Ghetto Blaster explodes in Lough Neagh Stakes
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Brad Stewart enjoyed a close win on Ghetto Blaster at Doomben (Noel Pascoe photo)
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It can’t be said it all went the way of Ghetto Blaster at Doomben on Saturday, December 19, but most importantly the winning glory did.
In what has become a recurring theme in his last few starts, the six-year-old gelding drew a double digit barrier, this time gate 11 in the field of 17.
But this time it didn’t stop Ghetto Blaster from getting to the post first, if only by a nose.
In the $200,000 Listed Race-Tech Australia Lough Neagh Quality Stakes 1350m, Brad Stewart guided the eventual winner from their mid-field position after the turn for home. They peeled out and bound away to get to the front to the surprise of Stewart.
“Don’t ask me how,” he said. “I thought I was going to get posted at one point but he got over.
“He relaxed good and got out at the right time.
“He was due to win. He’s been plagued by bad barriers. He didn’t have the best barrier (in the Lough Neagh Stakes) but it worked out all right.
“He really deserved it…it was a terrific win.”
Enjoying yet another win in Brisbane, Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich agreed. “He really did deserve it,” she said. “He’s been a great horse to us and it was just fantastic to watch him.”
Heinrich herself wasn’t too sure they’d won the chocolates after Zero Rock’s connections celebrated madly in front of her in the stands.
“It was the wrong angle up there. I’m thinking ‘oh my god, I think we went down’.”
Lucky for Heinrich though, $4.80 race favourite Zero Rock (Brad Pengelly) had to settle for another second place, after conceding to Burdekin Blues a fortnight earlier.
The consistent Kenny’s World (Matthew Palmer) followed a length behind in third.
Ghetto Blaster (Lujain USA-Certain Blaze) created a 50 per cent strike rate, in what was the gelding’s first Black Type win from 18 starts.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – December 21 |
