Bartrim Continues Hot Streak
WHILE his record breaking 25.92 win at Bulli on December 19 was stunning, Bartrim Bale's (Hallucinate x Gold Rush Bale) effort to register a slick 26.31 in the third heat of tonight's Rooty Hill RSL Gold Plate at Bulli was no less impressive.
With a vacant box on his outside, a moderate start from box one was not punished and the son of Hallucinate, after 100m, set off after the speedy Spring Smile.
On the circle, Bartrim Bale powered clear and with every stride lengthened his break to eventually score by a clear 7-3/4 lengths.
Spring Smile, though outclassed, safely held second some three lengths to the good of Vickerman Bale.
All night, times were well `off the pace' and Bartrim Bale's effort was easily the fastest of the night over 472m.
The opening Gold Plate heat went to the talented Mountain Of Love in 26.55.
A member of the strong Matic kennel, Mountain Of Love - like Bartrim Bale - trailed the lead early but peeled to the outside as My Awesome Boy headed for home and came clear to scored by 1-3/4 lengths.
Front Index made ground late to finish third, a mere half head in front of Commandant.
My Awesome Boy's kennelmate Awesome Hustler - the Goulburn 457m record holder - started a short priced favourite in heat two and won a mixing affair in 26.61.
At the first turn, Catmandoo (box three), Majestic Puzzle (four) and Awesome Hustler were vying for the lead but it was Awesome Hustler which gained the ascendancy.
Catmandoo and Majestic Puzzle when checked and put out of play. Awesome Hustler gained a winning break and safely held Mahogany Blaze to score by 1-1/2 lengths. Tucklan Rebel was the same margin away in third place.
The three winners and runners-up gained an immediate berth into next Wednesday's $15,000 to the winner final while, on calculated times, Front Index and Tucklan Rebel also qualified.
The box draw is: 1 Mahogany Blaze, 2 Spring Smile, 3 My Awesome Boy, 4 Tucklan Rebel, 5 Front Index, 6 Bartrim Bale, 7 Awesome Hustler, 8 Mountain Of Love. Vickerman Bale and Raw Talent are the reserves.
Bartrim Bale will start a short priced favourite yet, despite his commanding form since joining the Brendan Wheeler team, this is no lay down misere.
Mountain Of Love is going as well as ever and is ideally drawn while Awesome Hustler boasts 10 wins from just 16 starts at the track and will get every chance.
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