Trust In A Gust wins 2014 Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup Group 1 $400,000 at Caulfield (VIC), 1400m.
Trust In A Gust went forward from barrier nine and settled nicely outside the leader. He went to the front shortly after turning for home and after a head and head battle over the final stages with the top weight Dissident, he scored by a short half head in another game performance, albeit with a 6kg advantage over the runner-up who also lodged an unsuccessful protest against the winner.
Dissident was smartly away before easing to settle in fourth place, one out and one back. He moved up to challenge at the 200m and fought strongly, failing by the narrowest of margins to win this third successive Group One race putting up a very good performance.
Bull Point was back in tenth place between runners, switched into clear running on straightening and kept running on well, getting up for third nearing the post. It was a very encouraging effort at his third run this preparation.
Sweet Idea showed her usual pace to take the early lead before easing to race in third spot on the rails. She got a rails run on passing the 200m and battled on well for (2.3 lengths) fourth putting up another honest effort.
Cluster went back to last from his outside barrier (14) and was last to the 600m. He got between runners going to sixth at the 200m and kept making ground for a good (2.8 lengths) fifth.
Late Charge was sixth most of the way and held on quite well to hold that position at the post, beaten three
lengths, while Akavoroun was ninth at the 600m, put in a good run at the 250m before battling on for a sound (3.8 lengths) seventh.