Yesterday seven year olds Utterly Fantastic and Sequallan showed that they have still “got it.” and new kid on the block, Equissential, won in his very first start.
Utterly Fantastic (AKA Crikey) was uncharacteristically positive from the gates at Colac today. Luke Oliver reported that it was the blinkers that did the trick. Andrew Mallyon looking familiar in the orange and green, took a sit outside the favourite, Don’t Tell Pat. Upon straightening Don’t Tell Pat fell away leaving Crikey in front. Emerging from the pack was the Lauriston bred Melete, but Crikey found the post ¾ length in front of Melete and more than 2 lengths in front of 3rd place getter Don’t Tell Pat.
The win was the gelding’s seventh and took his career earnings to $147,000. “That win gets him back on the winners list and will hopefully give him the confidence to go on.”
Sequallan was allocated 61.5 kgs, more than 7.5 kg’s heavier than his closest rival. He was fast to jump from the inside gate. Phillip Wolfgram rated the ride perfectly, holding Sequallan together to the turn, before letting him go. The extra weight did not stop him. Sequallan surged forward to win, eased up by nearly 6 lengths. Sequallan smashed the Toowoomba 1050 metre track record (set by Crème Latte, two weeks previously) in the process. It was Sequallan’s 13th win and takes his career prize money to $338,000.
It was a great day for Phillip Wolfgram. He had taken out the first three races on the card with Private Lad in the first, Sequallan in the second and Lady Primera in the third. Lady Primera, trained by Phillip’s wife, Tracey, extended her winning range to 1100 metres.
Phillip was aboard 15-1 debutante Equissential in the sixth, a 1200 metre race for two year olds. Settling toward the rear, Phillip, took Equissential around the field and was wide in the straight before letting down. Equissential won by half a length, running away. Phillip had won four of the seven races on the card.
“I think he might be a good horse,” commented Neville Saunders, who had said going in to the two year old’s first race that he had shown a bit, but was an “unknown”. “I am hopeful that he can be competitive in a couple of the winter carnival races this season”. Equissential, by Jet Spur is a half brother to Express Ball, who also raced in the orange and green.
