Cessnock trainer Clayton Harmey was proud to get all three of his hopes into the group 1 2YO Breeders Challenge colts and geldings decider after high-class semi-finals on Saturday night at Menangle.
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Jarrod Alchin-trained My Ultimate Ronnie (1:50:4) and My Ultimate Byron (1:50:9) set cracking times to win the semis and Harmey's trio excelled to easily finish top five and qualify for the final.
Saint Crusader was fourth, 9.7 metres away from My Ultimate Ronnie, which was 0.1 of a second outside the Australasian 2YO record.
"I think he went 51 himself, so that's pretty good," Harmey said of his pacer.
"He hasn't had to do that before and he was doing his best work the last 50. It's the first time he's really been pushed out so that can only benefit him."
Harmey-trained Skyfall Benchmark and Chatherup were then third and fourth respectively in heat two.
"I was just proud of my boys. No one gave them a hope, at 150, 80 and 40-1, and we got two fourths and a third. It's great," he said.
On Friday night at Newcastle, Sawyers Gully trainer Adam Ruggari's Three In Heaven won the 3YO colts and gelding male heat from Michael Formosa's Pops Boy. Formosa's Stellina won the fillies heat.
Craig Kerry
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
