A shot at Group 1 glory awaits Malibuu after she charged into the final of the Breeders Crown Series for two-year-old trotting fillies at Maryborough on Wednesday.
The Greg Sugars-driven filly led from start to finish to beat the Damien Burns-prepared All That Remains by just over 3m.
The run was the squaregaiter’s first outside NSW and proved her maiden victory at career start eight.
Trainer Blake Fitzpatrick was pleased that his filly could finally break through.
“I was really happy with her because she was first-up for probably three or four months,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It was her first look at Maryborough, she did a bit of work out of the gates and I was really happy with her.”
Fitzpatrick, confident in Malibuu’s potential, attributed his belief to a successful Penrith trial on November 6.
“She has shown good ability from day one,” he said.
“Here in Sydney, she met a couple of smart colts (like) Valtino my other horse. He won the Vicbred.
“She’s also had to race the colts here in Sydney, who have always been a length or two better than her.”
While Sugars was pleased with Malibuu’s performance on Wednesday, he told Fitzpatrick there was likely better to come.
“He was happy with her,” Fitzpatrick said.
“He felt like she has got improvement in her. I think he said ‘she did it pretty comfortably.’
“She’s just a little bit lazy in front, she has got a tendency to want to wait for them. She definitely had a bit up her sleeve.”
Malibuu now heads to the $100,000 showdown on November 25, with the race being one of eight Group 1 finals on the Melton card.
“We will just keep everything the same and she goes straight to the final now… she will be ready to roll in nine days’ time.”
Father-son combo John and Matt Newberry won the first heat for two-year-old trotting fillies with the $1.45 favourite Nordic Reign, who will be one of the fancied runners in the final.
The Locomotive will be shooting for back-to-back Breeders Crown final wins when he lines up in the battle between three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Wayne Potter’s top squaregaiter won the two-year-old final last year on his way to being crowned 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year and cruised to victory in Wednesday’s heat.
Queenslander Not As Promised backed up his recent Victoria Trotters Derby triumph with a dominant victory in the other qualifier for three-year-old colts and geldings, and shapes as the key danger to The Locomotive’s chances.
Tim O’Connor
