No state is consistently producing more incredibly competitive feature race finishes than Western Australia … and that was the case again on Saturday when less than a length separated the first five runners across the line in the Listed H G Bolton Sprint over 1200m.
The thrill of watching such a thrilling finish unfold was punctured for most punters though when the $61 outsider Fluro Neuro, who had cornered five-wide, four to five lengths back with eight horses in front of him, produced a finishing effort which carried him to the front when it mattered most, getting there in the very last stride.
Jockey Chloe Azzopardi was instrumental in the win, most notably when applying a deft flick of the wrists to angle Fluro Neuro marginally out across the heels of Immortal Bliss (the $3.40 second favourite) when 250m left to run, placing her mount in clear galloping room.
Fluro Neuro quickly started to go through his gears from there … and, by the 200m mark, Fluro Neuro was in full cry … still four lengths back … but starting to rapidly reel in the bunch of runners also chasing hard in front of him.
Final Siren ($71) was trying to cling on to his long-held lead … Snowdome ($13), who had been right up on the speed throughout, was sticking on gamely … Immortal Bliss was running on strongly … and Madhi Girl ($7.50), who had encountered traffic problems in the home straight, was now running on strongly along the rail.
With 100m left to run it was … to coin a phrase … anyone’s race.
Final Siren, game as he was, gave way with 40m left to run as Snowdome surged again to claim the lead looking the likely winner. Madhi Girl, who had launched her run too late after being inconvenienced, wasn’t going to get there and, when Immortal Bliss could find no more, Snowdome was almost home, but there was no doubt who was finishing best of all and that effort by Fluro Neuro was ultimately rewarded with a last-gasp win … the eighth of his career.
Fluro Neuro is trained by the Grant and Alana Williams training partnership. Chances are you will be hard-pressed to find the last time this highly successful stable saddled a feature race winner at this kind of price ($61).
The race favourite Twisted Steel ($2.40) was perfectly placed to strike, just behind the leader on straightening, and he remained very much in contention for some way before being run out of it and dropping away over the final 150m to finish out of the placings.
