Aussie News with Adam Hamilton

IT was a rare Miracle Mile night without much All Stars “flavour”, but they still found a way to snare a win.

The emerging Im Anothermasterpiece, who had no luck in a Miracle Mile qualifier the week before, did a power of work and was simply too strong and classy in a free-for-all.

And the time was brilliant, a 1min53.3sec mile rate for the long 2400m trip.

“It was a really good effort because I had to make my run a long way from home and the leader was going quick, but his owners are over here and it’s great to win for them on a night like this,” co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon said.

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BARRY Purdon won the feature mares’ race on Miracle Mile night, but just not with the mare most expected.

Havtime, regarded as a stable second-stringer to glamour mare Belle Of Montana, produced a career-best 1min50sec flat mile to upstage a crack field.

It was a confident front-running drive from Robbie Morris, copping pressure through a 54.2sec first half, but pinching a break on his key rivals around the home bend.

Our Princess Tiffany, who did some early and mid-race work, ran on strongly along with Belle Of Montana, but they never looked like catching the leader.

Havtime won by 4.4.m over Our Princess Tiffany with Belle Of Montana another metre away in third spor.

“I wanted to hold the front provided they didn’t go crazy. She’s been going so well and it’s great to get this win for Barry,” Morris said.

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IT’S amazing to think Our Uncle Sam cost just $3000 at the Bathurst yearling sales.

The Frisby family’s pride and joy surged passed $600,000 in career earnings when he successfully defended the Group 1 free-for-all title he won last year at Menangle on Saturday night.

It was a fitting reward after an NZ campaign last year which was littered with bad luck, poor draws and a dislike for the reverse way of going in Auckland.

Driver and co-trainer Anthony Frisby won the race when he attacked successfully for the lead from Galactic Star mid-race then dictated terms with splits of 29.2 (1200-800m) and 29.1 (800-400m).

Our Uncle Sam ripped home in 26.1sec and fought-off a challenge from The Black Prince by 1.4m with Kiwi pacer Mach Shard making late ground from three pegs for third.

“We never have much luck with draws, but we did this time and made the most of it,” Frisby said. “We were a bit lucky because we got things our own way once we got to the front, but he still sprinted home really well.”

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BIG Jack Hammer joined Our Uncle Sam as a back-to-back winner with his victory in the Group 1 Aquagait Trotters’ Mile at Menangle.

It was a fantastic trainer performance from David Aiken to rebuild Big Jack Hammer’s confidence and target the race after an Auckland Inter Dominion campaign where he was never comfortable the other direction of racing.

And Josh Aiken, David’s son, kept it in the family with a superb drive, summing it up well early by dropping in behind the leader, Tough Monarch,

“Gee I was confident in the run. It was the perfect trip for him and he felt so good,” Josh said.

“It’s extra special to win this one tonight because it’s Dad’s birthday too.”

Big Jack Hammer headed a Victorian trifecta, holding-off the late swooping Red Hot Tooth to win by half a neck with the emerging Sammy Showdown getting in third spot in a 1min54.7sec mile.

The two Kiwi runners, Temporale and Massive Metro, were below their best in eighth and sixth spots respectively.

Hot favourite Dance Craze, lethal with a sit, had to sit parked and never look comfortable before tiring late for ninth.

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BRIAN Portelli had a Miracle Mile night to remember.

His Bettors Delight gelding Tasty Delight won the Group 2 Sapling Stakes in upset style.

“That’s my first Group win as a trainer or driver,” Portelli beamed.

Tasty Delight had the last sit on stablemates and favourites Lochinvar Chief and Patsbeachstorm and finished over the top of them in a 1min52.4sec mile.

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THE powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin barn is starting to unleash their latest juvenile crop.

The pair snared the quinella in the Sapling Stakes at Melton on Saturday night with Ideal Dan, raced and bred by Danny Zavitsanos, beating stablemate Idyllic in a 1min55.1sec mile rate for 1720m.

Mick Stanley’s highly-rated Drain The Swamp was a good third after doing the work outside the leader.

Over in Adelaide, he Stewart-trained Treachery thrashed her rivals by a thumping 24.8m winning a heat of the Allwood series with Kima Frenning in the sulky.

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THERE is something exciting about watching breakaway leaders, whether it’s in the gallops or harness.

And that’s what Perth has now with Talktomeurmattjesty.

The headstrong former Kiwi gelding ran his rivals ragged again, in stunning at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

Driver Kyle Harper let him stride in front, opening up a huge lead on the bulk of the field with only his main danger, Chiaroscuro sticking on his back.

Talktomeurmattjesty broke their hearts with splits over the last mile of the 2130m of 27.6, 28.2, 28.7 and 29.9sec.

Chairoscuro couldn’t stay in touch from the 400m, dropping away to finish 24.5m away in second spot.

The 1min52.9sec mile rate equalled Beaudiene Boaz’s track record.

On the same card, exciting three-year-olds Double Expresso and Major Martini won their respective $50,000 Sales Series’ finals.

Double Expresso, who may tackle the boys in the WA Derby on April, cruised to an all-the-way win in a 1 min56.1sec mile rate for 2130m.

Major Martini was stunning, sitting parked and roaring away to win by 15.3m in a 1min56.6sec mile rate, capped by closing splits of 27 flat and 27.7sec.

Another WA Derby hopeful, Franco Ecuador, made it three wins from just four starts in the last race on the card.