Courtygaz provided trainer-driver Chris Alford with the best indication yet that he is ready to make the step up to Group 1 level with a barnstorming win in the $20,000 Mallia Builders Popular Alm Sprint at Kilmore.
In a field containing the likes of star five-year-olds Smoken Up and Larado and Victoria Cup hopeful Cincinnati Kid, Courtygaz was still able to produce a finishing burst that carried him to a resounding win in the 1690m event.
Alford said the performance justified the opinion he always had of the six-year-old.
“He’s always done his racing in the better races and today he showed he’s getting that little bit stronger and is right up there with the good ones,” he said.
The race started in predictable fashion with The Warp Drive holding the early lead from barrier one and well-supported second favourite Cincinnati Kid settling on his back.
Lance Justice quickly sent $1.80 favourite Smoken Up outside the leader, with that horse’s classy stablemate Larado enjoying a good trip in the one-out one-back.
The race changed complexion at the 600m when Justice sooled Smoken Up to challenge The Warp Drive, who couldn’t keep pace and carted Cincinnati Kid back through the field.
But within 100 metres of assuming the lead Smoken Up was under pressure from Sequoiahs Spirit, who had unleashed a powerful finish from near the rear of the field.
That Glenn Douglas-trained gelding was hailed the winner at the 150m, but what driver Daryl Douglas didn’t count on was an equally impressive burst from Courtygaz, who powered away for a convincing win over Sequoiahs Spirit.
Third was Larado with the unlucky Cincinnati Kid getting going again after his trouble on the home turn to finish close up in fourth spot.
Alford said everything went to plan with Courtygaz.
“He was always going to need luck today because the draw was against him,” the Bolinda-based horseman said.
“But he was always travelling and it was just a matter of him getting the right run and fortunately the breaks went his way.”
Alford said Courtygaz’s next start was likely to be the Legends Mile, with the SEW-Eurodrive Victoria Cup and Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup the long-term goals.