13th April 2010 - Vol 58

Sleepy Tripp outguns rivals in Stallion Station Easter Cup

The four-year-old Sleepy Tripp, the richest-ever progeny of Courage Under Fire, outgunned New Zealand’s best open class pacers in the $80,000 Group 1 Stallion Station Easter Cup at Addington on April 3.

After a slow getaway, Sleepy Tripp settled within striking distance of the leaders with one-and-a-half laps to go.

Angled wide in the home straight by Mark Purdon, Sleepy Tripp displayed his trademark finishing burst to prevail in a blanket finish over joint backmarkers Bettor’s Strike and Bailey’s Dream.

The time for the 3200 metres stand was a solid 4:03, with the pace hotting up over the last mile run in 1:56.2. The leaders producing a 55.9 seconds last half and 27.7 final quarter making Sleepy Tripp's effort all the more special.

The $45,404 winner’s cheque extended Sleepy Tripp’s lifetime earnings to $522,171. It was his eleventh win and his third at Group level, having previously captured the Group 1 NZ Derby and the Group 2 Flying Stakes as a three-year-old.

The win capped a brilliant fortnight for Courage Under Fire, who is currently ranked a Top Five sire in both Australia and New Zealand.

‘Courage’ also produced the quinella pair, Lancome and Secret Potion, in the 3YO Fillies’ Series heat at Auckland on April 9. In winning, Lancome established fresh NZ figures for her age and sex for the 1700 metres mobile of 2:01.4, a mile rate of 1:54.9 with the last half in a blazing 56.1.

Meanwhile, Courage Under Fire has been represented by metropolitan winners in every state of Australia. His winners include Franco Ambassador 1:56.6 (Tabcorp Park); the Gloucester Park winners Arctic Fire 1:58.7 and Location Location; the fast Menangle Park victor Runaway Fire 1:57.3 (his 14^th win); Strathfire 1:58 (Albion Park); Erics Legend (Harold Park); and the Tasmanian Raider Stakes heat winner Nobeer Nocheer.

Sleepy Tripp
winner of Stallion Station Easter Cup

Town Champion two-year-old in 1:59.7

Town Champion’s precocious youngster Final Champion completed back-to-back Albion Park wins and earned a new speed badge of 1:59.7 when he came from worse than midfield to blitz his rivals on April 10.

Out of a Fake Left mare, Final Champion has not finished further back than third in six attempts to date.

Town Champion, a 1:48 son of top American sire The Panderosa, has gotten two sub 2:00 two-year-olds from a first Australian crop of only seven live foals – a remarkable feat!

Mendelico back to best

The Pacific Fella mare Mendelico, Australia’s richest female pacer this season, returned to the winning lists with a commanding win in the opening heat of the Vicbred Super Series at Kilmore.

Leading from the outset, the star four-year-old cut out the last half in a blistering 56.2 seconds to win by a conservative 16 metres.

Mendelico has won 12 of her 19 starts and $120,773 in stakes since September 1 last year. She will be one of the leading fancies for the $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred final at Tabcorp Park on May 7.

Pacific Fella, who is on cue for another one million dollar season, was also represented by the metropolitan winners Dutch Cream 1:57.1 (Menangle), Sunsets West (Gloucester Park) and Powerful Panther (Globe Derby Park).

Mendelico, who is Australia’s
highest stake earning mare

Mach Three two-year-old winners

Our champion sire Mach Three is enjoying another good season with his juveniles.

Heading the list is the two-year-old gelding Lonesome Mach, who won a heat of the rich Australian Pacing Gold at Albion Park, his third success from four attempts. He will now be aimed at the $300,000 Final at Menangle Park on Group One Day, April 23.

Forza Di Volonto, a two-year-old filly bred by Gary Lyons, made a winning debut at Harvey (WA) in 1:58.3, Awaywiththefairies also won at its first start at Tabcorp Park, while the lightly raced Mustang Mach beat his older rivals in NZ’s ‘deep south’ at Invercargill.

Mach Wiper, Russley Rascal and Heza Panamach, a trio of Mach Three three-year-olds, were in impressive winning form during the past fortnight. Mach Wiper captured the $20,000 final of the George Croxford Tribute at Tabcorp Park in a career-best 1:56.5, Russley Rascal won in 1:57 at Addington and was an unlucky third in the $250,000 NZ Derby, and Heza Panamach won a heat of the Mildura Guineas.

Of the older brigade, Sammy Maguire took a heat of the Mildura Pacing Cup and finished runner-up for the second time in the $50,000 Group 2 final, Babyitsu won a heat of the Raider Stakes at Launceston and joined the ‘$100,000 Club’, and the American-bound Joyfuljoy made a triumphant finale at Auckland.

New Mattjestic winner in 1:54.6

The three-year-old High Net Worth became Royal Mattjesty’s newest credit when he toured the five furlongs Georgian Downs oval in Canada in a swift 1:54.6 last week.

High Net Worth is one of the first North American crop of Royal Mattjesty which has earned almost $500,000 and include last year’s outstanding two-year-old fillies Bay Girl 2, 1:52.2 and Kim’s Quest 3, 1:54.

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