Bravo Rides A Wave Of Success In Bulli Gold Cup Heats
KELLY Bravo continued Victorian trainers domination of Group races in New South Wales on Friday night at Bulli, qualifying three runners for the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup over 472-metres.
Bravo's first runner Ride The Rails ($3.60) clocked the fastest time of the night, recording a blistering 25.94 in heat two. Exiting from box eight, the son of Cosmic Chief and Pearl Napoleon was moderately away from the outside alley and found himself mid-field early on. Using the big-swooping Bulli turn, the 35kg chaser rounded up his rivals and streaked away by seven-and-three-quarter-lengths. Last night's victory was the 26th of his career from start 67, with plenty of reasons to smile for trainer Bravo, including a sensational run home of 6.50. Anthony Azzopardi's Fancy Top finished second and will take his place in next week's final.
Star Torana started as the $3.10 favourite in heat one and early signs were promising for punters when the Shaun Evans trained chaser got a flying start from box one. As the race appeared to be all over, outsider Wuxi ($12.90) took the lead halfway around the turn and saluted by one-and-a-quarter-lengths for Londonderry trainer Luke Azzopardi. The daughter of Fabregas and Florinda Belle posted a solid time of 26.33 in notching up her 5th career victory. Waymore's Blues made up good ground to finish second from box four, giving Kelly Bravo her second final qualifier.
Kelly Bravo's Kayda Shae was a red-hot favourite in heat three, starting at $1.80. After dwelling at the start, the son of Kilty Lad and Cosmic Aphrodite quickly mustered speed along the rails to take the lead at the top of the turn and raced away by five-and-a-quarter-lengths in a fast time of 26.23. Last night's win was the 7th of his career from just 10 starts.
Rare Peal for Steve White was the preferred runner in heat four, starting at $2.30 from box eight. South Australian chaser Aston Wingard was best away from box two and caused an upset, leading all the way for trainer Troy Murray. Starting at $10.80, the son of El Galo and Aston Elite held on by a neck after a late challenge from Winsome Jacko, recording a time of 26.43. Melinda Finn qualified her first runner for the final with Winsome Jacko steaming down the outside of the track in the latter stages.
The final heat of the night saw plenty of winning chances with punters leaning towards one-turn specialist Natural Player ($2.80). From a seemingly ideal box one draw, Mark Wilcox's chaser unfortunately couldn't go with the field in the early stages, with speedy beginner Estranged best away from the middle alley. Jason Fletcher's talented chaser Fantastic Sid was hot on his heels and claimed victory after sticking to the rails on the home turn. This beautifully bred son of Spiral Nikita and Light Fantastic recorded 26.50 on a very wet Bulli surface and scored by a length-and-three-quarters at the finish.
Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup final – 29th May, 2015
1 – Ride The Rails – Kelly Bravo
2 – Fantastic Sid – Jason Fletcher
3 – Fancy Top – Anthony Azzopardi
4 – Wuxi – Luke Azzopardi
5 – Kayda Shae – Kelly Bravo
6 – Winsome Jacko – Melinda Finn
7 – Aston Wingard – Troy Murray
8 – Waymore's Blues – Kelly Bravo
Reserves
9 – Let It Develop – Jodie Lord
10 – Estranged – Luke Azzopardi