Favourites prevail in Vic Bred three year old colts and geldings heats

Star three year old Sao Paolo Simba (American Ideal) continued his good form of late when he gave a sparkling all the way win in his heat of the APG Vic Bred Super Series for the three year olds at Melton on Friday evening.

His trainer driver Michael Stanley who is now based at Menangle has targeted the Vic Bred Series and he has put together a formidable team.

Sao Paolo Simba was drawn on the second row but not long after the start Stanley moved around the field and he headed off his stablemate Coastal Drive who was driven by Luke McCarthy.

New Shuffle who had some support didn’t have a great deal of luck sitting outside the leader.

Sao Paolo Simba who has a brilliant turn of speed was able to reel off his final two quarters in 27 and 26.9 seconds and that proved too fast for his rivals.

Coastal Drive finished well for second while New Shuffle fought on for third placing.

Sao Paolo Simba ran a scintillating 1.48.9 winning at Menangle four starts back and if he finds the lead in the Final he will be hard to beat.

The second heat was taken out in fine style by Calexico (Lather Up). The race was decided at the start when Calexico from the pole was able to hold out his rivals to comfortably hold the lead. Driver Damian Wilson kept up the pace with main danger It’s Confidential caught wide early before racing outside the leader.

From then onwards Calexico never looked in any trouble and he always had the measure of It’s Confidential who battled on gamely for second with Pick Up Elvis who had some support in third placing.

After a highly promising beginning to the season Calexico seemed to struggle but his last two wins at Melton show that he has returned to form.

CALEXICO REPLAY NOV 7

Impressive colt Storms Collide (The Storm Inside) gave a faultless display of front running to take out the third Heat. In a race that saw the lead change several times, Storms Collide was able to cruise to the lead with his main danger stable mate Captain Perfect caught racing outside the leader.

The South Australian Derby winner Forty Love was able to secure the one out and one back trail.

Storms Collide who had won a heat of the Victoria Derby was never under much pressure even when Captain Perfect continued to battle away. At the finish Storms Collide had just under five metres to spare over Forty Love who nosed out Captain Perfect for third. Storms Collide ran his last quarter in 26.7 seconds for a  mile rate of 1.56.8.

The scratching of favourite Cigano in the fourth heat made it an open race but there was a spectacular plunge on Zenario (Sportswriter) and he duly landed with a powerful finish.

James Herbertson couldn’t head off Starting to Gogh, so he eased Zenario right back and Ruffnut come off the fence to give him some cover. Ruffnut continued to put pressure on Starting to Gogh and he found the lead. But  Zenario was being saved for a final run and down the home straight he came away to defeat a gallant Ruffnut with Ollies The Boss in third.

Zenario is trained by Shaun and Jason McNulty and has now won five of his ten appearances. He’ll face a tougher task in the Final but he’s displaying enough ability that he will acquit himself against better opposition.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink