Classy sprinter Music Event ‘hit the high notes’ in the Listed Western Districts Derby (460m) at Geelong last night.
Trained by Michael Carter of Kialla, Music Event ‘outplayed’ one of the best provincial classic fields ever assembled and snared a first prize to the ‘tune’ of $20,000.
Last out from Box 2, Music Event ($10.50) had moved into third rounding the first corner and then came home with a wet sail to defeat tearaway leader Blackpool Flash ($20.40) by 1.1L, with Aston Rupee ($7.10) a further 2.74L away third in a slick 25.74sec.
Then followed: Silver Lake ($4.00F), Masked Avenger ($5.10), Mr. America ($11.20), Aussie Secret ($4.30) and Ferdinand Boy ($7.20).
A son of 2010 G1 Paws Of Thunder winner Lochinvar Marlow, Music Event notched his 13th win from 26 starts – including nine of his past 16 – and increased his prizemoney to $84,015. It was also his second ‘black type’ victory, having won the G3 Cup Night Sprint at Sandown.
WATCH: Music Event (2) was ‘on song’ in last night’s Western Districts Derby at Geelong.
Carter was quietly confident his star speedster could win the Derby but conceded his thoughts on how the race would be run didn’t go to plan.
“I expected him to jump, but, as the race panned out, he was probably lucky he missed the kick,” he said. “He just needed to see daylight and he had a bit more experience on most of the field.”
And Carter added Music Event “wouldn’t have been that price ($10.50) if the race had been at Ballarat”. (The meeting was transferred to Geelong due to issues with Ballarat’s kennel block.)
Carter, who has been training for around 35 years, says Music Event is one of the best greyhounds he’s put a lead and collar on. He puts him on a pedestal with his topliners such as Shadow Lane, Proven Jett, Corridor, Midnight Flynn and Extra Speed.
Next on Music Event’s racing ‘tour’ is the G1 TAB Australian Cup series. He’s one of the ‘top 56’ who will bypass the preliminaries and proceed directly into the Cup heats at The Meadows on February 20.
WATCH: Lala Kiwi (5) showed plenty of mid-race dash to win the Lil Dickie Oaks at Geelong.
Meanwhile, Lala Kiwi – one of four finalists for leading trainer Andrea Dailly – caused an upset in the $15,000-to-the-winner Lil Dickie Oaks (460m).
Rated Dailly’s ‘fourth string’ by punters, Lala Kiwi ($17.70) overcame a slow start from Box 5 before producing a withering late burst to defeat kennelmate Quintana Bale ($7.90) – who also flashed home – by 0.5L, with Pyrocumulus ($6.20) a further 1.6L away third in 25.80sec. Dailly’s other finalists – Shima Classic ($2.40F) and Qwara Bale ($3.70) – finished fifth and seventh respectively.
Lala Kiwi (May ’19 Aussie Infrared x Lala Shim) notched her fourth win from eight starts – including three of her past four – and keeps going from strength to strength. Her prizemoney jumped to $24,785.
Her dam (Lala Shim), who won four races from 46 starts, is a litter sister of Shima Song – the dam of superstar, Shima Shine.
Lala Kiwi will now chase bigger riches. She’s engaged in Night One of the ‘Australian Cup Carnival’ at The Meadows on Saturday night and will contest a TAB Australian Cup Preliminary (525m) – Race 3 Box 7 at 7.12pm.
Lala Kiwi after her powerful victory in the Lil Dickie Oaks.
