All Star juggernaut starts the day as expected

The first of the Group 1 races today at Tabcorp Park Melton was the $84,000 Aldebaran Park Two Year old trotting fillies final and the All Star juggernaut started the day as expected with a smart win.

 

The outstanding filly High Gait has had a great juvenile season with just one nose defeat blotting an otherwise perfect season.

 

Today from barrier one she looked to have a mortgage on the race if she held the front for driver Mark Purdon and although briefly challenged by Smile Smile Smile, High Gait comfortably held the front early.

 

Mark Purdon was able to set a sedate lead time but slowly wound up the tempo from the 1600 metres and from the half upped it even more.

 

Parisian Chic settled back early from her wide draw for Blake Fitzpatrick before circling the field to sit outside High Gait from the 1200 metres mark.

 

Mark continued to up the tempo off the back and skipped clear by a length as they straightened.

 

Everybody at this point thought Missandei and Anthony Butt who had trailed High Gait the whole way would put real pressure on the leader up the passing lane but she only battled the last bit and High gait went to the line a comfortable winner yet again.

 

Parisian Chic was very brave in defeat with Missandei held on for third.

 

High Gait trotted the 2240 metres in 2:50.9, a mile rate of 2:01.6 with the last 800 metres in 57.9 and 28.3

 

it was High Gait's eighth win from just nine starts and it took the daughter of Muscles Yankee stake earnings to $151,450.

 

Mark Purdon was full of praise for the filly's win.

 

" She is such a natural two year old and that is what you need to be competitive in these sorts of races."

 

" She does everything right and is such a wee professional and that is a big plus," Mark said.