ALWAYS B MIKI VICBRED SUPER SERIES 2YO FILLIES
Amore Vita is one of the latest weapons to emerge from Nathan Purdon’s burgeoning Lara barn and she showed her class with a brilliant Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies semi-final win at Tabcorp Park Melton on Wednesday night.
The former Kiwi daughter of Art Major racked up a fourth Australian victory thanks to a blistering turn of foot from back in the field that saw her rocket past early leader Petillante and clear out to win by just over 6m on the line.
Emma Stewart-trained Our Little Jet had the soft run three back the pegs and finished well for second ahead of Mykorona, who ran a beauty for Horsham horseman Aaron Dunn at long odds.
The final quarter was clocked in 26.7 for a mile rate of 1:56:2 over the 2240m trip.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford was impressed with Amore Vita’s display ahead of the $130,000 Group 1 final on New Year’s Eve. See barrier draw below.
“That was a terrific run – couldn’t be happier leading into the final,” Alford said.
“Nathan said she had come on well since her heat and he was spot.”
The Stewart camp had Encipher as a short-priced favourite in the second of the two-year-old fillies’ semis, but it was stablemate Fiamma, by Bettors Delight, that stole the show.
Jodi Quinlan found cover in the one-out one-back spot from barrier seven and then pounced at the top of the straight, running past Encipher who had done it tough outside the leader for much of the trip.
“I wouldn’t swap my drive for any of them,” Quinlan said.
“If she draws good, she’s got the speed to make her own luck early and if she happens to draw awkward, she can sit, camp off the speed and still get home as she showed tonight.
“She’s a great live chance.”
ART MAJOR VICBRED SUPER SERIES 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS
Snake Valley trainer Damien Burns has a live hope in the Art Major Vicbred Super Series 2YO Colts and Geldings Final after Solesseo Matuca produced a tough performance to win his semi-final on Wednesday night.
Master reinsman Anthony Butt lobbed in the death seat through the early stages of the race and then took up the lead when Emma Stewart-trained Khafaji moved around from the back. And that’s where he stayed for the remainder of the contest, slipping clear in the home straight to beat Hes Charlies Angel (Charlene Gusman/David Miles) and Heza Son Of Agun (Matthew Craven/Sofia Arvidsson), who galloped at the turn but got back down to flash home for third.
“He’s always been a nice horse,” Butt said of the son of A Rocknroll Dance.
“He went through a stage where he was hanging really bad, doing things wrong and Damien has done a great job, changed his gear a bit and he’s really come good the last six weeks.
“He’s always shown a lot of ability and he’s just getting better and better.”
Kialla trainer Isabel Walsh then produced a massive boilover with Repelling, by Somebeachsomewhere, who won the other semi at $101 on the TAB fixed odds.
Leigh Sutton drove a patient race from barrier one after taking cover behind leader Sweetpassion (Matthew Craven/Glen Craven), who never got much peace in front. When the run came, Repelling peeled off his rival’s back and sprinted best to score by a head over Captain Rival (Emma Stewart/David Moran), who charged home from the back of the field for second. Sweetpassion battled away gallantly for third.
“He’s improved every time he has gone around this little horse,” Sutton said.