Mullum Showgirl shines in QBRED Triad Final upset

Mullum Showgirl (Be Happy Mach) caused a huge upset in the Group 1 QBRED Triad Final for 2YO Fillies, upstaging $1.35 favourite Shine Like Me.

Trained by Shane Fraser, the filly was given a peach of a drive from Angus Garrard who landed three back on the pegs early. When the speed was injected into the race, approaching the finishing post with a lap to travel, Garrard hopped off the fence to land 1 out 2 back.

Making a move with 300m left to travel, Mullum Showgirl peeled four-wide at the top of the straight, storming over the top of them to win by 2m. She rated 1:54.5 for the 1660m, with the race run at an even tempo with quarters of 28.3, 29.1, 28.5 and 28.5.

MULLUM SHOWGIRL 22 AUG REPLAY

She was one of the most inexperienced juvenile pacers in the race, having run just twice prior to the Group 1 $150,000 event. In both prior runs, Mullum Showgirl had finished second, sprinting home strongly on both occasions.

Favourite Shine Like Me found the early lead before being eyeballed by Cherry Surprise with a lap to travel. She had a small break on the field with 150m to travel but stopped in the final stages to finish fourth. Sweet Leah Jane ran second for trainer-driver Shane Graham and Mackenzie Reg finished in third place for Shawn Grimsey and Nathan Dawson.

Garrard recorded his second Group 1 win of the night. His inaugural Group 1 driving victory came in race four when leading throughout on the Donny Smith-trained Pure Grunt.

 

For complete race results, click here.

By Trent Orwin for Harnesslink