PACING
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HE has already won the 2016 Gold Chalice and now Mat Rue’s gelding Fouroeight is chasing New South Wales Breeders Challenge glory following an eye-catching performance at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night.
Fouroeight ($3.90) made his move late in the NSW Breeders Challenge Three Year Old Colts and Geldings Heat (1,730 metres), blitzing race favourite Sams The Master ($1.70) to win by 3.9m.
In doing so he earned one of the 24 places on offer for the semi-finals of the annual series.
Rue had earlier sat one out and one back, and despite having to make a three-wide move on the turn for home, Fouroeight produced an enviable sprint.
Fouroeight’s last half of 54.8 seconds was a time that more experienced campaigners would be jealous of.
The winning mile rate of 1:54.8 was just two tenths of a second outside the three-year-old colts and geldings Bathurst track record – a time clocked by Sams The Master.
Rue said there are only a few other horses he has driven in his career that are able to produce the same speed in the run for home as Fouroeight.
“I’ve been able to drive some freakishly quick horses before like For A Reason. He’s definitely not as fast as him, but he’s still a very quick horse,” Rue said.
“There’s only a handful who can run that final 600 metres like he can, but he can’t do the work doing it.
“I’ve driven horses a lot better than him, horses that can do all the work early and still run like that, whereas he can only do it at the finish.
“When you’ve got speed like that it doesn’t matter. You’re able to run over most horses.”
The star of Rue’s small Georges Plains stable will now make an early trip to Menangle before the semi-finals get underway.
“He’ll race in another 13 days time in another heat at Menangle. He’s already qualified, but he needs another run between there, so the trip away and a run like that will do him a lot of good,” he said.
“His fastest time to date was a 1:55.6, but that was over the 2,200 metres. He’s run half a lap less than that tonight, so that’s the difference. Out at Menangle, given he does no work, I’d say he’d be able to run well under that.”
A gate seven start didn’t faze Nathan Turnbull on Sams The Master, as he easily got across to lead after the green light.
Uncle Peter came across from barrier eight to take the death seat, while Fouroeight sat directly behind him in the one-one.
That was how the front of the field remained until the turn for home when Rue ducked out wide for his crack at the leaders.
Sams The Master briefly lost his way when he straightened, and that little loss of speed was enough for Fouroeight to race on by.
War Dan Apollo ($13.10) threatened a strong finish down the sprint lane, but settled for third 9.5m behind the winner.
The NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals will be held at Menangle on June 18, with the $153,000 Group 1 final to be run on June 26.
Unbeaten sensation Our Waikiki Beach was expected to make it 20 straight wins in his Penrith heat last night.
Mark Purdon’s record-breaking runner is the favourite to take out the decider.