The Priestess puts it all together at Melton

The promising but at times difficult to follow The Priestess (Father Patrick) showed her class with a strong win in the Prydes Easifeed Trot at Melton on Friday evening.

Not the most reliable of trotters, The Priestess was nonetheless confidently backed into firm favouritism. Driver Lochie Cook was caught three wide early but was more intent on settling down the mare before making his move.

Eventually she passed the leader Piesridingshotgun and from then Cook allowed The Priestess to run her own race in front and going some steady quarters.

Kyvalley Michael who was well supported broke early and he was forced to race three and four wide in the final lap when making his run.

However The Priestess was still coasting on the final bend and she put the issue quickly beyond doubt as she strode clear for an impressive win over Leanne Leeane with Piesridingshotgun in third placing.

THE PRIESTESS 11 APR REPLAY

Earlier in the season The Priestess set a new track record winning at Mount Gambier admittedly in a much weaker field but it was her the manner of her near 60 metre win that caught the eye.

Trainer Marg Lee has a high opinion of The Priestess and there’s no doubt when she puts it all together she is a classy mare.

Credit must also be given to Lochie Cook who showed skill in ensuring that The Priestess had her mind on the job.

Early in her career The Priestess was prepared by Emma Stewart.

Stewart bounced back when her two classy three year olds Mount Barker Boy (Ride High) and Brooklyn Dan (Downbytheseaside) both duly saluted in their events.

Mount Barker Boy was a prohibitive favourite in the Nevele R Stud Graduation Final for three year olds and with a gun draw of barrier two had little trouble finding the lead. Driver Ryan Sanderson just allowed Mount Barker Boy to cruise in the lead and he defeated a very gallant Keayang Passion by just under three metres with Black Opal Jack in third.

If the win of Mount Barker Boy was impressive then the performance of Brooklyn Dan was clearly the highlight of the evening.

Running against older horses Brooklyn Dan was considered to be a near certainty with virtually for any of the other runners. And driver Mark Pitt let the good looking bay colt stride to the lead.

Pitt released the brakes at the 500 metre mark and he started to put a space between himself and his opponents. His rivals found his last two quarters of 27.9 and 27.2 seconds too hot to handle and at the finish Brooklyn Dan had just under 27 metres to spare over Fearless Writer and In An Ideal World.

Last season Brooklyn Dan showed his worth in some crack two year old events and he looks to have returned bigger and better this time in.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink