I’ve just watched all the replays from the weekend’s racing and well, I have to say this.
Probably the best run all day was that of the riderless horse PRIMA STELLA (Redoute’s Show-Italian beauty) in the Sth Grafton Cup Prelude over 1600m.
And here’s why.
The horse reared at the start dislodging rider Ben looker who managed to find his feat without injury and stayed in the barriers.
Prima Stella, however, did not.
He took off after the field despite giving them 5 lengths start.
When he did tack on he decided that he’d take off so circling them all, at times five wide, he roared around the field.
Now, JAZZLAND (Home On The Grange-Dix) who on his day is an extremely fast middle distance horse, was leading and having one of his days.
He set a solid tempo, which was born out at the end when he recorded 1:34.97 on a soft track for the mile.
So. We see Prima Stella racing at breakneck speed after the leader who was running time. He nearly falls over when one moved out in his path after 500m, but after picking himself back up he continued his surge.
He reached the front and then accelerated away.
He led by 9 lengths as they turned for home, went 6-wide around the home bend, eased a little half way down the straight but still won by 8 lengths.
He beat most of the field home by 15 lengths.
Meaning, given his delay at the start until he crossed the line, he ran 1:32.91 for the trip. On a wet track! Yes, I know he carried just 4kg while Jazzland carried 59kg, but his mid-race sectional time from the 500m to the 1500m was astonishing.
Fight or flight – either response often makes super-human efforts occur and that’s what happened here.
Prima Stella had won his previous start, a tough BM 86 in the mud at Port Macquarie so he was very fit.
But I’m going to back him next run because no weight or not, that was sustained speed rarely seen in racing.
Watch 📺 riderless horse runs sensational sectionals 👇
