Bulent’s skill has the edge

TALENTED three- year- old Bosporus ended his winter campaign with a career-best win in a benchmark 70 handicap over 1400m in Hobart yesterday.

The Stephen Shaw-trained gelding was well backed to start the second elect behind Savs Finale ($2.40) and that pair settled down to a twohorse war all the way up the home straight. Bosporus ($2.50) led with Bulent Muhcu aboard while Ismail Toker had the favourite handy to the lead to the home turn.

Savs Finale loomed to win and took a half-length lead 200m out, but under strong riding from Muhcu, Bosporus fought back and went on to win by a half-length from Savs Finale, with Scrutineer more than four lengths away third.

“I am so proud of the horse because he was clearly headed by a very good horse [Savs Finale] today but he was still able to find a way to win,” Shaw said. “Bulent never panicked when he was headed, he just relied on his faith in the horse and Bosporus did the rest.

“It helps when you have a jockey on top that has a great respect and understanding of the horse and I owe a lot to Bulent because he comes to ride him in all of his trackwork. The horse has done a great job this season and he will now go for a well-deserved spell at Armidale and we’ll bring him back for the summer racing.” HATRICK HERO made quite an impact when he emerged triumphant in the last two- year-old race of the season. The Brendan McShanetrained colt made light work of his task, scoring untouched by a length from Gee Gee Rockstar with Bonduel Lily almost five lengths astern.

Hatrick Hero ($1.75 fav) was having only his second start and raced in accordance with his experience, but it was the way he attacked the line at the business end of the race that impressed the most.

“I think he could have won by further had he been forced to gallop throughout the race, but he waited a bit when he hit the front,” McShane said. “We bought him on pedigree and that he is a half-brother to our tip mare Hot Dipped. We will put him away now and bring him back for what we hope will be a good three-year-old season ... we have a horse capable of excelling up to 2400m.”