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The sparingly-raced Bellwether sprinted home to a resounding win in the $100,000 Open Benchmark 83 race over 1000m on Polytrack on Friday night.
Most had made the much-hyped debut winner The Nutcracker (Antonio da Silva) their favourite to make it back-to-back, but the Argentinian-bred grey weakened to fifth place after being well-placed behind early leader Pioneer Seven (Wong Chin Chuen) for most of the way.
But all honours to trainer Michael Freedman’s valiant Polytrack sprinter who is one of those horses blessed with stacks of ability, but needs everything to go their way to land the spoils.
Jockey Corey Brown had the Bel Esprit five-year-old stalking the speed in fourth spot about four lengths off the lead. Pioneer Seven fleetingly gave the impression that old catch-me-if-you-can tactics that had served him so well in the past was about to set the tune again, especially as The Nutcracker was not showing the same dash, not by a long chalk.
Pioneer Seven looked like he had his rivals battling in his wake, but the complexion was suddenly turned on its head when Bellwether ($19) let down on the outside with stablemate Great Sun (Michael Rodd) not far away, with Bellwether finishing the best to score by three-quarter length from Pioneer Seven who held on gamely for second place, one length clear of Great Sun.
With the sizzling sectionals Pioneer Seven clocked, it was not surprising the winning time was a slick 58.52 seconds for the 1000m on Polytrack.
Brown said Bellwether, whom he has now steered to all of his five wins, all over the 1000m scamper, is a horse who cannot be scrubbed up for his run too early.
“I waited before going for him, I didn’t want to get there too early,” said the Australian hoop.
“They sprinted quickly at the 600m, and he was a bit flat-footed. I was a bit worried when there was not enough space to sprint, but once he came out, I knew he was not going to get beaten tonight.”
Brown said he had to choose between Great Sun, another 1000m specialist he has partnered to three wins, and Bellwether and was glad he pulled the right rein.
“I had to choose between Bellwether and Great Sun, but I went with Bellwether as I thought he ran good the other day even if he ran seventh to Italian Job,” he said.
“Young Timmy (Bell) had no luck with him, but to be fair he didn’t know the horse and probably gave him a squeeze too early.
“My dad always told me if it ain’t broke why fix it, and I don’t think this horse needs to go beyond the 1000m-1100m. He’s only lightly-raced and is getting better and better with each run.”
With Freedman not on hand to lead in his 66th winner for the season, assistant-trainer James Peters was there to heap praise on a gelding who has already brought his Australian owner Paul Crawford a tidy sum of around $280,000 in stakes earnings from his record of five wins and six placings in only 15 outings.
“He’s done a good job. Great Sun also put in another great run but Bellwether deserved that win,” said the Englishman.
“Corey gets along so well with this horse. He really gets him to relax in his races.”
The Nutcracker was reported to have bled after the race, which explained to a certain extent his disappointing run.