew the pole mark for the final, giving her a likely crack at the big prize come the August 27 Group 1 final.
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