REGALLY-BRED four-year-old Bay Of Biscay earned an invitation but connections were quick to turn down a Miracle Mile start following a spectacular effort to win tonight’s $250,000 Cordina Chicken Farms Chariots Of Fire at Club Menangle.
Minutes earlier star reinsman Cameron Hart became the first back-to-back winner of this great race for four-year-olds.
And he won it at at the start, crossing straight to the front and giving nothing else a chance as he scored a comfortable one and a half metre win over Queenslander Charge Ahead (Rob Morris) with polemarker Major Hot (Cameron Fitzpatrick) a plucky third, just ahead of the fast-finishing Our Luciano.
The winner rated a slashing 1:49 and Hart suggested the son of Somebeachsomewhere deserved that win.
“He’s so well-bred and no doubt the owners are hoping he’ll go on and make a great stallion as well,” said Hart.
“Thankfully, they’ve given me the honour of getting some good wins with this horse along the way.
“I was able to run the sectionals I wanted to as this fellow gets over the ground so well.”
While a Miracle Mile start was turned down, Bay Of Biscay’s part-owner Tim Bunning explained that the TAB Eureka on September 6 was their immediate target.
“We’ve been knocking on the door and we knew a Group 1 win would come,” said Bunning.
“This was a great thrill. Cam thought he’d lead and win and he went out and did exactly that.
“And if all goes to plan, we’ll win the Tab Eureka and come back next year and have a crack winning the Miracle Mile. But we want to win that TAB Eureka first.”
Earlier in an evening of champions, Swayzee and Don Hugo won the two Cordina-sponsored sprint races to seal their spots taking on Newcastle Cup winner Leap To Fame in next week’s Garrards Miracle Mile.
Two other hotshots to also earn their berths with second placings in the sprints were Tact Mcleod and Catch A Wave, ensuring next week’s event will become one of the greatest Miracle Miles in the history of the race.
The final field for the $1m Garrards Miracle Mile is:
Leap To Fame
Swayzee
Don Hugo
Catch A Wave
Tact McLeod
Captain Ravishing
Sooner The Bettor
Max Delight
Sure Thing Captain (em1)
Bulletproof Boy (em2).
Next week’s meeting will be an absolute blockbuster for the $1m Garrards Miracle Mile.
There’s free entry for patrons and Club Menangle has announced one of Australia’s most iconic live acts Thirsty Merc as the headline off-track entertainment.
Thirsty Merc will perform two sets of their greatest hits, adding an incredible soundtrack to an already thrilling event.
There’s also the vibrant Aussie night markets with more than 50 stalls offering a variety of food and unique items.
For the kids there’s carnival rides and roving entertainment including a meet and greet with Elsa and Super Mario.
There’s also Fashions On The Field with categories for women, men and children and $5,000 in cash prizes to be won.
For further information log onto www.clubmenangle.com.au.
