Attempting to find a highlight at Moonee Valley last Friday night was a difficult assignment. The reason? There were so many!
With two Group 1 races on the bill you’d expect some memorable action, yet it was the undercard that provided the show-stoppers not the main events.
Lombo Pocket Watch (pictured), Lombo Mandingo and Conquer All could all lay claim to B.O.G. performances with their victories bringing a tingle to many a spine.
Precocious stablemates Lombo Pocket Watch and Lombo Mandingo were simply breathtaking making a clean sweep of the Vicbred Super Series semis.
Many had come to see Australia’s boom two-year-old Lombo Pocket Watch open his Valley account, but it was the “Grey Bullet’s” underrated stablemate that had punters and rivals alike in awe.
Lombo Mandingo ($1.30), a perennial feature race bridesmaid, relished the absence of his high profile stablemate and only conqueror to score a stunning 18.5-metre win in the opening semi final.
The Paul Fitzpatrick-trained and Gavin Fitzpatrick-driven Sydneysider pounced on the lure from barrier two and from there connections spent the remainder of the $20,000 qualifier working out their winning percentages.
The Million To One-Louisiana Lombo colt ripped the heart out of his rivals with a 56.6 seconds closing half to post a 1:59.9 mile rate for the 2100-metre trip.
Riverina visitor Lively Exit ($12.70) battled on bravely for second after facing the breeze, with the highly rated Whipair ($7.80) two-metres in arrears.
Asafa and Hold The Line, who were close up in fourth and fifth respectively, also progressed to this Friday night’s $100,000 final, but like a majority of the Group 1 field they could be running for third prize behind the Lombo boys.
Whilst Lombo Mandingo was emphatic in victory, Lombo Pocket Watch ($1.40) was arrogant, nonchalantly slipping from first to second gear over the concluding stages for a comfortable win in the second semi final.
The “Grey Bullet” brought up his 13th win from just 14 starts when he coasted to a seven-metre victory over brave outsider Country Occasion ($97.80) and the previously unbeaten Keayang Hanover ($4.80) who led them up.
Gavin Fitzpatrick seized the opportunity to move around the field and sit parked in a leisurely 65.1-second first half, before the striking Jet Laag-Misty Maiden colt moved clear without raising a sweat in a 27.8 closing quarter.
Talented locals Ace Stride (fourth) and Prettyboytoby (fifth) were the other juveniles to progress to the final in what looks a tantalising showdown between the pair of Mick Lombardo-owned semi final winners.
Earlier in the night, lightly raced Kiwi trotter Conquer All had the crowd buzzing with his last-to-first victory in the $25,000 VHRC The Holmfield.
New Zealand three-year-olds had dominated the prestigious Group 3 trot in recent times winning eight of the past 11, but with big guns Houdini Star and Galleons Assassin missing in action the Aussies were supposed to pounce.
Unfortunately the Sundon-Springfield Lauren gelding had other ideas storming home late to claim a stunning win with caretaker trainer Chris Alford in the gig.
The $13 chance covered the flying mile in 2:00.9, breaking 59 seconds for his last 800-metres, to defeat hot favourite Enjoy A Crownie ($2.60) by 3.5-metres with Victoria Oaks winner Sosoclassy ($24) a further five-metres in arrears.
That trio, along with a number of the beaten brigade, will now set their sights on qualifying for the $75,000 HRI Victoria Trotters Derby at Maryborough on Redwood Day, July 23.
In other news, Western Australian import Batavia Hotwire provided the nation’s most revered driver, Gavin Lang, with yet another Group 1 trophy when she claimed one of the co-features on Friday night.
The talented juvenile led throughout to grab the $100,000 Southbank Business Group Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final despite pulling ferociously throughout the middle stages when setting the pace.
Yet to finish further back than second in eight starts, the Village Jasper-Livewire Lombo filly was backed into $1.60 favouritism with punters who expected her to lead and prove hard to catch as she did from barrier two.
Lang controlled the tempo throughout in a 2:02.2 mile rate for the 2100-metre journey before holding off the fast finishing Fususi ($11.60) by 2.6-metres with the promising Cyclone Betty ($34.20) a further three-metres in arrears.
The other Group 1 on the program – the $50,000 Sky Channel Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotters Final – delivered hobby trainer Charlie Salerno his career highlight courtesy of a comfortable win by Premium Kiwi ($6.50).
The enigmatic speedster, whom Salerno also owns, bounced back to his best after several below par performances with an authoritative 10-metre victory.
Despised outsider Enotheque ($86.40) and a somewhat disappointing favourite My Missindependent ($2.60) were left to fill the minor placings as the exciting young squaregaiter trotted home in a 61.1-second last half to claim victory with ‘Bulldog’ Nicholson in the sulky.
The win was Premium Kiwi’s fourth from 12 starts and took the son of Wind Cries Maori’s earnings to $41,200 en route to an appearance in the prestigious ANZ Redwood Classic later this month.
