The Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin-trained Bittercreek ($7.50) has come with a withering burst to claim the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon.
The son of Snitzel bounced back in stylish fashion after an even run first-up at Flemington on October 5, relishing the firming Moonee Valley surface this time around.
It was a patient steer by Ben Allen, electing to sit slightly worse than mid-field with cover, as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Ikasara ($3.40) pushed along to lead at a strong clip early under Jordan Childs.
He wasn’t left alone either, with the rank outsider Brandjam ($26.00) scooting along to sit outside the lead, allowing the field of seven to tick over some modest sectionals in the middle stages.
Bittercreek was one of the first to make a challenge at the 300m pole, giving a strong kick as he bounded to the lead as the leading pair began to fade.
Pisces ($5.50) showed a good turn-of-foot first-up to land into the runner-up spot, while Winnasedge ($7.50) and well-supported favourite Bosustow ($3.10) were making strong inroads when it was all over.
It was all about the winner in the end, however, with Bittercreek claiming his second black-type victory, and his first since breaking his maiden in the Group 2 Sprit Of Boom Classic (1200m) during the Queensland winter.
2024 Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes Replay – Bittercreek
Co-trainer Troy Corstens was on course to discuss the win before confirming the one-week backup is on the cards as they target the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) next Saturday.
“I’m very, very lucky at the moment,” said Corstens.
“The team is going particularly well. We’ve just got an amazing group (of staff). I’ve never had a group of staff like that. I know everyone gets on here and says that, but we’ve just got an amazing group of staff at the moment.
“Always had a promising group of young horses coming through, and just everything’s falling into line, which sometimes it can do. A lot of the times it doesn’t. And I remember this time last year, I thought I had similar sort of horses and just got nowhere near it.
“A hundred-percent (heading to the Coolmore), he’s backing up. Don’ t worry about that. We’ve always thought that he’s such a classy animal. He probably just needed that run.
“The timing is, you know, it might not be ideal, but he’s a three-year-old colt. He’s a strong boy. He’s really, really tough. And he’s going to take his place in the Coolmore.”
Ben Allen was delighted with the win and loved the way Bittercreek put them away.
“He was super,” said Allen.
“He stepped well and we ended up in a nice spot. The plan was to be a little bit closer, but he can be a bit casual, but I just love how he put them away today.
“He’s very casual. He’s a bull. He’s very proud of himself. So I just tried to keep him switched on a bit, just to make the start a bit easier for him and myself.
“We ended up a pair further back, but he built into it nicely and he was too good.”
Bittercreek is now an $18.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for next Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
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