By Adam Hamilton
Gun Kiwi filly Bettor Twist was beaten at her first Aussie run but looks right on target for the Breeders Crown.
It was certainly no disgrace to finish a gallant second to Victoria’s second-best filly, Beach Music, in a stirring clash in the Allied Express 3YO Classic (2100m) at Geelong last night.
Trainer Nathan Purdon warned Bettor Twist was a “tad short of her best” going into her first race since that epic Harness Jewels win back in June.
So, to sit parked outside Beach Music for much of the race, keep coming and go down by just 2.3m in a slick 1min55.9sec mile rate was very encouraging.
“She needed to have this run with the Breeders Crown heats only two weeks away,” Purdon said. “It’ll bring her on a lot.”
The race was effectively won at the start when David Moran on Beach Music was able to settle in front of Anthony Butt on Bettor Twist from their back row draws.
Moran immediately made a three-wide move, Butt stalked him and they were leader and “death” with 1200m to run.
“She felt great tonight,” Moran said of Beach Music. “She’s a really big filly and still learning. She’s so much better in front, on the marker pegs, for now. She loves rolling along.
“That’s why I let her rip down the back, knowing it had to take something out of Bettor Twist, too.”
Beach Music roared down the back in 26.9sec and still finished-off in 27.9sec.
All of that said, Ladies In Red was sitting at home and waiting to meet them both in the Breeders Crown.
Purdon also had to be content with second in the main race, the $60,000 Group 2 Geelong Cup.
Mighty mare Amazing Dream led and had her chance, but couldn’t hold-off the huge finishing burst of the gifted but injury-plagued General Dodge.
Earlier, Purdon’s other star mare Spellbound ran a rare disappointing race when only eighth in the Group 3 Angelique Club Pace.
She had to sustain a three-wide run without cover from well back, but didn’t look as sharp as when she won the previous week.
In her defence, the leader and winner, The Panthiest, ran 27.4 down the back and home in 28.4sec, making it almost impossible for anything from back in the field.