Blake charges into 2YO final

Armstrong harness racing trainer Leroy O’Brien is returning to the big time.

Blake Bolac (Sunshine Beach) led all-the-way for him in the opening Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series semi-final for two-year-old colts and geldings at Melton on Friday night (Dec. 23), and now heads to the Group 1 final on New Year’s Eve.

With Jason Lee urging him to the line, Blake Bolac fought all the way to hold out favourite Rock Artist by a half head, with a space to Don Hugo in third.

O’Brien has had Group 1 runners, but never a winner at that level.

Blake Bolac gives him another to get the ultimate success – although he faces a task against the highly-regarded The Lost Storm.

Getting Blake Bolac into the final will also provide special satisfaction given he only returned to training ranks in November.

There was plenty of confidence in the O’Brien camp and it was easy to see why in the run.

“They said to drive like he was the best horse in the race,” Lee said.

“Leroy, the whole family and everyone involved have done a great job.

“They thought he’d get better throughout the series and that was definitely right. I reckon he’s come on.

“We thought we’d run along and see if they were good enough to catch us, and thankfully we got to the line just in time.”

THE PLUNGE LANDS!
Blake Bolac, who opened $10 and was backed into $3.10, hangs on to win the first semi of the Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series for 2YO colts and geldings. What a thrill for trainer Leroy O’Brien and driver Jason Lee! pic.twitter.com/QoSu2E46xD

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) December 23, 2022

The Emma Stewart-trained The Lost Storm is the horse to beat in the final.

The short-priced favourite carved out his last 400m in 25.7 seconds to finish ahead of stablemate Perfect Class, with Little Louie third after facing the breeze in the second semi-final.

Again impressed by the performance, reinsman Mark Pitt went as far as to say that The Lost Storm was the best juvenile he had driven.

Pitt was particularly pleased with the way he settled and relaxed after finding the lead.

“That’s always a good sign,” he said.

The Lost Storm will spearhead six Stewart stable starters in the two-year-old colts and geldings’ final.

The Stewart team made it three two-year-old semi-final wins with a clean sweep of the Art Major Vicbred Super Series fillies’ division thanks to Sweet Bella and Joyful.

The Pitt-driven Sweet Bella remained unbeaten with her third victory after working to the lead.

She debuted at Maryborough on December 8 to prepare herself for a Vicbred Super Series campaign.

Stablemate Tequila Delight was second, with Clives Girl third in the sprint lane.

Joyful stretched her winning run to four and was yet another to score from the front – finishing ahead of Soho Seraphine and Perfect In Pink.

The daughter of Always B Miki took seven starts to get her first win, but has gone from strength-to-strength since getting on the board.

25.7 HOME!
Mark Pitt gives Emma Stewart-trained star The Lost Storm an easy time in front and he reels off a fast last quarter to win the second semi-final of the Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series for 2YO colts and geldings. pic.twitter.com/ZulFgwvxk2

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) December 23, 2022

Sweet Bella and Joyful gave Pitt four wins for the night and four starters for Stewart in the two-year-old fillies’ final.

For complete race results, click here.

by David Brehaut, for Harness Racing Victoria