2 June, 2003
Albert Rules
The Oxford dictionary describes a
dynasty as a ?line of hereditary rulers?.
On Saturday night at Geelong veteran Wagga horseman Bernie
Kelly added the name Albert Kelly (pictured) to his equine dynasty.
The ?Kelly Gang? came and
conquered the South capturing the Musashi Vicbred 3YO Colts & Geldings
Final with relative ease.
What?s remarkable is that the
makings of this Group One victory date back to a bold gamble taken over 40
years ago.
Keen to enjoy a new found
passion, the twenty-something Kelly shelved out 100 pounds for a standardbred
mare named Illinois.
Since that shrewd investment
Kelly?s pride and joy has churned out a family of smart pacers.
Three generations later and it is
was the filly Miss Paula making a name for herself with victory in the NSW
Sires 3YO Final.
On Saturday night Albert Kelly
emulated the Sires-winning deeds of his mother and ensured the Illinois
tradition lives on.
Rarely does a script unfold
exactly to plan, but even the greatest of directors would have marvelled at the
$100,000 Final.
As expected Albert Kelly ($2.50) speared
to the lead from barrier four, Dominator Stride ($7.70) took the trail from the
pole, Dee Dees Dream ($5.20) sat parked and Black Line ($4.20) was rearward
from a poor alley.
?He looked the winner 1200 from
home?, declared Kelly.
?Once I saw Bruce (Harpley) got
that 32 first quarter I was very confident.?
Rightly so as Albert Kelly
careered away in a blistering 56.5 last half to record his ninth win from 11
starts.
Despite an easy time of it early,
the Albert Albert gelding still managed to rate an impressive 1:58.1 for the
2100 metre journey.
Next stop is the Queensland Derby
on 5 July with the Australasian Breeders Crown pencilled in for later in the
season.
Black Line, who took the trail up
on the back of Mississippi Delta, found it difficult to make ground in the
leader dominated affair finishing fifth.
He?s likely to renew acquaintances
with Albert Kelly in the Queensland Derby.
Dominator Stride battled on
gamely to fill second, 8.5 metres behind the winner, with Maggies Son ($22.60),
who enjoyed a cosy trip three back the pegs, a further 2 metres in arrears in
third.
Reigning Vicbred champion Dee
Dees Dream was the disappointment of the race dropping out to finish seventh.
Ashlee & Fleur Put Kiwis On Notice
As many as four Kiwis are Melbourne bound for the
Victoria-Australia Oaks feature double next month.
They may want to re-think their
plans after the slashing runs of Ashlees Babe and Fleur Moreau in Saturday?s Renown
Silverware Vicbred 3YO Fillies Final at Geelong.
Ashlees Babe ($1.20) lived up to all
the pre-race hype claiming her first Group One title in awesome fashion.
Her winning mile rate of 1:57.5
established a new 2100 metre track record.
After an early speed battle
between Ally Luvzit and Coiffeuse the Peter Morris-trained and driven filly
assumed the lead after 400 metres only to be pressured throughout by Baroda
Belle.
In the end she had three metres
to spare over a courageous Fleur Moreau ($18.70) who worked overtime during the
run from barrier 13.
Outsider Lombo Silhouette ($67.40)
filled the minor placing for Peter Manning and Chris Alford.
Ashlees Babe carved out quarters of
31, 29.5, 29.5 and 29.6 on the way to registering her 13th win from
just 14 starts.
The daughter of Armbro Operative
has now amassed earnings of $153,857 for her owner, ?Chicken King? Joe Cordina.
She?ll remain in Melbourne with
caretaker trainer Graeme Lang as plans for a possible Queensland Oaks assault
later this month are discussed.
Fleur Moreau, who finished
runner-up in the WA Oaks three starts back, will get her chance to turn the
tables when she steps up to the more suitable 2570 metre trip of the Victoria
Oaks.
The Soky Juggernaut Rolls On
LanceJustice is kicking
himself that today is 2 June and not 2 October.
As the Sokyola juggernaut gains
momentum, next season?s Grand Circuit can?t come around quick enough.
The flashy chestnut was simply
breathtaking on Saturday night smashing the Geelong track record to smithereens
with a 1:55.1 mile win.
After drawing inside the second
line, Justice angled off the pegs early and set sail three wide from the 1200
metre mark.
Set an arduous task in amazing
sectionals outside Breenys Fella and then Lagoon Lady, the champ responded as only
he can overpowering his rivals to take one second off the previous mark.
Confirming his status as the nation?s
premier open class pacer, Sokyola?s triumph was the 41st and seventh
consecutive victory of a stellar career that has spanned 78 appearances.
Owner Colin Croft is no stranger
to feature race success having owned 1978 Inter Dominion winner Markovina.
On current form Sokyola looks
more than capable of taking him to those dizzy heights again in 2003-04 as his
stakes pool of $324,119 continues to swell.
In the meantime, a toey Justice
will have to wait until the Queensland winter carnival hits top gear in August
for a crack at some serious money.
The $30,000 Sunshine Sprint and
the $75,000 Winter Cup (Gr2) are his two primary targets in the Sunshine State.
Geelong On Fire
To say Geelong?s Beckley Park circuit
was on fire last Saturday night would be an understatement.
Rarely has a track in the state delivered
a night of such amazing sectionals.
Seven of the eight pacing events were
taken out in sub 2:00 minute miles with track records falling to Sokyola and
Ashlees Babe.
Since the $1.4million track
reconstruction undertaken in 2000, Geelong has fast developed a reputation as
one of the fastest and fairest tracks in the land.
At 960 metres in circumference,
it?s modelled on the industry?s showpiece at Moonee Valley.
The full list of sub 2:00 minute
winners were;
1:55.1 ? Sokyola (1609m, FFA)
1:57.5 ? Ashlees Babe (2100m, 3YO
Fillies)
1:58.1 ? Albert Kelly (2100m, 3YO
Colts)
1:58.8 ? Jilliby Spirit (2100m,
C7-C9 Pace)
1:58.9 ? Flying Assault (2100m,
C7-C9 Pace)
1:59.8 ? Sonny Fella (2100m,
Claimer)
1:59.9 ? Pipping Pippin (2100m,
C1 Pace)
Success Breeds Success For Alford
A call out of the blue a month
ago has delivered the Carlton Draught Hunter Cup winning stable of Barry &
Chris Alford another potential topliner.
The Alfords were pleasantly
surprised when asked to train smart Tasmanian three-year-old Foxfighter for
owner Noel Salter who was impressed by their deeds with Mont Denver Gold.
Salter?s faith was repaid in
spectacular fashion at Foxfighter?s mainland debut last Friday night at
Ballarat.
The son of Cam Terrific unleashed
a withering sprint down the outside to win the $7000 Christies Furniture C1 Pace
running away by 10 metres.
He rated 1:59.2 for the 1710
metre journey and was the second leg of a stable double at Bray Raceway.
The Alfords were delighted to
coax talented, but enigmatic trotter Macladdie back to his best earlier in the
night after an 11 month absence from the winners stall.
The lightly-raced Keystone
Gondola gelding was touted a future star after winning five of six a year ago,
but the wheels well and truly fell off.
On the score of his second-up
victory it won?t be long before we see Macladdie matching it with the big guns
in town.
