Le Cardinal The Niteshift and Cardigan Dan look sharp in their Vicbred heat wins

Punters had plenty of anxious moments before solidly backed favourite Le Cardinal (Captaintreacherous) scored in a heart stopping finish in the fourth heat of the Vic Bred series for three year old colts and geldings.

Showing not much early speed from the pole Le Cardinal ended three back on the rails. Major Blitz who returned from a Queensland trip flew the gate with driver Alan McDonough going to the lead.

New South Wales visitor Enjabonarlo was also quickly away but he was forced to race outside the leader and while there tended to pull hard and race ungenerously.

LE CARDINAL 27 AUG REPLAY

Enjabonarlo started to weaken in the back straight and Amy Day on Le Cardinal was able to ease off the fence in hot pursuit. Major Blitz tried to steal a break but Le Cardinal was able to join him on the final bend. However Major Blitz refused to give in and kept finding something. In a driving finish Le Cardinal prevailed by half a head from Major Blitz with Sols Me Name a distant third.

The dam of Le Cardinal Im Wrongly Accused was also prepared by Le Cardinal’s trainer Matt Craven and she won three races. At Stud she has produced the prolific winners Kimble and Rubins Plight as well as the smart two year old Take The Miki. There’s a lot to like about Led Cardinal and he’ll only improve with racing.

Top trainer Luke McCarthy issued a statement when his classy gelding The Niteshift (Somebeachsomewhere) showed too much zip for his rivals in taking out the fifth of the Vicbred.

In a keen betting duel, The Niteshift started favourite just ahead of the Emma Stewart trained Most Exciting.

The Niteshift took advantage of barrier four to eventually take up the running ahead of fellow New South Wales pacer This Is Heaven who took the trail behind the leader. However Most Exciting was caught three wide in a very quick early stages before eventually taking the one out and one back trail.

Despite it being a fast run race The Niteshift moved away to put his rivals to the sword. Enjoy Life was battling hard but the early effort took his toll as he finished fourth. This Is Heaven held on for second with Decode coming from three back on the rails for third.

The Niteshift is raced his breeders Lauriston Bloodstock. The Niteshift’s mile rate of 1.54.9 was the fastest of the heats. New Zealand bred mare National Gallery was a stirling performer winning 11 races. But at stud she’s proved to be absolute gem leaving behind some outstanding pacers including Rocknroll Icon, MachUp and the brilliant Honolua Bay. More recently Lochinvar Camarro has won 14 races.

The final heat for the colts and geldings saw a double for both trainer Emma Stewart and driver Mark Pitt leading all way on Cardigan Dan (Downbytheseaside).

A drifter in the market Cardigan Dan was back early while stable mate Mount Barker Boy did a power of work before getting to the lead ahead of River Storm. Once the pace slackened Pitt was able to whizz around the field and take up the running.

While Mount Barker Boy then had the trail Brooklyn Dan always looked to have his measure. New South Wales visitor Elector didn’t have the best of luck racing one out without any cover.

Brooklyn Dan kept going by Pitt was able to win by three metres from Mount Barker Boy with River Storm in third placing in front of its stable mate Romeo.

For complete race results, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink