Racing rivalries are pure theatre – in any sporting discipline.
And in that respect lead acts Simon Told Helen and Tiggerlong Tonk put on a command performance in a Gr8 Eight (525m) at The Meadows tonight.
And, as the curtain was drawn, it was Simon Told Helen who received the ‘bouquets’.
Australia’s No. 1 sprinter and triple Group 1 winner, Simon Told Helen was clearly the protagonist shortly after the lids opened.
However, Tiggerlong Tonk (Box 2) had the better at box rise before the superior early and mid-race pace of Simon Told Helen (Box 4) came to the fore.
Trained by David Burnett, Simon Told Helen forged away down the back straight with Tiggerlong Tonk in hot pursuit, but even at that point he had the race in complete control.
And as he flashed past the winning post, Simon Told Helen ($1.50F) had 3.1L to spare over Tiggerlong Tonk ($3.40) in a slick 29.82sec. Short Pork ($12.20) finished third, 4.5L from the winner.
WATCH: Simon Told Helen (4) was simply electrifying tonight, burning off Tiggerlong Tonk (2) and snaring his second Gr8 Eight victory.
Simon Told Helen (Jan ’18 Barcia Bale x Who Told Lindylu) notched his 16th win from 25 starts. It was his fifth win from seven starts – including the G1 Silver Chief – over The Meadows 525m trip.
He has now won six of his past eight starts and is undefeated in three starts from Box 4.
Simon Told Helen had a seven-week spell after claiming the G1 Perth Cup in March.
But he has returned as fast as ever, winning the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson and finishing second in the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup.
And tonight’s win was his second Gr8 Eight win, having narrowly defeated Tiggerlong Tonk at Sandown on May 28.
Adulation must also be given to Tiggerlong Tonk who has chased Simon Told Helen to the ‘final act’ at his past three starts – he also finished third in the Harrison-Dawson.
We now await the encore!
