A super impressive win by Premier Demand at Shepparton on Wednesday will never appear on his racing resume but may get a mention on Ripley's Believe It or Not.
The black dog contested race three and, after striking the lead at the first turn, came away to score by a huge space in smart time over 450m. At $2.20 on the Victorian TAB, punters were delighted but their joy was soon laid bare by stewards.
With 100m to run, a duck came from the right of the track and attacked the lure, which was about six metres ahead of Premier Demand. A quick sidestep to the right allowed Premier Demand to miss T-boning the intruder but the trailing division was affected and stewards had to abandon the race.
Just on 12 months back, a large hare ran across the Shepparton track at about the same point but only one competitor - racing back in the field - was inspired to pursue the real thing. The placings were unaffected and the race result stood.
GRAND PLANS
Be it a busy group racing schedule, the chill of winter or the presence of El Grand Senor, only 25 nominations were initially received for Friday's group 2 Traralgon Cup.
Nominations were extended for 24 hours and, after seven more hopefuls showed their hand, four heats of the $28,000-to-the-winner series were drawn. Retired to stud after his win in the Warragul Cup on January 25, El Grand Senor spent less than four months on the sidelines before owner-trainer Caroline Jones had the big black dog back in work - and winning just comes so easily to this jump-and-run star.
In five starts since the break, El Grand Senor has remained unbeaten and added the new 400-metre Geelong track record to his already impressive list of achievements.
He stretched his remarkable record to 32 wins from 39 starts in heat three of the Traralgon Cup, registering 29.64 - the equal best time of the night.
Betting was stymied, with El Grand Senor drawing box one - an alley he has been gifted with a remarkable 14 times (for 12 wins).
Earlier in the night, the well-performed Daintree Palace held Golden Easter Egg winner Radley Bale at bay in the opening heat by one length in 29.64.
Wy Yung Tiger was untroubled in heat two, scoring by 3½ lengths from Ladies Bracelet and Western Australia Oaks winner Tonelli Bale in 29.76. El Grand Senor's surging effort followed. Runner-up Marmion was gallant but succumbed by nearly six lengths.
Allen Lawson snared the final heat, a third qualifier for the Wheeler-Bate team. He registered 29.71, cutting down Smoke Home on the line to score by a nose.
The box draw for the Traralgon Cup final is: 1 Wy Yung Tiger, 2 El Grand Senor, 3 Radley Bale, 4 Tonelli Bale, 5 Daintree Palace, 6 Smoke Home, 7 Marmion, 8 Allen Lawson. Many Talents and Pure Stealth are the reserves.
Favouritism is surely in El Grand Senor's corner but he'll be afforded no mistakes.
Adding spice to the result is an offer from Wy Yung Tiger's connections to put $2000 on the bar should the fawn dog salute. He's unbeaten in four starts from box one and a genuine talent, but those with a thirst at Traralgon can't afford any complacency. El Grand Senor's presence, at the very least, is sobering.
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