Perspective expands CV
Armstrong-trained pacer Perspective added another country cup to his CV on Sunday afternoon with a hardearned, all-the-way victory in the $14,000 Ouyen Cup.
The five-year-old gelding started from gate five on the tight Ouyen circuit and although forced to cover extra ground around the first bend, was held together by driver Mark Pitt. He then gradually assumed the lead from Bernie Winkle – Glen Douglas – after the field had gone three-quarters of a lap.
This left the $1.10 hot favourite, Motu Meteor – Kerryn Manning – racing on their outside for the remainder of the challenging 2423-metre journey.
The leaders were then content to maintain a moderate mid-race tempo before upping the ante. On the home bend Perspective and Motu Meteor were the only two left with any chance.
In a battle to the post, it was the Brooke Hansen-trained Perspective by a neck in a rate of 2:00.1 with a gap of eight metres to third placegetter Carload.
Perspective’s record now stands at 14 wins, 13 minor placings and $101,231 from 58 starts and there’s sure to be another country cup lurking somewhere to add to the Ouyen and Wedderburn trophies already on the mantelpiece of proud owner Kevin Murray.
Smart Mt Gambier-trained pacer Bee Gees Bandit took out the time-honoured $9000 Kaye Matthews Tribute at Laidlaw Park, Stawell, with talented Hamilton reinswoman Jackie Barker in the sulky.
The four-year-old gelding is trained by Barry Finnis for owner-breeders Peter and Lorraine Medhurst and was a most deserved winner after doing it tough outside the leader Sulem Joey – Kerryn Manning – for the majority of the 1785-metre journey.
The leaders battled it out all the way down the home straight with Bee Gees Bandit doing best on the line to score by a half-head in a rate of 1:57.7.
They streeted the rest of the field with a gap of some 20 metres to the third horse home in the Tribute and Birchip pacer Waterboy – Ellen Tormey.
Bee Gees Bandit has now notched up 13 wins, seven minor placings and $44,518 in stakes from just 28 starts.
Barker made it a winning double later in the afternoon when she drove Horsham pacer Tommaso to a C2-3 pace win.