Exciting three-year-old Countofmontecristo kept his unbeaten run going after he was successful for the third time in a row on Friday night, producing arguably his most impressive performance thus far.
While he won the first two from the front, the widest barrier (10) he drew in the $75,000 Graduation race over 1200m narrowed his options down to a possibly less forward spot, which trainer Michael Clements was keen to test out with the clearly talented son of Echoes Of Heaven, anyway.
Ridden by Glen Boss, his last-start winning partner, Countofmontecristo ($11) did not fly the lids like last time but quickly strode into a prominent position outside the Mark Walker, Unsurpassed (Zawari Razali) on the outside of second favourite Nova Missile (Olivier Placais) in the box-seat.
The order was not altered until the home turn loomed when Boss decided it was time to part company with the rest.
Once the ribbons were snipped, Countofmontecristo charged to the lead before pulling away through sizzling sectionals that left his rivals gasping – except for one, the one horse who many thought could lower his colours, Deimos (Michael Rodd).
Reproducing that same blinding run that accounted for his rivals at his last start, the Cliff Brown-trained chestnut looked like he could succeed where his stablemate Sir Isaac failed at his last outing ie beat Countofmontecristo, when he came with a sweeping run on the outside.
The two horses almost drew on level terms, but Countofmontecristo was only purring along, almost toying with Deimos. The moment Boss went full bore, the gelding slid forward again, drawing clear to go and post a most impressive two-length victory from Deimos.
Countofmontecristo’s stablemate, the much less-fancied Ground Control (Shafrizal Saleh), steamed home late for third place another 2 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 9.86secs for the 1200m trip on the Short Course.
With Clements away at the Inglis sale in Melbourne, assistant-trainer Michael White was doing the post-race debrief for the second time (Clements also missed the first win as he was then buying horses on the Gold Coast).
“He showed from the start he was super talented. I think the 1400m to a mile is more his go but he’s done a good job winning three over 1200m,” said the Australian.
“Tonight, we wanted him to take a drop on other horses as he was drawn wide. He’s a nice horse coming through, and I think tonight was the benchmark for him to go over the mile, even if there is still a long way to go.
“He’s a pretty straightforward horse even if he’s still learning his trade.”
Boss, who knows a thing or two about good horses for having thrown his leg over a few back in Australia, was clearly taken by Clements’ rising star.
“He’s the real deal. He’s a real proper horse this one,” said the top Australian jockey as he jumped off.
“He was looking around on the way to the barriers at his last start, but he didn’t do that tonight. He was very calm and didn’t get upset behind the barriers.
“He’s got a good engine and I would like to ride him proper next time. We still don’t know where the ceiling is with him and we have a lot of things to learn with him.”
Rodd said he thought he was on a winning ride at the 500m, but he had clearly underestimated what was under Countofmontecristo’s bonnet.
“I got beat by him when I rode Sir Isaac the last time. He’s pretty special, but I still thought I had the race covered at the 600m,” said Rodd.
“My horse let down good, but Bossy’s horse is a very smart horse. He went again and we were beaten fair and square.”
With that third win from as many starts, Countofmontecristo has now taken his stakes earnings past the $120,000 mark for his owner Joe Singh.
