Maitland reinsman Brad Elder is eyeing a first group 1 win after an impressive consolation victory with Bright Energy at Menangle on Saturday night.
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Bright Energy, owned and bred by Brad's uncle, Michael Elder, came from well back to win the opener in a career-best mile of 1:49:8.
The victory came eight days after Bright Energy was one of three Craig Cross-trained pacers scratched from the Newcastle Mile by stewards for being six minutes late. Starters had to arrive two hours before the Miracle Mile qualifier and the Cross team missed the deadline because of traffic in Sydney which led to a four-hour trip from Cobbitty.
Bright Energy was then denied a start in the final two qualifiers on Saturday night, making the win bittersweet.
"I think there were three horses in that race last night that were in the Newcastle Mile and we beat them all so I don't think he would have been completely out of that race," Brad said.
"We never got a chance to be in the Miracle Mile. If we had gone around at Newcastle and done no good, we would have been, 'well, at least we had a chance'. Our chance was taken away.
"I've got no doubt he would've been right in those [heats on Saturday night]."
Elder will now look to next week's group 1 Bohemia Crystal with Bright Energy.
Lochinvar Art, owned by Lake Macquarie businessman Kevin Gordon, drew poorly in nine for Saturday night's Miracle Mile.
Roy Roots jnr-trained former Newcastle horse of the year The Black Prince is first emergency in seven after a fourth on Saturday night.
At Newcastle on Friday night, Maitland reinsman Andrew Bourke paid tribute to his aunty, Anne Bourke, when winning on Mondooley Heaven. Anne, 47, died in an accident at Heddon Greta two weeks earlier.