A perfect day dawned over the Sale Turf Club for the Sale Cup at the weekend, with a nine-race meet scheduled for the afternoon.
Despite track upgrades, the track was rated a Soft 5 to begin the day, swiftly upgrading to a Good 4 ahead of Race 2, later upgrading again to a Good 3 for the final four races of the day.
MODOWN for Pakenham’s Charlotte Littlefield proved why he was the favourite for the Race 1 TRFM Maiden Plate over 1400m, easing to his maiden victory.
Amazingly, it was the $151 roughie, Box Vale, who took control of the race, and did so for more than expected, leading the field out onto the straight.
But it wasn’t going to last as nearly every runner ended up passing the former leader, one of those was importantly the eventual winner, who climbed from eighth.
Modown ran comfortably down the middle of the straight, finding the line first with ease by more than a length to Superior Zara.
Shooter Mcgavin for Bairnsdale’s Jackson Pallot couldn’t find a way forward, staying in seventh for most of the race.
TAKE your pick, there could have been five different winners in Race 2’s RALCON Homes Maiden Plate (1400m), with five runners finishing within half-a-length.
What seemed to be the theme of the day was the roughies taking an early lead and scaring punters up until the straight.
Winstchill, paying $101, led until the 400-metre mark, but ended up seven lengths behind.
But this time, it wasn’t a favourite that stole the show, instead another roughie of sorts, just one that was better backed.
Roy’s Legacy for Mornington’s Brett Scott was a ahead of the rest, doing just enough to claim the first win of his seven-race career.
Runners traded places for the length of the straight before a literal sprint to the line unfolded.
Paulartes came second – a head behind, Galan third – a nose behind the runner up.
Universally took fourth while Mr Trafficanti was fifth, a nose behind of the horses in front of them.
NORMALITY was restored for Race 3’s Powered Solutions Maiden Plate (1100m), as the favourite returned to the top.
Diamond Decorator for Mornington’s Pat Carey and Harris Walker looked as calm as ever as she crossed the line first.
Coming from a midfield position, the horse came through three-wide from the rail before kicking on to the first win of her career by nearly two lengths.
Sale’s Kevin Milham almost had the first local winner of the day, when Juelene took second place.
Shantino for Sale’s Susie Wells didn’t have her best run, coming last, over 10 lengths away from the winning runner.
EXCITEMENT continued to pour at Sale Turf Club, after another close finish in the Race 4 No 1 Car Wash/The Coffee Pit Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m).
Four horses finished just about within a length of the lead, with the eventual fight for the lead coming down to the wire.
Peter Moody’s River Noire made an early break for the line, taking the lead as the field rounded the bend.
But it turned out to be too early, as she was swiftly caught by Masterful for Cranbourne’s Enver Jusufovic.
Despite being overtaken, Masterful was unable to claim the win with ease, as River Noire loomed dangerously, finishing second – a head back.
Lord Paramount was last for Sale’s Trolove.
THE favourite pinched Race 5 Higgins Machinery & Mechanical Services BM70 Handicap (1400m).
Polcano led the field around the back and onto the main straight, before falling down the pecking order with haste.
Lady Jones for Seymour’s Stephen Brown was in her preferred off-pace position ahead of the straight, but it first looked as if she would be caught in behind the leaders.
She eventually found a gap and filled it, storming to the line, but it wasn’t without a fight from the $12 Magnupur, who came from even further back.
Despite the late challenge from Magnupur, the favourite had enough composure to claim the third win in her career.
THERE was a genuine three-horse race for Race 6’s Ladbroke It! BM64 (2200m).
Lodbrok for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Sweet Liaison and Balinor burst into contention as they moved onto the straight, leaving the rest of the field in the dust.
The favourite, Dublin Journal, took control of the race early, but then was left stranded in fourth, nearly five lengths away by the time the leaders finished up.
But it was Lodbrok who managed to find the line first in a photo finish up the middle of the straight, with second-placed Sweet Liaison a nose behind to their left, and third-placed Balinor a head behind on their right.
In just their fourth start, Lodbrok claimed back-to-back wins, following their maiden win in Warrnambool at the start of the month.
Schweinsteiger for Sale’s Damien Walkey claimed fifth and Dahwilly for Moe’s Allison Bennet sixth.
Bell’s Bighouse for Pallot came home in seventh, but around eight and a half lengths back.
Race 7 was the Sale Cup.
THE favourite found the front again in Race 8’s Ladbrokes Racing Club BM64 Handicap (1600m).
But it wasn’t without a scare from a local runner, with Moe’s Peter Gelagotis’ Aria Electra in close quarters.
Running Cloud made an early charge for the line, seen before many times on the day, and once again it proved not to be the formula.
It was Aperitivo for Flemington’s Ben Hayes that came from sixth back to find the front and claim the third win of his 12-race career.
Aria Electra was second, but nearly a length behind.
A Penny Spent for Sale’s Heather Stephens came fifth, while High Done for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton was sixth – funnily enough 10 lengths behind A Penny Spent.
Acey Deucy for Moe’s Charlie Gafa stretched the field, coming last, over 26 lengths away from the winner.
THE meet was wrapped by swimmingly by Rey Magnerio – the favourite of Race 9’s Ladbrokes Blackbook BM64 Handicap (1000m).
Usually in sprint forms, to be in it to win it, you need to be running with the pace, but Rey Magnerio managed to win after being sixth as he rounded onto the straight.
The favourite can do what he wants.
He came from sixth lengths wide from the rail, closing in on each and every horse in front of him, closing out the Sale Cup Day with a bang, winning by almost three lengths.
I’m Cheeky for Sale’s Bill Wood was the pacemaker, but found himself in strife on the straight, falling from first to fifth in a matter of seconds.
Barney’s Blaze for Trolove came last, almost eight lengths from the lead.
