Xylia Allen Takes Out 2014 Superstayers
When Xylia Allen added another feature race to her list of accomplishments on Thursday night by taking out the Superstayers at Albion Park it was not in her usual front running dominating style, nor was it anything special on the clock. If nothing else, the win was gritty, determined and classy.
A lure malfunction had put the big race in some doubt, with the event eventually jumping over an hour after the advertised start time. When they did, it was the local Wag Tail (1) who flew the lids and went straight to the front.
Infinite Wish (7) jumped away in second place with Know Class (3) third. Xylia Allen was between that pair and soon after squeezed out, losing at least five lengths and finding herself a long last, 10 lengths off the leader entering the home straight the first time.
As they passed the post with a lap to go, Wag Tail had a three length break on Know Class who had worked to second, Infinite Wish was third and Xylia Allen had tacked on and was fourth as they raced in indian file.
Coming off the back and into the home straight the big mover was Infinite Wish, she railed under Know Class and set out after Wag Tail with gusto, looking the likely winner. Xylia Allen followed her through but could not go with her.
As soon as it became obvious that Infinite Wish was going to claim Wag Tail in the straight, Xylia Allen sprouted wings along the fence and gave the pair of them a cold as she whizzed past to score by a length. Infinite Wish grabbed second with Wag Tail finishing in third place.
The time of 42.07 was well below Xylia Allen's best of 41.55 and a long way off Dashing Corsair's 41.44 track record. It is unlikely to be remembered for that but was spectacular all the same.
It was career win number 33 from 68 starts for the Jenny Hunt trained daughter of Turanza Bale and Tayah Bale (Droopys Vieri – Francesca Bale). The win also takes her prizemoney beyond $625,000 and moves her to third on the all-time Australian stakes earners list.
Full Results
1st – Xylia Allen (5) – Jenny Hunt
2nd – Infinite Wish (7) – Angela Langton
3rd – Wag Tail (1) – Christina Harman
4th – Know Class (3) – James Shaw
Time: 42.07
1st Split: 16.00 (1)
2nd Split: 12.57 (1)
3rd Split: 13.50 (5)
Margins: 1 x 1/4
Scratchings: Eleazar (9)