By Adam Hamilton
Exciting Kiwi pacer Tact McLeod was denied victory in the very last stride of last night’s $75,000 Group 2 Bendigo Cup.
Having his first run in Victoria, the lightly raced Mark Jones-trained gelding was smashed in betting from $2 to $1.50 and all looked ideal when driver Anthony Butt took him to a comfortable lead from gate four.
With his main dangers back in the field or making midrace moves, Butt was eager to “roll along” through a middle split of 58.2sec and 28sec-flat third quarter.
Tact McLeod scooted away rounding the final bend and looked set for victory, but really tired in the last 80m and remarkable veteran Bulletproof Boy flashed home to snatch the win by a nose in a brisk 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2650m.
That man James Herbertson, winner of last year’s Australian driving premiership by a huge space, took the reins.
His winning move came in the middle stages when Herbertson came three-wide around to the breeze and then landed the one-one trail on Cantfindabettorman.
“He’s just a legend, isn’t he? I don’t even know how old he is, but what a credit he is to Scotty (Ewen, trainer) and his team. He’s just a perfect racehorse.”
The 10-year-old Bulletproof Boy was having his 203rd start and posted his 45th win. He’s banked over $640,000.
“He’s just gotten better with age and he’s never gone better. I’d love to have a crack at the Hunter Cup with him,” Ewen said.
Bulletproof Boy and Tact McLeod look set for a rematch in next Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 2 Shepparton Gold Cup.
Much interest also centred around the return of former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo.
Back with original trainer Mick Stanley after a Kiwi stint with the Dalgety barn, Rock N Roll Doo drew outside the back row, sat last and did make good late ground to finish just 9.6m from the winner, albeit in ninth spot.
He’s sure to strip fitter when he heads to the $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup on January 18.
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Classy Aussie trotter Arcee Phoenix has bounced out of his luckless Addington campaign in great style.
The Chris Svanosio-trained gelding, who ran fourth in the Dominion and NZ Trotting Free-For-All during Cup Week, successfully defended his Group 1 Maori Mile crown at Bendigo last night.
It was only his second run since returning from NZ.
In contrast to last year when Arcee Phoenix led throughout, last night he stalked a solid speed and stormed home to beat Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida in terrific style. They went a slick 1min55.7sec mile.
It was his 12th win and took his career earnings to an impressive $410,705.
Queen Elida, who was expected to lead, couldn’t cross them early, but landed the one-one trail and loomed as the winner rounding the final bend.
It was a huge race for Svanosio with his much-improved trotter Aroha Koe working to the front midrace and holding on for third.
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Snaring a second successive NZ Cup with Swayzee wasn’t the only win Jason Grimson had at Addington in November.
The top Menangle trainer also picked-up Im The Falcon to join his stable and the gelding has quickly won a hat-trick of races at Menangle.
The son of Bettor’s Delight has improved – at least on times – in all of them, breaking 1min50sec for the mile with his 1min49.8sec win from behind the leader in the PJ Hall free-for-all last night.
Jack Callaghan took the reins as he just staved-off a booming late surge from Inter Dominion pacing final placegetter Terry, who stormed home from last to get within a neck.
It was a big night for Grimson who also had wins with other recent stable additions, Miki Pins and Compete.
Miki Pins is unbeaten in four starts for the stable, while Compete has won three of his four starts for Grimson.
