Adelaide 12F G1 Race Capsule

Adelaide Derby Wrap-up

In a race that brought together some of the best 3 year old turf  routers in training only one could win this historic title. Musical Cat dropped as far as 8.5 lengths off the expected pace duel that developed between Zamtrical ( Rafa Stables) , Greyhunt R.(Joss Stables), Spending Bill (Jnillson) and Given’s Frost Dragon who made the lead and set the pace until the stretch run. Frost Dragon (finished 5^th) never really was able to shake loose from the crowd and was left weakened when it came time to fend off the back markers in the race. The other pace makers would quickly slip into the wake of the closing tide. At the 6F mark Musical Cat began to make his move and was in perfect striking range after 9f. Lenny’s  The Gun Went Off (2^nd) may have waited to long to uncork his powerful run and Metis (3^rd) (Coolk Stables) who had tracked the leaders was perhaps singed by the pace. What ever the cause, Musical Cat showed his best stride was too much for anyone else in the field to overcome. The Stoner’s trainee romped home an unchallenged winner by 2 and change. The Gun went off was clearly second best and Metis picked up the pieces for third. Skidded (Brundlefly) completed the Superfecta.  Others who were unable to match strides with the winner included Ziggy Rules (Fortune 500), Grand Victoire (Dixie.co), Tropical Prince (Nickesyd Racing Club), Fumetsu, (Topicount), Lenny’s Waterfront, and Isle of Fury (Super1). Many of these runners were either bottomed out or fried by the pace. Many will come out of this race with valid excuses or promising growth to show for it.

  I caught up with Stoners after the race to talk about the incredible performance turned in by his Musical Cat. A 97 SPF in his first run at 12F left the winning trainer thrilled but unclear about the horse’s future. “Not really sure what is next for Musical Cat. I have to sit down and look at the summer schedule and figure it out.” I implied that the footsteps to immortality seemed well defined, if one just looked back at the dance cards of the two all-time greats who had etched their names into the annals of the sim. Sunnybank Memorial and Horsehoe Bay had laid the road map out. Stoners, the winner of the 2005 Bluegrass Derby just smirked and said “don’t know what he is gonna do yet have to look at the schedule and figure it out”. It was clear the winning trainer was not giving us anywhere to keep an eye out for this one next, perhaps noticing the Evil Empire’s legions were nearby. Lenny’s The Gun Went Off has nothing to be ashamed of based on his second career start on the lawn and will undoubtedly be moving down the same campaign trail as the winner. Perhaps a great rivalry begins here, but one thing is for sure the fans down under saw a fantastic race and maybe the early makings of a great champion… or two?