After Alibi, trainer Michael Clements seems to have unearthed another smart three-year-old in Super Line, an impressive debut winner in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1000m on Friday night.
Just like his stablemate, who is still undefeated after two runs, Super Line sprang away to a flying start when he came off a berth worse than midfield to make a beeline for the winning post from the point of turn.
Leader Lucky Sugar (John Sundradas) and Prechagorda (Corey Brown) looked set to slug it out in the remaining furlong, but they were left rooted to the spot when Super Line came roaring past for a most sterling 4 ½-length win from a vastly-improved Prechargorda who certainly franked her winning form at her last two barrier trials.
Lim’s Charge (Glen Boss) cruised along in a good spot but could only settle for third place another head away. The winning time was 59.44 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
Clements was delighted the patience shown in bringing the MC Racing Stable-owned galloper to racing fitness has paid handsome dividends first-up.
“The horse got back as they went hard early. Vlad (Duric) rated him patiently and they had the race won from a long way down the straight,” said Clements.
“He came to us as a colt from New Zealand in 2014, but he probably got here too early. He was immature and he had a few issues on top of that.
“We had to find the time to let him find himself. He was also very heavy and that’s why we had to geld him.
“He hasn’t done a lot, but he ran a nice trial two weeks ago. He did it so easy and he looks to be pretty exciting.”
Duric, who was going one win ahead in his neck-and-neck fight with Manoel Nunes at the top of the heap, said he was originally sceptical about giving the son of Shamoline Warrior just the one barrier trial ahead of his debut.
“From his run after the trial, I told Mike maybe he needed one more trial, but we put our heads together and picked that race instead,” said the Australian jockey, who has struck a winning combination with the Zimbabwean-born trainer since he jumped aboard Alibi.
“It was a very good trial (won by 6 ½ lengths), but it’s after the winning post that he gave me every indication he has a lot of potential. I could not quite pull him up for the next 1 ½ furlongs.
“He’s pretty bombproof like Alibi, and is quite a relaxed type of horse. We knew the map had a lot of speed, and we were lucky to get some cover.
“He was pretty impressive in the way he quickened in the straight. It’s not often you see a young horse win like that.”
