The great Escape

Talented Tintin In America two-year-old Escape Artist overcame a couple of early miscues and a torrid passage to notch his second success at Wagga on Friday (October 1).

The gelding carved out his last four quarters in 28.9, 28.6, 28.3 and 29.7 on his way to a 1.6 metre victory in a sharp 1:54.8 rate over 1740 metres. He is a very smart youngster.

Escape Artist is this season’s sixth individual two-year-old winner sired by Tintin In America, who also left the promising Nerano NZ, a winner at the same track four days later in a career-best 1:54.2. It was his second success from as many starts on Australian soil.

The North America Cup winner Fear The Dragon sired a pair of two-year-old winners from his first crop in Rock The Dragon (1:54.6) and Fear No More (1:55). Fear The Dragon has left the winners of $870,000 so far with 28 in the 2:00 list and eight in 1:55.

Ideal In Dreams, a filly bred by Yirribee Pacing Stud, became the fifth juvenile winner sired by the former world champion Warrawee Needy this season when she scored in 1:56.6 at Wagga. Warrawee Needy was also represented by the recent Canadian winners Elroy Shiner (1:54.8) and High Flyin Jamie (1:58.4).

Million Dollar Cam’s smart son Our Millionaire returned to the winning list in impressive style at Ballarat last Friday (October 1), rating 1:56.7 over 2200 metres. It was his 11^th success from 26 starts and sent his stake earnings over the $70,000 mark.

Tintin In America, Fear The Dragon, Warrawee Needy and Million Dollar Cam are all members of the Yirribee Pacing Stud stallion roster.

By Peter Wharton