Spaceboy soars to heart-stopping win
THE drag race was between Spaceboy, Witherspoon and Rosina Kojonup. Who was the fastest? Who would find the inside rail? Who would lead?
The Kensington track’s leader bias aside, this was always going to be a frenetic 1000m sprint for the TAB Live Vision Handicap yesterday – and it delivered, with Spaceboy saluting in a thriller. This “dash for cash” had everything. You couldn’t look away.
They blazed along in front, Rosina Kojonup holding the inside rail, Spaceboy overcoming a slightly slow start to drive up alongside her, and Witherspoon flying out of the outside gate but unable to cross her main rivals.
The speedy trio came around the turn sharing the lead. Something had to give.
Rosina Kojonup couldn’t continue the pace. She started to drop out.
Spaceboy began to surge, Witherspoon desperate to hold on to him.
Then another emerged as a winning chance. Black Magnum attempted a run between the two leaders but was stopped in his tracks. Who knows what would have happened if he got that run.
Finally, Spaceboy broke clear, but this still wasn’t over.
Prairie Fire unleashed wide out and charged at the leader in a thrilling finish that had everyone guessing. But it was Spaceboy – just.
“Watching it live, I thought the other horse had dived and just got us, outside horses often get up in close finishes here,’’ said Gary Portelli, trainer of Spaceboy.
“But I was very happy to see the result. Spaceboy is a lot stronger now and Kathy (O’Hara) has got the key to him.” Spaceboy ($3.10 favourite) held on to win by the barest of margins from Prairie Fire ($12).